Completed project · 2015–2017
Promoting Employability through Entrepreneurial Actions in Cross-Border Student Enterprises
Problem statement: The 2007/2008 economic crisis increased youth unemployment, particularly in southern Europe. Objectives: The project aimed to enrich vocational training in three European regions (Spain, Italy and Germany) with additional provision to improve young people's employability.
Research question: How can employability in VET be improved across borders?
Research approach: The theoretical framework was experiential learning in the tradition of John Dewey. To enable this, apprentices planned and implemented Cross-Border Student Enterprises (CBSEs) through international business and work processes in tourism and leisure. Teachers received prior training to support learners locally. Learners' acquired project management competence was then certified through a cooperative assessment procedure.
Results: Intellectual outputs comprised handbooks developed participatively alongside the establishment of the CBSEs:
Organisational structure of a CBSE;
Establishing and operating a CBSE;
A training guide;
A cooperative assessment system.