Job Ready - Traineeships with Practice Enterprise

The Job Ready - Traineeships with Practice Enterprise project came out of a need to respond to an increasing demand of work-integrated/work-based placements from VET students due a lack of possibi...

The ENGAGE project aimed to adapt the traditional Practice Enterprise (Übungsfirma) program into a traineeship model to offer an alternative solution of work-based placements that closely match a real-world company in cases where VET students are unable to secure an internship that includes work-based components. ENGAGE Practice Enterprise traineeships improve access to internships for VET students from disadvantaged backgrounds as educational institutions can prioritise marginalised and disadvantaged students. This includes overcoming any geographical or economic barriers for young people from remote areas for participation in traineeship activities. Development of an inclusive traineeship model for trainees coming from different economic and social environments offers the possibility of individualised traineeship pathways, as the traineeship takes place directly in the VET institution and is closely followed up by in-class trainers. Development of a traineeship certification and recognition system, based on the actual needs and requirements of employers, offers an employment tool that trainees can directly add to their CV and present to potential employers as a work experience.

The ENGAGE project activities were aimed at developing a model for a traineeship in a Practice Enterprise that is as effective as a traditional in-company internship as a labour market integration measure. This involved developing outputs that met the opportunities and overcame the challenges of setting up a traineeship in a Practice Enterprise in order to develop an engaging, realistic and sustainable model. The project adapted the traditional Practice Enterprise program into a traineeship model to offer an alternative solution of work-based placements that closely match a real-world company in cases where VET students are unable to secure an internship that includes work-based components. The traineeship integrates features of traditional internships that are conducive to the integration of young people into longer term stable and implement work-based competencies into the learning outcomes, activities and skills that are regularly trained in the standard Practice Enterprise model. Project activities included assessments, benchmarking, round tables and evaluations, as well the design and development of concrete outputs for putting the ENGAGE traineeship model into action, evaluation and assessment tools, certification systems, and piloting and evaluation by VET trainees.

The ENGAGE project prepared key outputs aligned with project results. A Framework and Model for the traineeship Practice Enterprise were created, including programme design, skills development, assessment methods, staff support, best practices and examples of practical work and pedagogical tools to ensure the realistic aspect of the ENGAGE traineeship. These were followed by the ENGAGE Evaluation System and Rubric, the ENGAGE Competence and Experience Evaluation System and the ENGAGE Certification System. These custom traineeship outputs are linked with European Commission tools for qualification and mobility, specifically the National Qualification Frameworks (NQFs) and Europass, as well as competence elements of DIGCOMP and ENTRECOMP. All pedagogical outputs are included in the project website including general project information, descriptions and framework of the traineeship model, as well as resources for trainees and trainers including training documentation and resources, as well as the evaluation system and rubric, trainee portfolio tools, certification tools, and linking EU tools for certification and recognition of traineeships. The traineeship certification and recognition methodology based on the actual needs and requirements of employers, combined with the EU tools NQF and Europass, offers a set of employment tools that trainees can present to potential employers and directly add to their CV as work experience.