Planning the upcoming Convention on Education and Work

OBESSU is getting ready for the upcoming Convention on Education and Work that is foreseen in the OBESSU Workplan 2015-2017 to critically explore the links between education and the labour market. This week the preparatory team meeting held its first meeting in Brussels, Belgium to shape the final programme.

The link between education and employment and early school leaving is interesting and important, but not completely unproblematic. Firstly, there is no guarantee that providing young people with the skills needed today will give them the skills that they need tomorrow. Secondly, one could question whether or not the employment aspect should take priority over other aspects of education, such as democratic participation. Furthermore, the most important “group” in this discussion – young people themselves! – are often absent from the discussions on how to provide education which can lead to a job. More young people must be involved in the debate and given a chance to influence the decision-makers directly: this is one of the main reasons why we are going to start this project!

For the first time in an OBESSU event, we plan to have three phases of the project. The first one will be online, and it will be a process of preparation of participants and team before the face-to-face meeting. The second phase will be the Convention on Education and Work that will take place from the 23rd to the 29th May in Brussels, Belgium. During this one-week-event, participants will discuss the topic and meet up with several decision-makers and youth organisations to explore the subject from very different perspectives and points of view. The third and last phase will be the “local” one in which participants from the Convention will be expected to bring the outcomes of the Convention to their home organisations and to meet with decision-makers at national level to continue exploring the topics of the project.

This year will be challenging and extremely interesting. Rūta, Lejla, Larissa, Ketie and Estel (the amazing prep-team!) are really looking forward to starting the process with all participants in its different phases. Stay tuned and follow us on #EduWork.

Check out the Call for participants and don’t miss the opportunity! Deadline for applications: 12th February 2016.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Prep-team at edu-and-work@obessu.org