Inserción Laboral tras la Formación Profesional
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Adquisición de experiencia laboral para los titulados en formación profesional en Grecia
Keywords: labour market, skills, work experience, multiagency, Greece Introduction The social, economic and working environment in Greece is defined by volatility and insecurity. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme ‘An Integrated Intervention for Connecting Vocational Schools Graduates with the Labour Market’ was a cooperative action for addressing the issue of youth unemployment. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The initiative was deployed in the eight Convergence Regions of Greece: Eastern Macedonia and Thrace; Epirus; Western Greece; Thessaly; Peloponnesus; Crete; Ionian Islands; and Northern Aegean. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): They were hit by a large increase of unemployment rates between 2010 and 2014, for example, from 11.9% to 28.7% in Western Greece, from 9.6% to 23.4% in Peloponnesus, from 9.4% to 22.3% in North Aegean, and from 12.0% to 24.0% in Crete (ELSTAT, 2015). Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The beneficiary group of the intervention was 7,000 graduates of vocational training institutes (IEK), apprenticeship schools (EPAS) and vocational upper-secondary schools (EPAL), aged up to 29 years old and unemployed when the programme took place. A large number of participating enterprises were included as part of an integrated project that aimed at providing: (1) theoretical education; (2) vocational counselling; and (3) the acquisition of work experience (internships) as a means of tackling the adverse impact of unemployment. The programme had both investive and innovative dimensions. More than being a means of transferring knowledge and expertise to a large number of participants, it particularly tried to empower them to become active agents of change in their own lives. Further to that, and related to previous similar projects, individualised vocational (p.98) counselling sessions and quality-controlled internships combined with theoretical education were types of services introduced to beneficiaries for the first time (Evers et al, 2014). In that respect, the programme aimed to forge prospects for vocational training graduates, functioning as a tipping point in their life course and their connection with the labour market. Connecting unemployed vocational education graduates with the labour market During 2010–14, the age group of young people up to 29 years old was at the centre of the adverse impact on the labour market of the economic crisis in Greece that commenced in 2009. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This was in particular evident in exceedingly high rates of unemployment in 2014: at 51.5% of 15–24 year olds and 41.1% of 25–29 year olds (ELSTAT, 2014). In addition, there was underemployment and part time employment, social insecurity and instability, lack of trust in political and democratic institutions, along with continuous cuts in income, wages and pensions (Matsaganis, 2013; Cedefop, 2014).
Such a worrying state of society, education and the economy, along with its effects on this specific age group, was followed by heightened concern about youth unemployment and the disadvantages that young people face in their attempt to enter the labour market. In response to that situation, and following a series of regulatory and legislative incentives regarding vocational education and training, the Greek Ministry of Labour, in collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Culture and Development, drew up a unified operational action plan of targeted interventions to boost youth employment and entrepreneurship in the context of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007–2013 Operational Programme. Under this action plan, a number of vocational training-related initiatives were implemented to foster employment and entrepreneurship for persons aged 15 to 35 years old (Cedefop, 2014). Objectives of these initiatives included, but were not limited to: • Strengthening vocational training and apprenticeship systems, particularly via the combination of training and work experience programmes that subsidise job placements for young people and practical training in workplace settings (voucher for vocational training), either during education or later. • The institution of systematic transition-to-work programmes to help students gain initial work experience. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): These would need to (p.99) be adapted to the needs and profiles of young job-seekers through a combination of guidance, counselling, training and employment (eg job voucher schemes for young job-seekers). • Providing more counselling and vocational guidance, especially for young job-seekers, through supporting vocational guidance in schools, career orientation and entrepreneurship counselling (such as through vocational education career offices and actions promoting youth entrepreneurship). • Measures aimed at reducing early school leaving (Cedefop, 2014). The programme was implemented in the context of the EU Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), which was the source of funding. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The YEI intended to provide financial support to the member states worst hit by youth unemployment. It was allocated to regions with youth unemployment rates (YURs) of more than 25% in 2012 and, for member states where YURs had increased by more than 30% in 2012, Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) level 2 regions that had YURs of more than 20% in 2012 (EC and ESF, 2014). In general, on the EU level, the YEI typically supported the provision of: (1) apprenticeships; (2) traineeships; (3) job placements; and (4) further education leading to a qualification. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme’s design and implementation were primarily grounded and dictated by the YEI rationale, principles and guidelines (EC and ESF, 2013, 2014). More specifically, in the case of Greece some worrying figures that supported the implementation of the specific programme were are follows: • unemployment rate in December 2014 of 25%; • youth (under 25) unemployment rate in December 2014 of 50.6%; and • young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) rate in 2013 of 20.4%. In this respect, tackling youth unemployment was expected to be achieved primarily through actions oriented to the direct link between vocational education and training with employment and the labour market. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This was the idea for principally addressing the programme ‘An Integrated Intervention for Connecting Vocational Schools Graduates with the Labour Market’ to vocational schools and institute graduates (IEK, EPAS and EPAL). For its design and implementation, a consortium was assembled. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The Labour Institute of Greek General Confederation of Labour (INE/GSEE) was the coordinator of the programme, supplemented by the following social partners: (p.100) • Centre for the Development of Educational Policy (KANEP/GSEE); • Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen & Merchants (GSEVEE/IME & KEK); • National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce (ESEE/KAELE & INEMY); and • Hellenic Management Association (EEDE). The composition of the consortium reflected the will and the ambition of the leading social partners engaged in active employment practices and policies in Greece to join forces and bring about maximum effectiveness of this specialised intervention (INE/GSEE, 2015a). Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme was implemented in 2015 (January to November). Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The call for proposals was issued by the Ministry of Education in July 2014. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The joint ministerial decision was issued in December 2014 and the programme was publicly announced on the coordinator’s and social partners’ web sites in January 2015. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): By December 2015, most of the programme’s actions were completed. The programme’s objectives can be outlined as follows: • increase of youth employability; • development of professional as well as horizontal (‘soft’) skills for the beneficiaries (communication, team-working capability, etc); • establishment of a professional/working culture for the beneficiaries; and • personal development of the beneficiaries – increase of their self esteem, expansion of their personal and professional networks, enhancement of job satisfaction, and widening of their chances to be integrated into the labour market (INE/GSEE, 2015a). These objectives were expected to be achieved via a combined scheme of well-designed activities that included: • Theoretical education for cultivating and fostering a set of horizontal (‘soft’) skills so as to match the career needs of all professional and business sectors. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This comprised 80 hours of theoretical training in four modules – (1) Informatics, (2) Administrative and Organisational Skills, (3) Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and (4) Conflict Management and Communication. • Vocational counselling sessions oriented to the establishment of employability, professional adjustment and professional resilience, that is, factors that help the individual become accustomed to the (p.101) labour market and recognise potential job opportunities. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This comprised of four vocational counselling sessions. • Acquisition of work experience (up to six months of internship) in enterprises by developing an efficient system of ‘coupling’ the graduates’ specialties with the area in which each enterprise trades. The programme was implemented at a time when Greece was undergoing, as it still is, a severe economic crisis, with immense repercussions on social and cultural levels, seriously affecting young persons’ employability and access to the labour market, physical and mental health, and sense of social inclusion (Papadakis, 2013). If times of crisis are typically times of change, then this is paralleled by the fact that a (or any) programme’s ‘wish’ or ‘ambition’ to provoke some kind of change is, or should be, considered as an inseparable aspect of an intervention aiming at social profit. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): That given, research conducted for the evaluation purposes of the Innovative Social Investment: Strengthening Communities in Europe (InnoSI) project indicated that the main change that the consortium aspired to attain was to establish and broaden the access of vocational (IEK, EPAS and EPAL) graduates to the labour market. It should be noted here that after holding meetings with the programme’s stakeholders, it was concluded that there was no explicit Theory of Change developed while designing, preparing and implementing the programme. Yet, according to the implementation guides of the programme (INE/GSEE, 2015a) and vocational counselling (INE/GSEE, 2015b), it can be argued that the intervention wanted to: (1) improve the beneficiaries’ body of knowledge and skills; (2) provide professional/work experience of high quality and profitability; and (3) offer vocational/career empowerment and support. In that respect, the programme’s short or mid-term objective was to bring change via an orchestrated and well-planned series of actions on two axes. One of these was giving the vocational graduates as profound and rich as possible horizontal skills and work experience, which can be capitalised in the future by helping them either to find a permanent job or to ‘create’ a new job by innovatively combining their vocational specialty with the skills/knowledge and experience collected via the programme. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The other was to enhance and broaden the professional prospects of unemployed young people so that their active participation in the labour market is promoted and ensured as much as possible. However, after completing our research, it turned out that there was actually an underlying long-term objective. In other words, the impact that the programme was aiming at was broader. Apart from equipping (p.102) the beneficiaries with a common set of skills that will be more or less useful in almost any type of future working environment, and giving them the chance to familiarise themselves with real-time working conditions, the programme’s vocational counselling and guidance would, on a mid and, most importantly, long-term basis, help them: • create awareness of career options through assessment of interests, values and ambitions; • make the right choice regarding the type of job they want to do; • understand the conditions, demands and necessities of the labour market; • receive support, motivation and a boost to their morale as employable persons, which is necessary for long-term success, especially in times of crisis; and • feel more confident and realise the practicality of expanding their interpersonal and professional networks. This can be considered as an innovative feature of the programme given that it had not been implemented in previous interventions. It was a service provided to a large number of people who resided in problematic environments in terms of working prospects that affect their personal and social life. At the same time, another innovative service was introduced. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This was a system for continuously monitoring the quality of the programme’s internship phase, securing the expected results and preventing possible abusive behaviours or other non-expected results. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The consortium’s intention was not just to place the beneficiaries in enterprises as interns. Most importantly, it was to deploy an active mechanism for observing the work-experience acquisition stage via regular communication of the quality-control inspectors with the beneficiaries and onsite meetings at the enterprises so that they can intervene in cases if needed. Emphasis was given on the compliance with the legal framework on labour issues and on ensuring that the beneficiaries are placed in the enterprises as interns who are there to learn and familiarise themselves with the conditions of the workplace. In summary, the programme intended to empower and make more confident a significant number of young adults, and to motivate them to meet new people and create networks, in order to change their self-perception, as well as their place in the family, workplace and society in general. At the same time, the programme was thought of as a ‘prototype’ or a ‘model’ than can be adopted when designing and implementing similar interventions in the future. (p.103) Key findings: implementation and impact As part of the evaluation conducted for the purposes of the InnoSI project, the programme was assessed in terms of implementation and impact. In this section, findings regarding these two aspects are presented. Findings on implementation The programme was addressed to unemployed vocational graduates, aged up to 29 years. It was designed and managed by a consortium of social partners established for that purpose. While the original composition of the consortium was slightly modified, this change did not practically affect the regular flow of the programme. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The vast majority of the actions and subprojects included in the bid documents of the programme were eventually implemented as initially planned. Activities oriented to publicising and communicating the programme to the general population, and, specifically, its target group, were designed centrally but were implemented in close cooperation with the participating social partners in all regions around the country. Despite delays in disbursement that led to some publicity arrangements being cancelled, the programme was well communicated. Moreover, all staff and personnel of participating social partners were keen and willing to support the programme on every possible level as responses to incoming questions, feedback to messages and information on various issues were admittedly immediate. The part of the programme related to the theoretical education of the beneficiaries ran without difficulties or any other complexities. Altogether, the educators proved to be quite competent and highly qualified. On the other hand, the beneficiaries also responded well to the modules that they were taught. Finally, the total number of educators contracted with the consortium was sufficient as each educator was assigned approximately 20 beneficiaries. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The part of the programme concerned with the vocational counselling of the beneficiaries was also implemented satisfactorily. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): There occurred some complexities in the beginning that mainly pertained to: (1) delays in starting the counselling sessions due to the overall delay of the programme; (2) some minor organisational complexities while ‘matching’ the beneficiaries with the enterprises; and (3) the fact that vocational counselling was something absolutely brand new to most of the beneficiaries. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): These complexities were quickly resolved as the rationale, the objectives, the usefulness and the feasibility of vocational (p.104) counselling were communicated to the beneficiaries more efficiently and in detail. A substantial drawback of the programme’s implementation was the delay in the disbursement of the funds. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This can be explained by, or attributed to, the instability of the political and economic conditions at the time in Greece. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The truth is that this troubled situation did not generally affect the programme’s implementation. However, it caused the side effect of making the beneficiaries feel distressed and uncertain about whether they would eventually get the scholarship (money) for participating or not. Further to that, many beneficiaries received the full amount of the scholarship just one or two months before the programme’s establishment. The part of the programme that related to the acquisition of work experience by the beneficiaries was also well implemented. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The quality and level of cooperation and communication between the interns and the enterprises was positively evaluated by both sides, without reporting or identifying any extreme problems or difficulties, except for a few isolated cases. Finally, a major feature of the programme’s implementation was that the money that the beneficiaries received for participating was given in the form of a scholarship. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This served two significant purposes. On the one hand, it reflected the consortium’s intention to provide the beneficiaries with the highest financial benefit possible as scholarships were tax-free. On the other, it aimed to be some kind of incentive for the vocational graduates as an award for continuing their training efforts after the programme. In summary, given that the programme was implemented on a pilot-scale basis, as most of the stakeholders’ staff and members of project teams asserted, it could be argued that it was altogether well and competently implemented. It combined innovative elements and activities in terms of lifelong and adult-learning processes, and of introducing and applying vocational counselling. It successfully established new practices and mechanisms such as the internship quality control in the enterprises, and it enabled vocational graduates to become acquainted with the demands and conditions of the labour market. What would have happened if all actions and subprojects initially intended had been implemented is open to debate. However, this does not imply that the programme was mis-implemented. On the contrary, secondary dysfunctions, minor organisational flaws, technical problems (eg with filing applications to become beneficiaries) and the major issue of the short amount of time available for implementing all the programme’s actions were all overcome successfully. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This is credited to (p.105) the exceptional cooperation of the consortium that skilfully ‘invested’ a great deal of human resources, time, infrastructure, knowledge and expertise. Findings on impact The programme aimed to support young people who, although they were vocational education graduates, were not in education, employment or training. Enterprises were given the opportunity to employ – as interns, not as regular employees – a large number of graduates to extend their workforce and to benefit from fresh new ideas. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The partners successfully designed and deployed an innovative system for ensuring the internships’ quality standards. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme was quite a complex one, with very limited time available (just under one year) for communicating the programme, recruiting educators, counsellors and quality inspectors, and developing a wide network of enterprises for the beneficiaries’ internships. In identifying and describing the impact that the programme had on the beneficiaries, the team of educators reported that the overall activities of the programme succeeded in attracting the beneficiaries’ participation. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): Their exceptional rate of response and engagement with the demands and the requirements of the intervention reflect a positive outcome considering that the beneficiaries were carefully targeted by the consortium. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme provoked the interest of the beneficiaries, which allows us to assume that the theoretical training, the vocational counselling and the internship stage were appealing to them. Positive effects of the programme can, in particular, be detected through the individualised counselling sessions, whereby the young people’s morale was uplifted and their self-confidence was strengthened.
Contact with the environment of the workplace and the actual prerequisites and conditions produced essential impacts as most of the beneficiaries participated in ‘on-the-job’ training for the first time in their lives. Familiarisation, also for the first time in their lives, with the methods and techniques of adult and lifelong learning was illuminating to almost all beneficiaries as the vast majority experienced the transition from school to vocational education. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The purely experiential acquaintance of the beneficiaries with the enterprises and the labour market, by extension, largely contributed to the empowerment of their ability to correspond successfully and, above that, to fully comprehend expectations on the enterprise’s side. Internships provided the beneficiaries with the opportunity to establish, to cultivate and to extend as much as possible a network of (p.106) acquaintances that might be useful in the future while searching for a job or starting up their own enterprise. Alongside this, it prompted them to move themselves from passivity and to feel that solutions are more likely to show up via an energetic attitude. Finally, the programme specifically motivated those beneficiaries who reside in rural areas by actively incorporating and ‘persuading’ them to show more zeal given that programmes and initiatives such as the one discussed here are rarely implemented in the places where they live. As far as the team of counsellors is concerned with regards to the impact of the programme, it is concluded that their viewpoints are pretty much identical to that of the educators. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): They argued, in particular, that via the individualised counselling sessions, the beneficiaries acquired general as well as specific information on the labour market and, also noticeably, on issues and matters of rather personal interest. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The counsellors also argued that the programme had positive aspects in that counselling sessions and interventions were individualised and appropriately adjusted to the necessities of each beneficiary. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): Beneficiaries: learned and worked with tools that can potentially be useful in job searching, for example, preparing their résumé, preparing for a job interview and so on; became acquainted with utilising the internet, and social media in particular, as a means to search for a job and establish networks; and developed a more critical viewpoint towards their position in the workplace, their rights and their cooperation with the employer. Further to that, motivation enhancement, an increase of self-esteem and a boost to self-confidence in relation to the beneficiaries’ personal and social prospects can be factored into the impact of the programme. The viewpoints of the quality inspectors were on the same wavelength as those of the educators and counsellors. Given their specialised role in the programme, they argued that the intervention provoked impact on all beneficiaries without almost any exception, that is, those employed, those unemployed and those who had worked before acquired work experience that is not only valuable per se, but can be included in their résumé. Apart from the horizontal skills gained, the beneficiaries had the chance to explore and develop general as well as personal working traits. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme also had an impact on quality inspectors as it enabled them to advance specialised working skills given that this particular ‘task’ was somehow completely new. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The participating enterprises had the opportunity to work and collaborate with young graduates, who brought new ideas to the workplace in quite a few cases. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): Through (internship) time, relationships of trust between the beneficiaries and the employers (p.107) came to light, which could possibly produce permanent working positions in the future. In summary, the vast majority of supervisors firmly believe that the internship phase of the programme had noteworthy impact on the beneficiaries’ professional prospects, work culture and efficiency in working as part of a team. On the other side, the beneficiaries’ rating of the modules taught, the effectiveness of the theoretical education and the time duration of the overall programme was quite high. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The vast majority of them hold the strong conviction that the knowledge and skills that they acquired were usefully deployed in the enterprise during their internships. In the internships, they also had the opportunity to obtain extra skills, mostly related to the area of activity of the enterprise. Relevance between the beneficiaries’ specialty and the area of the enterprise, as well as levels of satisfaction in the guidance and support that they received in the workplace by the supervisors, was high. Lastly, the programme enhanced not just their work culture, but also their employability and their professional prospects. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This is evidently reflected in the notable percentage of those who highly and very highly stress that the expectations they had in the beginning of the programme were ultimately met to a large extent. While trying to assess the impact of the programme, it was evident that what our findings showed cannot actually be considered as impact in the strict sense of the term. As concluded from the existing evaluations’ findings, the programme produced positive effects on various levels. However, the absence of a follow-up survey of the impact is an obstacle in that it does not allow us to have a clear picture of the present situation of the beneficiaries and the status of the enterprises affected, or not, through the programme. In particular, a survey of the current conditions of the beneficiaries’ social, economic and professional status, including quantitative as well as qualitative indicators, would be revealing of the programme’s impact almost two years after its establishment. Learning points and policy implications The evaluation of the programme revealed that its strong features were the high degree of fund absorption, the achievement of quantitative targets and the sufficiency of the available funds. In addition, there was increased participation and positive feedback from the beneficiaries and their involvement in the programme’s activities. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): There occurred a positive impact on the beneficiaries, notably, through the individualised counselling sessions, the increase of young people’s morale and the (p.108) enhancement of their self-confidence, which led to the development of new horizontal and specialised skills. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme’s publicity and implementation was, in general, evaluated positively by the beneficiaries and also by the participating enterprises. Findings deriving from both the qualitative and quantitative evaluation showed particularly encouraging results in terms of both the means chosen and the effectiveness of the initiative. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The overall stages of application filing and personnel recruitment were positively assessed. All target groups that participated in quantitative and qualitative research highly rated the programme’s e-platform efficiency and the support provided by all participating social partners’ staff. With regards to the theoretical education: the modules taught were considered satisfactorily; the training material was rich and comprehensible; the educators were appropriately trained and communicative; while the time duration of the training stage was, for the most part, sufficient. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The professional-experience acquisition stage (internship) was one of the most successful parts of the project. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The high quality and level of cooperation between interns and enterprises was very positively assessed, despite minor occurrences and difficulties. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): Both sides expressed a high level of satisfaction, a good level of collaboration and a spirit of mutual understanding. It was underlined that the beneficiaries developed or improved a series of horizontal (‘soft’) skills: organisational capabilities, personal time management, consistency, team-working spirit, professionalism, flexibility and adaptability. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The programme’s infrastructure and organisation favoured a systematic cultivation of professional attitudes and values that were certainly strengthened by the interns’ daily contact with the workplace. At the same time, relationships of trust between beneficiaries and fellows and employers were developed over time, which can potentially transform into professional ones. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The number of beneficiaries who would be willing to continue working in the host enterprise, as well as the amount of enterprises that would be positive about continuing their cooperation with them, was impressive. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The ‘weak’ features of the programme, related to limited time available for implementation, delays in fund disbursement, the short duration of internships and minor organisational issues, do not override the ‘strong’ ones. The programme’s main objective was to enhance potential access to the labour market for a social group that is at risk. Yet, an underlying objective came to light, which was to map and explore the effectiveness of various strategies for investment in human capital and the degree to which these are consistent with the development of innovations that meet urgent social needs. In that respect, it could be argued that (p.109) the programme has successfully highlighted some points that require improvement. Future similar programmes should last longer so as to give the beneficiaries sufficient time to acquire more professional experience in enterprises. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This would also allow for more resources to be allocated and utilised by organisers and coordinators, and would maximise chances for employment after the programme’s establishment. In particular, initiatives for tackling sensitive social problems could be implemented in cycles provided that the beneficiaries are able to complete the entire five-month internship in each cycle. Internships should have an institutional dimension in terms of continuity and time planning, and provide some kind of certification from the enterprises. A more careful preparation is also needed in terms of the regional distribution of the beneficiaries, as well as organisational arrangements and open communication channels during implementation. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This will allow for problems that arise to be solved in time and improve the interconnection between operators. A coherent administration structure is also important, especially in large-scale projects, for the proper coordination of various programme stages in that it will ensure proper guidance for beneficiaries in their regions and will achieve greater homogeneity in the provision of (social) services. Employers should be given incentives, or be somehow prompted, to hire the interns in their enterprise – for a certain period of time or permanently – after the completion of the programmes via an employment contract. It may even be useful for enterprises to retain job offerings and get a bonus/reward for participating in Social Investment initiatives. One of the elements to be highlighted is that of bureaucratic procedures, which could be reduced. Administrative and secretarial procedures and services should ideally be processed electronically/digitally so that fewer working hours are needed and easier management is achieved. Furthermore, key management issues that need to be simplified are the finances, the contracts and the repayments. Future (social) interventions should establish closer cooperation with business representational bodies (associations, chambers, etc) so as to inform all sectors of a country’s economy (public, private, third sector). An extensive mapping of labour market needs is strongly advised on both a central and regional level for two principal reasons. One is defining the specialties offered/taught by vocational institutions so that they most accurately match each region’s labour needs. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): The other is to more efficiently meet the needs of local/regional enterprises. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): This is essential to help the absorption and integration of unemployed beneficiaries, preventing them from social pathologies and/or leaving the country (p.110) in search of a better future. Finally, follow-up surveys should also be an inseparable feature of programmes. Basado en la experiencia de varios autores, nuestras opiniones y recomendaciones se expresarán a continuación (o en otros artículos de esta revista, en cuanto al derecho laboral o del trabajo, y respecto a sus características y/o su futuro): These should include, but not be limited to: the type of long-term change(s) that the programme provoked; possible implications, outcomes and effects on local/regional societies and/or local labour markets; policy reforms instigated; and the feasibility of implementing a similar programme in the future. The creation and implementation of breakthrough ideas on how people should pursue their interpersonal activities and social interactions so as to meet one or more life objectives can be accomplished via social innovation interventions. Analysis and discussion of the programme presented in this chapter showed that there is an apparent need for new social services, not as expenditure, but as investment, which through bringing up or enhancing people’s skills, will increase well-being, cohesion, inclusion and participation on both individual and social levels.