University app tackles youth unemployment

A new training app is being developed by University of Wolverhampton academics to tackle unemployment among young people

App.t will contain interactive training content which focuses on developing business start-up skills.

The project is a consortium of five European partners, led by the University of Wolverhampton, and is based on the principles of social enterprise.

In addition, the University is working on VET4Start-Up, aiming to create training materials, including a free Massive Online Open Course (MOOC), for people who are interested in starting up their own business.

Both projects focus on technology as an innovative way to engage with young people and entrepreneurs. Participants are currently identifying existing practice in the partner countries, including examples which have successfully helped people to start-up a business. This information will be used to develop the training resources.

Sam Hope, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts, said: “Research shows there are still a large number of young people in Europe who leave education and training without holding any labour market related qualifications.

“People who are struggling to find employment may be interested in starting up their own business. However, start-up activity is difficult, there is high risk and more than 50 per cent of new businesses fail within the first five years.

“Strong and well-performing Vocational and Educational Training (VET) can help deal with the challenge facing start-ups in a competitive economy coming out of the global recession. The University of Wolverhampton is now working with partners to target this issue.”

The projects will be running events where interested members of the public can come along to find out more and get involved with testing the products.

Both projects are funded under the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Strategic Partnership programme for Vocational Education and Training.

 

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