The Youth Employment Challenge

Outcome 1: Develop a course on youth employment and integrate it into (selected) university curricula. Output 1.1 A course on youth employment for University level training developed. The course guide should be developed on youth employment. The following research (among others) could be carried out as a basis for the course development in selected countries. • Study available ILO and other data for background and justification. • Compare youth employment policies in different countries. • Studies of implemented youth programmes (examples: “Primeiro Emprego” in Brazil and the Swedish system for preparation of youths to enter the labour market). This would include different types of apprenticeships, etc. • Undertake sector based research. Surveys on which industries and value chains will potentially enjoy employment growth in the future in the respective countries. • A study on “Private sector attitudes towards youth”. • Integrate available ILO entrepreneurial training such as KAB , SIYB , WEDGE , etc. • Research on national and international youth employment in the theme of “youth and access to decent jobs and careers”. Output 1.2 A network of universities in different countries in Europe, the Middle East Africa, Asia, and the Americas established in order to integrate the youth employment course (output 1.1 above) into their curricula. Coordination could be divided between the ILO and a selected Swiss university. Targeting mainly the following faculties: economics, law, social science, political science, business administration, but does not exclude other faculties. A “hub” in a “strong” university would be desirable. Agreements should be developed with all universities entering the network, in which the responsibilities of the universities as well as those of the network are clearly described, making sure that the integration of a youth employment course is integrated in the Universities’ curricula. This output would be developed in strong collaboration with the ILO’s Work 4 Youth Programme financed by the MasterCard Foundation that has a Universities knowledge management initiative. An important main activity carried out by the Universities network for youth employment could be a monthly or quarterly on-line newsletter that gives updates on the different youth employment situations in the countries where the network is represented. Outcome 2: Research on youth employment These are some example of themes that are high in demand and where the ILO Youth Employment Programme will plan future research: • From child labour to informal youth employment: how to break the poverty trap? • Mismatches between education and labour market demands • Sector based research on youth employment. • Studies of implemented youth programmes, their failures and successes. • Fiscal policy and youth employment This outcome can include research from ILO staff as well as ILO support to Masters/PhD thesis in the theme of “youth and access to decent jobs and careers” to selected universities. This outcome should be undertaken in close collaboration with the “Universities Network on Youth Employment”.