From NEETs to FEETs
On 17-18 December 2024, the Policy Learning Platform hosted a peer review in Kiel, Germany, on behalf of Schleswig-Holstein’s Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SHIBB). The event focused on addressing youth employment challenges, particularly the transition of young people from NEETs (not in education, employment, or training) to FEETs (fully educated, employed, and tax-paying).
The main policy challenges
Schleswig-Holstein, like many other regions in Europe, faces significant hurdles in integrating youth into the labour market. These challenges include a lack of qualifications and skill mismatches, which prevent many young individuals from entering employment. Family dynamics, low motivation, limited mobility (especially in rural areas), and unrealistic expectations about jobs further intensify the issue. Additionally, the integration of young people with disabilities presents another layer of complexity.
The region's vocational education and training (VET) system must address these barriers while also adapting to the increasing demand for resilience, sustainability, and innovative solutions. A key issue highlighted during the peer review was the difficulty of aligning interventions to the unique needs of young individuals, particularly those with multiple disadvantages, while still achieving scalable and impactful results.
Current state of affairs
The Schleswig-Holstein Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SHIBB) is a state office in Kiel, where the tasks of vocational education and training in the state are bundled. The SHIBB is a state office under the Ministry of General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture.
Schleswig-Holstein has implemented several initiatives to improve vocational education and youth employment. The SHIBB leads the region’s efforts in fostering collaboration between schools, businesses, and other stakeholders to create an inclusive and responsive VET system.
However, gaps remain. One major difficulty in recording adolescents and young adults is that data protection in SH does not permit a common database or the transfer or synchronisation of data between institutions. Therefore, it is not possible to synchronise the data of outgoing pupils from general education schools and accepted pupils at vocational schools.
Similarly, it is not possible to compare data between schools and the employment agency. This means that NEETs voluntarily enrol in a programme or are referred to it by an institution. It is currently not possible to record NEETs regularly.
The team of SHIBB was eager to hear from other regions about which measures could help reduce the number of NEETs or increase the overall interest in vocational education and the efficiency of existing approaches.
Peers from across Europe
Alongside Luc Schmerber, Mario Vadepied and Thorsten Kohlisch from the Policy Learning Platform, six highly committed peers from different European countries participated in the peer review and provided valuable insights into their approaches to fostering vocational training, reducing dropouts and re-integrating NEETs into the labour market.
- Inga Balnanosiene, Lithuanian Public Employment Service
- Chantal Fijalkowski, Institut für Aus- und Weiterbildung im Mittelstand, Belgien
- Gunnar Anderzon, Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
- Anders Bergström, Norden Association Sweden
- Marco Costantino, Regione Puglia, Italy
- Aftab Sandooyea, La Réunion, France
Key recommendations
During the peer review, European peers and regional stakeholders jointly developed a set of targeted recommendations to address the challenges faced by Schleswig-Holstein.
- Develop a comprehensive strategic plan that is co-created and shared by all relevant actors.
- Strengthen SHIBB’s role as a trusted broker among stakeholders to foster collaboration and ensure continuity in planning and funding.
- Institutionalize a culture of co-creation, actively involving young people, parents, and employers in decision-making processes.
- Conduct detailed mapping and evaluation of existing measures to identify gaps and improve interventions.
- Establish a learning community for continuous feedback and improvement.
- Improve data collection at both the statistical and individual levels, enabling a personalized approach to mentoring and guidance.
- Prioritize early dropout prevention, particularly during critical transition phases (e.g., from school to vocational training).
- Put a specific focus on transition phases. People are more at risk of dropping out when changing environment (e.g. from school to vocational education)
- Allow for innovative / out-of-the-box measures
- Personalise/individualise pathways as far as possible
- Develop short and flexible VET offers
- Work on informal vocational training – develop micro-certification of skills, competencies
- Consider alternative offers (out of the system) building on the resources of young people
- Adjust regulations and financing to make it possible for VET students to take part in their education abroad / Offer the possibility to spend one semester abroad, for theoretical education and/or on-the-job training
- Offer VET programmes tailor-made for the needs of the present labour market
- Introduce higher VET education delivering EQF 5 and 6 (opportunity for students having dropped out to come back and have a second chance)
- Consider the bottom-up design of training offers (listen to the target groups)
- Focus on dropout prevention with a shared strategic plan across actors
- Offer also shorter paths with high employability potential in a flexible manner
- Involve family and parents
- Strengthen School-to-Work Transitions through Tailored Partnerships
- Act locally / Offer services close to the target group
- Build on the Youth Guidance Centres (regional centres) model by integrating personalised coaching, mental health support and mentoring programmes for young people facing multiple barriers to education and employment. The centres should be seen as an 'open space' for young people, built on trust but not bureaucracy.
- Multiply reach out channels
The peer review in Kiel highlighted the importance of tailored, innovative, and collaborative approaches to youth employment.
By implementing the recommendations, Schleswig-Holstein can build on its existing strengths and create a more inclusive and effective vocational education system. This will not only benefit the region’s young people but also contribute to a stronger, more resilient economy.
The host’s policy challenges, and all the peer suggestions will be available shortly in the follow-up report.
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