summary
NEXT-UP integrates the Quadruple Helix Model for social innovation with concepts such as youth agency, intersectionality, and policy learning to enhance the theoretical and practical understanding of youth transitions from education to employment (YTSTW) processes. The project’s research design includes the Living Lab approach, machine learning, psychometric surveys, longitudinal interviews, and agent-based modeling. Building on lessons from the COVID-19 experience and the identified emerging labour market trends, we will develop the typologies of education-to-work transitions and forecast the potential skills gaps to inform our foresight activities. We will collaborate with policymakers, youth, educators, and employers to co-develop actionable, evidence-informed, and future-proof policy recommendations. These recommendations aim to support young people in their transition from education and training to employment, promote social and geographical mobility, and mitigate the risks of youth unemployment, underemployment, and social exclusion.
partners
The project is funded by the European Union in the framework of the call A sustainable future for Europe (HORIZON-CL2-2024-TRANSFORMATIONS-01)
The project brings together a consortium of 11 partners from 9 countries, including 8 universities (6 of which are part of the ECIU network), 1 private association, 1 student union, and 1 UN-affiliated intergovernmental organization, supported by an international advisory board:
- Tampere University, Finland (Coordinator)
- University of Stavanger, Norway
- University of Aveiro, Portugal
- Center for Research in Higher Education Policies, Portugal
- University of Twente, Netherlands
- Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
- University of Trento, Italy
- Heidelberg University, Germany
- Tallinn University, Estonia
- European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Austria
- National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK), Finland
Project duration: January 2025 – June 2028.
Who's working on this project
Contact: Renze Kolster
