EUD as an attractive and visible career path for students

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT?

The project aims to motivate more students to choose EUD within shortage areas. The North Jutland labour market demands vocational graduates within the technical field, within health and care, etc. cf. the FremKom4 analysis 2022. The demand will be difficult to meet, as the youth cohorts until 2033 will be smaller, and as North Jutland already has high EUD frequencies. Many students are undecided about their career path and feel pressured by high entry requirements for higher education. Some do not start higher education. The career path from student to skilled worker is an attractive option for many students, but not visible in the education system. According to the think tank DEA (2021), 8-9% of STX students and 20-25% of HF students nationwide choose an EUD within three years of becoming students. With the project, we want to motivate even more students to choose and complete EUD within shortage areas. We want to make the career path from student to skilled worker clearer through practical experiences and educational and career competence courses, so that more students consider EUD as a possible career path and more choose EUD after high school. We also want to increase the retention of students who start an EUD.

WHO IS BEHIND?

Techcollege

WHICH COURSES ARE PARTICIPATING?

The following programs from Techcollege participate:

• SPS supervisors

THE PROJECT IN NUMBERS

Total project budget: DKK 1,372,800

Techcollege's total budget: ? *Of which self-financing: ?

Project period: 01.05.2024 – 31.12.2026

WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE PART OF THE PROJECT?

Specifically, we will:

#1 introduce the opportunity for internships in local companies so that more graduates gain experience with careers as skilled workers,

#2 introduce visits by VET institutions and local companies to high schools so that graduating students are guided in VET,

#3 develop practice-oriented training courses with the involvement of local companies that provide insight into and motivate a career as a skilled worker,

#4 in a collaboration between upper secondary schools, VET institutions and Studievalg, prepare information material that tells about the career path and that can be used in dialogue with upper secondary school students and

#5 investigate the needs of VET students with a university background and develop initiatives that increase the retention of this group in VET.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE PROJECT?

The project aims to make the career path from student to vocational education and training more clear to graduates and increase the completion of vocational education and training for students. The career path from student to vocational education and training is known to 90% of graduates from the participating upper secondary schools. 30% of graduates from the participating upper secondary schools are considering starting a vocational education and training course within the first three years after completing upper secondary school. The dropout rate among vocational education and training students with an upper secondary school background has decreased by 10% at the participating vocational schools.

Project staff

- 9 vocational schools: EUC Nord, EUC Nordvest, AMU Nordjylland, Techcollege, SOSU Nord, SOSU stv, Nordjylland Agricultural School and HEG.

- 5 high schools: Dronninglund Gymnasium, Morsø Gymnasium, Frederikshavn Gymnasium, Nørresundby Gymnasium and Støvring Gymnasium.

- Study Choice Denmark.

- Furthermore, the Confederation of Danish Industry is a partner.