Jugendcoaching
Name of the good/interesting practice/initiative/policy
Jugendcoaching
Country
Austria
I am proposing that this example will be published also in the KSLLL database
No
1. Background
What makes this an example of good/interesting practice/initiative/policy?
- The motivation of the initiative (What is the history/background of the policy?)
- Linkages with LLG policy priorities (Please add references to other national/EU policies or documents)
- Participants
The services of the Austrian model of career guidance, professional information and individual support at the end of their compulsory school education is called ‚Jugendcoaching‘. It aims to reduce the risk of failing a sustainable integration into education and the labour market. The countrywide information concept ‚Jugendcoaching’ should provide a consulting plan to ensure that every endangered pupil has access to a wide range of individually adjusted and supportive services. The idea behind the initiative is that pupils at risk of drop out should obtain appropriate information and counselling in order to be able to make an independent and well-considered decision concerning their educational future. The concept of ‚Jugendcoaching’ is a bilateral agreement between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Education and, therefore, a best practice example for an interagency collaboration. The construction of ‚Jugendcoaching’ follows the idea of the Austrian concept of Life Long learning (LLL).
Aims and targets
- Objectives of the initiative (What did the policy set out to achieve?)
- Target group
- Methods applied to reach the objective (technological and /or pedagogical)
One of the main objectives of the initiative is that teenagers, who have to face integration constraints, can benefit from the provision of a wide range of services such as consulting, supervision and/or individual care. Another important aspect of ‚Jugendcoaching’ aims at motivating pupils to visit school as long as possible or to start an apprenticeship in the labour market. If the objective of encouraging teenagers to complete school successfully fails, a downstream network of mentors will work out possible solutions in form of case management strategies in collaboration with those affected. The focus should lie on identifying potential problems in the personal environment of the teenager concerned. The next step would focus on finding and communicating an adequate and reasonable solution.
2. Implementation
Strategy and actions (Please describe the approach adopted to make the reform work and any actions taken.)
- Level of implementation (national, regional etc.)
- Implementation (description)
The pilot scheme started at the beginning of the school year 2012 initially in Vienna and Styria and, according to the schedule, measures will soon expand all over the country.
The services of ‚Jugendcoaching’ should not replace existing offerings, such as school social work and school psychology services. They rather claim to be unterstood as complementary counselling-orientated services. With the regional implementation of ‚Jugendcoaching‘ we aim to guarantee an open and equal access to information, support and individual counselling. A country-wide development is planned for the year 2013, which requires an adequate range of services all over the country.
Monitoring and evaluation
- What has been put in place for monitoring and evaluation?
- What actors are involved?
3. Outcomes
Achievements (Please describe the main outcomes/results according to the following headings. Each option can be answered - up to 50 words)
- Specific results
- Cost effectiveness
- Budget
- Innovative aspects
Since the program was implemented in Vienna and Styria a few months ago, we can determine that the concept enjoys great popularity among youngsters. By now we can record very satisfying figures. Eight months after the pilot project was introduced, we count as many as 4.600 consultations.
We estimated an annual budget for the implementation of the pilot project of around EUR 8.5 million. Up to now an approximate amount of EUR 4.5 million of the available sum was spent.
Success factors (What key success factors have led to or prevented success?)
- Lessons learnt
- Unintended impacts (Have there been any unintended impacts? Positive or negative?)
It is too early to make a clear statement.
Strengths and weaknesses
- What areas of the policy can we learn lessons from?
- Are there still challenges ahead?
A pilot scheme took place in selected federal states, starting in the school year 2012/2013. The goal is to establish a well-structured and comprehensive model within the next years.
4. Additional narrative description of the policy/practice/initiative
Additional information
Name of contact
Dagmar Brandstätter
Role (in policy initiative)
Organization name
Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affaires and Consumer Protection
Address
Stubenring 1
Phone
+4301711002004
Fax
dagmar.brandstaetter@bmask.gv.at
Website address
www.bmask.gv.at
Documents and publications
Attached files
Links
No links specified.
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good practice, initiative, interesting practice, policy, drop-out, young people, access, people at risk, disadvantaged groups, career information, Austria