The UfM Secretariat and the OCEMO promote the model of the “Second Chance Schools” in Spain

upm-ocemoThe meeting, organised in the framework of the Mediterranean Nouvelle Chance (MedNC) UfM labelled project, aims to create a Spanish network of entities in order to increase employability opportunities among young people who have ab andoned school without obtaining a diploma.

Barcelona, 11th November 2015.
Organized with the support of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Office of Economic Cooperation for the Mediterranean and the East (OCEMO), the first meeting of the Second Chance Schools of Spain (E2O) (Escuelas de la Segunda Oportunidad), held today in Barcelona, aimed to develop a Spanish network of entities for the social and professional integration of young people who are currently excluded from the labour market, namely students who have dropped out of school.

The objective of the network is to consolidate a common model of E2O, fostering its development and sustainability and assuring recognition at national level while strengthening cooperation with other entities from the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Among those attending the meeting were various representatives from national, local authorities and the private sector along with members and beneficiaries of numerous Spanish entities with an interest in this field such as Fundación Adsis, Fundació el Llindar, Fundación Proyecto Don Bosco, Fundación Federico Ozanam, Peñascal Kooperatiba and Fundación Tomillo.

The pedagogical model of the Second Chance Schools, whose concept was presented in 1995 in the European Commission’s White Paper “Teaching and Learning, towards a cognitive society”, is based on three main ideas: an innovative training reinforcing soft skills, support in social aspects and internship experiences in partner companies.

The concept is nowadays well established in Europe with over 50 schools registered in the European association and who apply the same principles.  In France, a similar network, founded in 2004, composed of 42 schools, has succeeded in significantly increasing the number of young beneficiaries to 14,000 in 2014 with a 60% success rate.

A multilateral agreement and a charter of principles were signed earlier today by the participating Spanish entities. A clear roadmap envisaging the integration into the Mediterranean Nouvelle Chance (MedNC) project was also defined. The Second Chance Schools agreed to meet on January 27th-28th and 29th in Marseille in order to visit the emblematic school of Marseille, meet the president of the French network and organize a seminar. The national E2O coordinator, Guillaume Thureau, who was previously project leader of Algerian’s Miftah Ennajah School, will bring his support to create and strengthen this new Second Chance Schools network in Spain.

Labelled by the UfM in December 2014 and promoted by the OCEMO in collaboration with the E2C of Marseille and the AFD, the MedNC project is based on the regional exchange of “know-how” and good practices among accredited entities helping both young people who ab andoned school without obtaining a diploma and unemployed graduates in finding a job. The project is currently under implementation in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and foresees exp anding to other Euro-Mediterranean countries such as Spain where youth unemployment rates exceed 50%.

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edile-labelEDILE (Economic Development through Inclusive and Local Empowerment) has passed another milestone, with the creation of the 'first Mediterranean label"awarded to investment projects adopting a transverse approach. The announcement was made on 4th November last by the European programme's coordinating body the ANIMA Investment Network at the first awards ceremony organised in collaboration with the OCEMO (Office for Economic Cooperation in the Mediterranean and Middle East), which rewarded six inclusive Euro-Mediterranean companies*.

The label offers companies "several privileges including visibility, a community of investors, resources and training and advantages in dealings with administrations and backers," according to ANIMA.

The participation of major institutions (French Development Agency, EIB, Caisse des Dépôts, UfM) should allow the inclusion of Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Palestine in 2016.

*Biome Solar Energie (Tunisia), Centrale Laitière de Sidi Bouzid (Tunisia), Veder (Valorisation Énergétique des Résidus en Tunisie)
Green Eco Tech (Lebanon), Wilco PM (Lebanon), Réserve Naturelle du Shouf (Lebanon)


Morocco joins JEY network

AO-JEYAs part of its support for the employability of South Mediterranean young graduates, the JEY (Jeunes Entrepreneurs - Entrepreneurship for Youth) project is turning its attention to entrepreneurship, setting up a business creation competition.

JEY, managed by students from Kedge Business School under the supervision of the OCEMO and the RMEI-RMEM*, works together with local student organisations, offering entrepreneur c andidates assistance over a period of 18 months, from business plan right through to company set-up.
On 20th and 21st February, 2016, the network will be marking a new phase in its existence. Casablanca's ISCAE, in partnership with the ENCG in Marrakech, will for the first time be hosting the Phare Euro-Mediterranean business creation competition. Calls for "JEY – project carrier" joint c andidatures were issued in October and have resulted in 23 applications.

*Réseau Méditerranéen des Écoles d'Ingénieurs et de Management