UNICEF is launching a national programme for providing work experience, practical knowledge and skills required on the labour market. The programme involves networking between the business sector on the one hand, and young people who want to improve their economic position, on the other hand, by providing work practice.
Work practice are short-term professional experience programmes that include learning and training, which carried out with the view of improving employability and transition to employment. For internships to generate positive effects, it is crucial that they are of good quality and include a written agreement between the intern and the company wher work practice will take place, that learning and training objectives are defined at the beginning of the internship, that mentors and adequate working conditions for interns are provided, that work practice is of limited length, that employers to cover transport and meal costs of an intern (provide material support) and that they issue a certificate to the intern after the internship is completed.
The content and type of training will be determined after employers’ needs for specific knowledge and skills are analyzed, and training will take place through a blended learning approach – in online and offline format – in line with the epidemiological situation. Each employer who joins the programme will choose an intern to hire based on the conducted interviews. Employers will assign them a mentor who will monitor their work and development and help them respond better to business tasks and challenges. After completing a two-month internship, interns will receive a certificate of completed internship from the employer and the programme.
Trainees will be selected based on the need for interns by companies selected to participate in the programme. Young people who successfully complete the training and who have appropriate professional qualifications will be given the opportunity to have an internship interview with potential employers. In an interview with the employer, they will have a chance to fight for an internship.
The plan is to launch a public call for empoyers on 1st May, while work practice is planned to start on 1st September.
The programme was launched as a partnership initiative of UNICEF and PANDORA with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
In order to harmonize the programme with the needs of employers, we need to hear what you think. Therefore, we kindly ask you to fill in the online questionnaire
Should you need more information, please contact UNICEF via e-mail at svuckovic@unicef.org , or by phone at 011 3602 138 and 063 88 22 695.