SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND BEST PRACTICES IN VET FOR WOMEN 50+ IN LT 5th partnership meeting 26 th – 28 th of February, 2015 Budapest, Hungary EQUAL WOMEN IS EFFICIENT Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci - Learning partnership Project Number: ES1-LEO

GENERAL SITUATION VET training in Lithuania is not adapted for the training needs of women 50+, it is the same for everybody – it gives only professional skills. Women 50+ lack some basic skills – ICT, foreign language, soft skills – which could help them to be successful in VET. The complex help should be provided to them – one specific support (professional orientation, ICT training etc.) may not be enough to solve their employability and success in VET problems. Employers do not want to have the employees only with professional skills, they also want them to have soft skills and some basic knowledge.

BEST PRACTICE NO.2 SOCIAL INCUBATOR MODEL

DESCRIPTION Usually socially excluded groups such as long term unemployed, single mothers, unemployed women 50+, women receiving social benefits etc. are out of the labour market for quite a long time and they need professional support in order to get back to the labour market. The research done in 6 towns of Lithuania which involved around 200 women at social risk showed that in order to be successfully integrated into labour market they need not only professional skills but also to be motivated and prepared for active job search.

OBJECTIVES To re-integrate long term unemployed, single mothers, unemployed women 50+, women receiving social benefits into the labour market by offering them the complex of social and professional rehabilitation services, consisting of: Social group mentoring; Seminars for improving the motivation and positive attitude towards the work; Imaginary job agency for improvement of practical skills; Individual consultations on social and professional rehabilitation; VET training; Practical placement in project partners’ institutions.

USEFULNESS FOR TRAINEES Possibility to receive complex help for integration into the labour market for free. Women improve their soft skills and receive professional orientation consultations helping them to choose the most suitable VET courses from the ones offered within the project and/or any other available in VET institutions. Possibility to get work at one of the project partners’ institutions.

USEFULNESS FOR TRAINERS Professional experience while working with the women. Regular salary for the continuous trainings. Possibility to learn something new from the learners.

USEFULNESS FOR EMPLOYERS They can have well trained future employees, equipped with professional and soft skills needed for working successfully and employers do not need to invest their money into training of employees as it is paid by EU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!