Parcours for the future

Economies and labour markets are rapidly changing and are subject to many debates on a national and European level. Fostered by environmental crises and climate change, the labour market trends are moving towards environmental conservation, sustainability, and climate protection in all fields of work and of economic activities. One of the targets of the SDG 13 (“Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”) specifically points at improving education, awareness-raising and human capacity on climate change mitigation and impact reduction. At the same time, digitalisation, automation, and artificial intelligence are affecting work with new modes of production, administration, logistics and communication. The complexity of these transformations poses major challenges to global economy and education systems, especially for young people who need to understand the ongoing processes and be aware of the necessary skills and attitudes for the future.

The project’s objectives

The PAFF project aims to support education stakeholders and thereby young people in understanding and being prepared for future challenges and labour market trends.

The project has two phases

1. The knowledge building between experts, education stakeholders and project partners
2. The creation of the pedagogical parcours for young people in offline and online versions

In the first phase the project consortium aims to collect and exchange knowledge on modes of transformations on sustainability and digitalisation with experts and practitioners from European economies like Italy, Romania, North Macedonia, and Germany. Through meetings, conferences, and research the gathered perspectives are compared with large-scale debates on the European level. The consortium will disseminate the results in an online conference, with thesis papers and in an e-learning course on the impact of the expected changes in the labour market. This part addresses specifically career guidance actors, practitioners and education stakeholder, all actors responsible for helping young people in their vocational orientation across partner countries.

The second part of the project focuses on using the acquired expertise to create a practical tool for young people. The parcours is an innovative format where young people can explore aspects of working environments in a hands-on and playful method of interactive learning. In a parcours, young people can explore the relevance of future developments for their career choice and their power to drive change. The parcours is produced in a physical, easy to build version, and as a digital tool. In 2025 it will be tested in the partner countries. An accompanying handbook will enable practitioners to implement it and further develop young people’s awareness on green and digital jobs, as well as on their own life design skills. Overall, the project aims to reach particularly young people, career guidance actors and education stakeholders through exchange, dissemination, and implementation.

Project results

As the project progresses, the consortium has started publishing its key outputs and resources. These materials are designed to support educators, practitioners, and young people in navigating the green and digital transformations of the labour market. You can explore and download the available results here:

• Thesis Paper: How to integrate sustainability, digitalisation, and gender equality in education and career guidance. (The Thesis Paper is available in English and Macedonian)
• Background Papers: Labour market trends and young people’s situation in Italy, Germany, North Macedonia, and Romania. (download here)
• Check the E-Learning Platform here: A platform to train your knowledge on changing green and digital skills, gender awareness, and civic engagement.
• Overarching Trends in Europe: Women in STEM, Labour Market and Skilled Worker Shortage, Digitalisation Teaching Smart Agriculture.
• Country Slides: Presentation of labour market trends, green and digital economy, youth employment in Italy, Germany, North Macedonia, Romania, and in the EU. (download here)

For more information, updates, and access to all resources, visit the official PAFF Project Website.