Young adults face many obstacles on their road towards employment. The modern labour market demands new skills and client -oriented competences. For some the theoretical approach implemented at schools does not deliver required content and often demotivates them from active learning. This leaves your people more vulnerable and unprepared for new challenges pushing them further away from potential employment opportunities.

NRW Region in Germany tackles this issue by implementing the Third Way in Vocational Training project which is directed to young adults, offering them possibilities to re-enter the educational system and attend individually tailored vocational training programmes concentrating on gaining skills and competences within one of fourteen different vocational qualifications.

In Malta the Twaine project came to a close with a conference attended by delegates from France, Italy, Poland, Germany and Malta. The project built on best practices and experiences and transferred and adapted the methodology approach and didactical materials connected to one of the occupations featured in the pilot initiative that of hospitality.

The common efforts were tested by beneficiaries in the different countries and then the results were published and distributed among interested stakeholders. In Malta the project was handled by Future Focus Ltd. Future Focus in turn co-operated locally with ETC.  The beneficiaries were provided and supported by ETC while the trainers were provided by Future Focus.

The final conference was addressed by the project leader Werner Fuhrmann. Mr Fuhrmann presented the project and the objectives together with the results achieved so far. Hermann Buschmeyer spoke about necessary changes in the VET system. Other speakers included Maria Bartolo Galea from ETC and Marlene Mizzi MEP.

Ms Galea, managing director of Future Focus Ltd said that it was clear that this third way approach was tested with good results in all the countries of the partners and it was clear from the survey results that this could be transferred to other vocational training fields. As the need for qualified staff increases, the vocational training also must meet the requirements and needs of the economy. An action-oriented training and methods that support autonomous activities and motivate young people to self regulate their own training helps to create empowerment and mobility. This is necessary to increase employability.