YOUTHShare’s Trans-National Research Centre (YOUTHShare T-N.R.C.) aims at stimulating trans-locally those actors, institutions and stakeholders that a have an interest on the issue of NEETs and offer them advanced research results on youth employment, employability, skill set, training and pertinent policies, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean countries of the European Economic Area.
More specifically, YOUTHShare T-N.R.C. is particularly interested in:
- The analysis and development of the NEETs phenomenon;
- The socio-demographic characteristics of NEETs;
- The approach of special hard-to-reach target groups of NEETs such as those aged 25-29, women or refugees/migrants;
- The issue of youth employability;
- The employment services, youth counselling centers and services;
- The economic and labour geography of the the Mediterranean EEA area;
- The analysis of resilient sectors of the economy in the focus areas;
- The examinination of special economy sectors such the social or the sharing economy;
The YOUTHShare T-N.R.C. delivers in-depth research enhancing the skill-set of NEETS in order to stimulate their participation in the economically resilient productive sectors. In that framework, the centre draws upon studies, primary and secondary analyses as well as transfer of knowledge from promising schemes (e.g. Ripples in the Water program).
YOUTHShare T-N.R.C. current activities include:
- The supervision of three PhD theses;
- Extensive and multiscalar research fieldwork in the focus areas;
- Meticulous literature reviews with the view to form common concepts and methodological frameworks;
- Data collection and primary analyses on the above concepts
- Preparation of research papers in scientific journals
- Presentations in scientific conferences
- Articles for lay audience
Ultimate purpose of those researching and reporting activities is the development of a nuanced understanding of the NEET phenomenon that would support the most suitable design of training activities for NEETs. Both of them lead to the design of proper policies, highlighting contemporary unevenness and linking the individual and collective pathways that NEETs need to follow in order to access quality jobs.