EFE

The European Foundation for Education (EFE) is a non-profit educational organization operating at a European level. EFE aims at developing educational frameworks that help young people acquire the knowledge and skill set that would contribute to positive social and economic development. Together with partners from education, business, politics and administration, EFE stands for a systematic connection of educational offers with labour market needs in order to improve the professional chances for young people in Europe. The European Foundation for Education is chaired by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, former Mayor of the City of Stuttgart for many years and Honorary President of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).

EFE works closely together with Kolping Bildungswerk Württemberg (KBW) in Stuttgart to bring forward the vision of Adolph Kolping: supporting people through education to develop their talents, to acquire professional competences and so to become responsible citizens who engage in societal and environmental issues.

EFE`s goal is to provide better professional chances for young people through educational models that combine theoretical knowledge with a work-based component. The necessity of a close cooperation between the educational system and the labour market needs are well-analysed in the reports of the European Commission, within the priorities of the European Social Fund, in the research studies of, amongst others, McKinsey, Robert Bosch Stiftung and Bertelsmann Stiftung as well as within the OECD Skills Strategy.

Within the Europe 2020 targets of the European Union, increasing the employment rate is among the top priorities. The European Commission recommends for all countries of the European Union with high youth unemployment rates to develop or strengthen educational structures that connect theory and practice. By linking theory to practice, young people get better professional opportunities and the chance to use their talents and skills. At the same time, employers improve their competitiveness, thereby enhancing regional economic development.

Based on these experiences, EFE will enhance the professional mobility of young people who have precarious chances on the job market in their home country. Our goal is to provide opportunities for studying and working in Germany and gaining new perspectives in their professional life. In case of returning to their home countries later, they can benefit from the international experiences and work successfully as experts in their field. By this “work-life circle” they can contribute to the four goals of EFE.