Sardinia: an 80-million plan for youth training

This is the Newgens programme launched by the Regional Executive with the aim of boosting skilled employment, supporting advanced training and fostering the development of strategic skills

The focus is on training young people through an 80 million euro plan. This is the new programme launched by the Region of Sardinia as part of the Newgens project, which is dedicated to young people with the specific ‘aim of boosting skilled employment, supporting higher education and fostering the development of strategic skills for the island’s development’. Funding is being channelled into creating new opportunities for employment, training, research and innovation for the younger generation.

“For too long, young Sardinians have been faced with the choice between pursuing their career aspirations and staying in their homeland. With Newgens,” comments the President of the Region, Alessandra Todde, “we want to change this situation. Our aim is to build a Sardinia capable of nurturing talent, offering high-quality opportunities and competing in the most innovative sectors.”

The Plan will be implemented by Aspal, the regional employment agency, and resources will be channelled across five key areas. Through dedicated services provided by the Job Centres and Aspal, ‘the Plan will support young people in defining their own pathways in education, training and work, helping to match the supply and demand for skilled professionals’. The programme ranges from incentives for youth employment and job security to support for the creation and development of new innovative youth-led businesses, continuing with extracurricular work placements and training and professional mobility schemes, including international opportunities, specialist guidance, support and case management through the network of Job Centres.

Among the most significant new developments is the Region’s decision to provide a gross allowance of one thousand euros for work placements under the Plan. The aim is ‘to encourage greater participation by young people in programmes designed to help them enter the labour market and to ensure conditions that are in line with national best practice’.