LABORESO Programme

Author(s) or persons responsible

The Regional Education, Vocational Training and Tourism Department of the Government of Cantabria, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, companies and secondary schools.

Target group:

It is aimed at students in 2nd year of the Learning and Performance Improvement Programmes, 3rd and 4th year of E.S.O. and Transition to Adult Life Programmes in Special Education Centres.

Synthesis:

LaborESO is a programme of early approach to the world of work for students in Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO). The participating students stay in a company for two weeks, which allows them to improve their knowledge of themselves, their skills, abilities and interests, and also to acquire a better knowledge of the reality of work, as they have direct contact with it.

This experience, therefore, facilitates the decision-making process that students have to carry out at the end of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) in relation to their academic and professional future. At the same time, it contributes to the promotion of entrepreneurship through young people's knowledge of the business world.

LaborESO is included in the Activity Plan of the Guidance Department, with the school counsellor often being the coordinator of the Programme in the school. It can also be included in vocational initiation subjects and more specifically in the Applied Education Option - at the school's discretion.

LaborEso is a voluntary programme for schools and pupils.

The procedure to be followed, once the school has expressed its interest in participating, consists of the following steps:

• Meeting with school coordinators: the aim is to inform them about the procedure to be followed and to give them the student's notebook with which to prepare the students for the experience.
• Meeting with the parents/guardians of the pupils: the programme is explained to them and the authorisation document is handed over, with the consequent communication to the Regional Education Department of the pupils who have been authorised.
• Communication of the dates of the experience to the Chamber of Commerce, which must confirm them.
• Work at the centre with the students: Preparation of the booklet, individual guidance for the students, completion of the occupational preferences form and the companies to be contacted.
• Company search: The chamber of commerce will contact the companies to check their availability to participate in the project.
• Steps prior to the placement: after sending the confirmation of the company's availability, the centre will request an appointment to present the student, specify tasks and timetables, the company tutor will be appointed, the agreement between the company and the educational centre will be signed and the details of the students and the host companies will be sent to the Directorate General for Employment and the Regional Education Department.
• Carrying out the placement: The student will carry out the placement in the company, performing the assigned tasks. The centre will be in charge of reporting on the course of the placement and will carry out a visit halfway through the placement. The company will fill in an evaluation that will be sent to the school.
• Return to the classroom: The student will finish filling in the booklet, will complete an evaluation, as well as other work proposed with the school (presentations, videos, CV, blog), and the school will be responsible for carrying out an evaluation of the coordinator and a final report.
• End of the project: The Chamber of Commerce will organise a final ceremony for the awarding of diplomas and will provide the Regional Education Department with a report on activities and a financial report. Likewise, the Chamber of Commerce is also in charge of the general coordination with the educational centres, the creation of the work blog, the preparation of the "Dare to change" conferences and the dissemination of the programme.

Link

• LABORESO Cantabria

Type

Approach to the world of work

• Area
• Career choice
• Vocational education
• Career management skills
• Support in transitions and critical decision making moments
• Context
• Education: Compulsory education
• Employment

Results and Evaluation

Since the beginning of this programme in 2006, there has been an increasing number of pupils and schools participating. In the 2019 edition, 851 students were enrolled from a total of 69 public and subsidised schools.

Generalisation

Programme transferable to other Autonomous Communities.