In the context of Boost Your International Mobility (an EU-funded project focused on enhancing students’ and recent graduates’ abilities to promote their international mobility experiences to employers), a comparative analysis has been conducted, putting forward fresh insights into the way current policies and programmes supporting youth and mobility impact how international mobility experiences are being translated by students and recent graduates, as well as how this is being perceived by employers. The report puts the spotlight on three case studies - Croatia, France, and Spain - relying on data gathered from desk research and focus groups carried out with different stakeholder groups (e.g. recent graduates, recruiters, employment organisations specifically aimed at young people, and associations focused on the youth employment sector).
Policy landscape
Regarding the policy landscape, the report specifically highlights the important role of various EU policies that aim to create a bridge between the youth and the labour market, namely the European Skills Agenda (focused on the upskilling/reskilling of individuals), the Youth Guarantee (aimed at ensuring that NEET youth receive a quality offer within 4 months), and the European Pillar for Social Rights (centred on strengthening social fairness and ensuring equal opportunities). The research shows how such EU-level initiatives translate into national policies, thereby promoting the internationalisation of higher education and aligning educational outcomes with labour market demands across member states. Croatia, France, and Spain all showed variations in these policy approaches, illustrating how national and regional strategies can influence the perception, delivery, and outcomes of international mobility.
Programmes supporting youth mobility and employment
As for programmes supporting youth mobility and employment, the report specifically highlights the Erasmus+ programme, the Youth Employment Initiative, ALMA, and Eurodyssey and their role in tackling challenges related to the integration of young people in the labour market.
Case studies
Croatia
Croatia’s case is characterised by a heavy over-reliance on the tourism industry, leading to limited opportunities for students and recent graduates in other sectors. Furthermore, research revealed a notable absence of functional youth employment policies at both the national and regional levels, which has, in turn, contributed to brain drain, with young individuals leaving Croatia in search of better opportunities abroad.
Spain
Despite strong participation in international mobility programmes, Spain suffers from a high youth unemployment rate (28.7%). Overall, research indicated that while there is a strong commitment to reducing the youth unemployment rate in the country, these initiatives tend to be more nationally focused, with there being limited synergy with EU-level policy. Interviews further revealed that many perceive a strong disconnect between the skills taught in higher education and the needs of the labour market and that HEIs should further work on enhancing the practical aspects of their curricula and the development of soft skills.
France
Research highlighted that France’s case is characterised by significant regional disparity - youth located in areas outside of large urban areas often struggle to access jobs and gain meaningful work experience, which limits their professional growth and development. This has resulted in strong rural youth migration to urban centres. Furthermore, young people highlighted that they faced difficulties in articulating their achievements effectively in a way that resonates with employers. Additionally, research pointed to the fact that there is variation when it comes to whether certain industries/sectors value the international mobility experiences of students and recent graduates.
Impact of mobility on employment opportunities
When it comes to the impact that mobility has on employment opportunities, the research found that while mobility experiences are not typically a requirement for employers, they nonetheless tend to be appreciated and thus appear to make a difference in recruitment. However, students and recent graduates find it difficult to effectively articulate their mobility experiences to employers while recognition of certain tools (e.g. Europass) and volunteer programmes by employers (such as Europass) remains limited.
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