Leonardo da Vinci Project BRAIN DRAIN – BRAIN GAIN

Abstract:

The main objective of this project was to develop qualification modules for the initial and further training of guidance and career counsellors working in the international field. These modules will be implemented into counsellors’ training in the partner countries.

Introduction

The project started in October 2007 and had duration of two years and three months. It was funded by the European commission.

Coordinator is the German Federal Employment Agency (BA) with the International Placement Services (Zentrale Auslands- und Fachvermittlung ZAV) and BA’s University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit – Fachhochschule für Arbeitsmarktmanagement - HdBA)

The project idea came out of ongoing discussions on positive and negative effects of the phenomenon of brain drain and brain gain caused by increasing European and worldwide mobility of workers. These discussions put their main focus on economical aspects of brain drain and especially on the negative effects of migration of high qualified professionals. Labour market and social and psychological issues are left out in most of the cases in discussion and research, as well as the also positive effects of brain gain.

So central questions were:

• How can strong points and chances of European mobility be enlarged and at the same time weak points and risks be minimized or avoided?
• How can the phenomenon of split labour markets in the partner countries be counter steered?
• How can individuals avoid “dysfunctional mobility” (destroying qualification)?
• Which marketing, information and counselling methods are suitable for mobility counselling, especially for “returnee counselling”?

The project coordinator, German Federal Employment Agency (BA), is one of the main actors in the field of counselling services concerning European mobility.

Aims and Outcome

The outcomes of the project shall be:

• the optimizing of counselling, information giving and placement methods within European mobility counselling
• the establishment of models for regional, national and international networks between players – such as universities, chambers, Public Employment Services (PES)
• modules for training and further training of counsellors.

The focus shall not be put only on mobility of high qualified professionals but be broadened by taking the group of skilled workers into consideration as well. This leads to further development of and networking between existing mobility counselling offers.

The Partners

Project partners are both brain drain and brain gain countries:

Germany: Bundesagentur für Arbeit: HdBA, ZAV; SRH Hochschulen GmbH, Heidelberg

Bulgaria: NAVET (National Agency for VET)

Luxemburg: Ministère de l’ éducation nationale et de la formation professionelle

Poland: Akademia Jana Dlugosza, Czestochowa

Slovak Republic: SVEI (State Vocational Education Institute), SAAIC (Slovak Academic Association)

Turkey: Istanbul Bilgi University

United Kingdom: Careers Europe