Attanasio, Orazio; Kugler, Adriana; Meghi, Costas, 2011, Subsidizing Vocational Training for Disadvantaged Youth in Colombia: Evidence from a Randomized Trial

2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.6. Vocational education/skills training

Recommendation: 19) Ensure that training includes both practical as well as theoretical aspects. Projects on TVET should emphasise and directly include the establishment of effective connections between job training and job placements. This may specifically include supporting:

• The establishment of direct interactions during training between potential employers and trainees/students
• Job placement centres/services and raising the awareness of their staff of the existence of the TVET graduates.

Reference: Attanasio, Orazio; Kugler, Adriana; Meghi, Costas, 2011, Subsidizing Vocational Training for Disadvantaged Youth in Colombia: Evidence from a Randomized Trial, General background document on issues in our research matrix, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 3 (July 2011): 188–220, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, Nashville Tennessee.

Evidence sample: The evaluation noted that the impact of the program was in part because of the six months of specific skills training provided in certain sectors or occupations in both the classroom and on the job.

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2.3 DIRECT ACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES

2.3.6. Vocational education/skills training

Recommendation: 21) Promote and provide support to obtain internship options for TVET graduates so that they can acquire experience and come in contact with employers who may not always advertise jobs that are becoming available.

Reference: Attanasio, Orazio; Kugler, Adriana; Meghi, Costas, 2011, Subsidizing Vocational Training for Disadvantaged Youth in Colombia: Evidence from a Randomized Trial, General background document on issues in our research matrix, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 3 (July 2011): 188–220, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, Nashville Tennessee.

Evidence sample: the evaluation noted that internships allowed both employers and workers to obtain information on each other. From the employers’ side, the internships allow employers to acquire information on the quality of workers without having to commit with a written contract subject to the high dismissal costs in Colombia. From the workers’ side, the internships provide information on jobs just becoming available that are not announced through formal channels, as well as information on what sort of skills are required for a job.