1Description
Since January 2017
2Foundations
The favourable educations falls under the legislation of the adult vocational training programmes.
The policy goal of the instrument is to raise the number of skilled workers and to influence the decision of young people to choose vocational trainings where more skilled workers are needed. The scheme provides subsidies to businesses who agree to sign an internship agreement with a student from one of the favourable educations. It is especially designed to meet future skill needs, as the employer federations, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will decide which educational programs are eligible for the scheme. In addition, it provides guidance to the students or employees who wish to take a vocational education program, with good opportunities for internships and job opportunities in the future.
Favourable educations are educational programs on a "positive list", which means programs where employers expect a particularly high need of labour force.
Ministry of Education
The employer federations each year designate the favourable educations for subsidy. The government has the overall responsibility of the scheme (administrating, monitoring and disburse of funding). The employees trade unions do not have a role in the program, but the employers trade organisations are responsible to appoint the favourable education programs. They decide which existing programs should be a favourable program in the coming year.
Businesses that draw up a trainee agreement receive a bonus of a maximum of 5,000 DKK (€671.76) per student. The scheme can provide total funding of 20 millions DKK (€2,687,058) and is funded by the Ministry of Education.
The favourable education programs is first of all attractive for people that wish to take a vocational education, as the educational programs provide a good opportunity for internships and future jobs opportunities. The businesses will furthermore earn an extra financial bonus if they draw up training agreements with students on one of the favourable educational programs.
3Processes
The instrument provide information on current and future labour market needs as the employers trade organisations/federations appoint which educational programs are eligble for a favorable "bonus", which give a better overview on the job areas and skills that are most needed in the future.
The instrument is based on a subsidy scheme extended to businesses, who draw up students agreements with trainees on one of the favourable education program. The business can thereby earn an extra financial bonus.
Every year.
None
Due to the strong involvement of the employer federations, the favourable educational programs are recognise job areas where there are need for skills, and thereby good opportunities for students to achieve an internship and job opportunity.
The scheme is measured annually by the Ministry of Education. At the end of 2017, the Ministry will reveal who is eligible for the subsidy.
Offering a subsidy scheme for businesses that draw up internship agreements with students taking a vocational education in specific sector that have high demand of skills, is to some extent innovative compared to before.
4Sustainability
It is too early to present evidence of the effectiveness, as the instrument was first implemented in the beginning of 2017. In the beginning of 2018, it will be possible to see if the favourable education programs has increased their students uptake and the number of traineeships.
The stakeholders have in the tripartite an agreement committing themselves to support the scheme and provide information and guidance to students taking a vocational educational program, in order to increase the volume of the favourable educational programs.
The principle of offering favourable education and training programs with a subsidy provision is quite transferable in itself.
The scheme will continue in 2018, but it remains uncertain if it will continue thereafter.