Mobility Matchmaking Exchange in Wales: Advancing Inclusive Youth Employment and Mobility through Lifelong Learning Partnerships
05/06/2025
In May 2025, representatives from the International Programmes and Youth Employment areas of the Public Employment Service of Catalonia (SOC) participated in a job shadowing exchange in Wales, organised by Taith, the Welsh Government’s international learning exchange programme. The visit took place under the framework of the Pact for Skills Regional Skills Partnership on Lifelong Learning Mobility, to foster transnational cooperation and mutual learning in youth employment, international mobility, and inclusive training policies.
Over several days, the Catalan delegation met with various Welsh institutions and organisations involved in vocational education and training (VET), apprenticeships, and youth support services. These included Cardiff and Vale College, the Welsh Government’s Department for International Relations and Education, Colegau Cymru (Colleges Wales),Urdd (a Welsh youth organisation running apprenticeships), and the National Training Federation Wales (NTFW).
SOC’s team found the experience highly valuable, especially in seeing how Welsh VET centres actively promote vocational education as a first-choice pathway for youth, positioning it on equal footing with university education. The availability of well-resourced spaces, diverse course offerings, and coordinated support services reflected a clear national strategy to elevate VET’s role in young people’s career development.
Spotlight on the Taith Workshop
The visit culminated in a joint workshop with the Taith team, which proved to be one of the most productive aspects of the exchange. Key topics discussed included:
- Designing inclusive international mobility programmes
- Reducing barriers for underrepresented and vulnerable groups
- Strategic and operational insights on managing grants for youth mobility
Previously, on Tuesday 29th of April the Memorandum of Understanding between the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Government of Wales approved by Government agreement in Catalonia. The MoU includes the commitment to draw up and agree in writing a four-year Action Plan for their areas of common interest, and one of these areas is education, and the promotion of exchanges between young people. That is why, another of the objectives of the visit was to explore and define proposals of collaboration in order to add concrete actions to the first work plan that will accompany the Government agreement of Catalonia with the Welsh Government.
Both SOC and Taith recognised a strong alignment in their missions and challenges, particularly around supporting young people with fewer opportunities. As a result, discussions are now underway to explore further collaboration and deepen the relationship between both teams through ongoing knowledge-sharing and potential future projects.
This exchange demonstrates the concrete benefits of the Pact for Skills Regional Skills Partnership on Lifelong Learning Mobility, offering regions the opportunity to learn from one another and co-develop inclusive, effective policies that support young people. It also reflects a shared commitment to reducing inequalities in access to skills development and international experience.
