Background: Schools and companies in the region of Brittany (Bretagne) in France implement various STEM and entrepreneurship-related activities, including company visits and guest lectures. In addition, various national and regional actors implement larger-scale events and activities like science and entrepreneurship competitions. However, activities and events are fragmented and unevenly developed and there is a need for a more coordinated and integrated approach.
Objectives: The main goal of the Taskforce is to develop an more integrated, region-wide programme for school-company cooperation in secondary education. The 'Jet-Net' (Youth and Technology Network)-model for school-company partnerships (originally developed in the Netherlands and later implemented in Denmark and Spain) was chosen as a possible starting point for the taskforce. The recent successful development of a pilot programme based on the same model in the Basque Country will be specifically evaluated.
Results: Two Taskforce Meetings with a consortium of key-stakeholders from the Brittany region were scheduled. On December 10, 2021 a new organisation was formally launched by a selection of participants in the taskforce. As established in its organisational statutes, the association aims to (1) support young people in their job orientation, discovery of the professional world and transition to the labour market, (2) allow companies to meet with and contribute to the world of education (schools, colleges, high schools, higher education and training centres) and (3) allow teachers, trainers and guidance counselors to interact with the world of business in the region of Bretagne.