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Bridging the Gap: the role of non-formal education in enhancing youth employability
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Esta dissertação explora o papel da Educação Não Formal (ENF) na melhoria da empregabilidade jovem, com um foco especial no estudo de caso do Parlamento Europeu de Jovens (PEJ) Portugal. Num mercado de trabalho global em constante evolução, os empregadores exigem cada vez mais não apenas conhecimentos técnicos, mas também competências interpessoais, tais como comunicação, trabalho em equipa, liderança e capacidade de adaptação. No entanto, atualmente os sistemas de educação formal não desenvolvem adequadamente estas competências. A ENF, especialmente através de organizações juvenis como o PEJ, tem-se afirmado como um complemento essencial à educação formal, oferecendo oportunidades de aprendizagem experiencial que promovem tanto a empregabilidade como a competência intercultural.
Utilizando uma abordagem de métodos mistos, este estudo analisou formulários de feedback, inquéritos e entrevistas com empregadores. Os resultados demonstram que a participação no PEJ contribui significativamente para o desenvolvimento de competências de empregabilidade, principalmente em relação a competências interpessoais e à capacidade de trabalhar em ambientes multiculturais. Além disso, as atividades do PEJ promovem a cidadania ativa, incentivando os jovens a envolverem-se mais nas suas comunidades e a assumirem papéis de liderança.
Este estudo contribui para o crescente corpo de literatura sobre ENF, fornecendo novas visões sobre como as organizações juvenis podem colmatar a lacuna entre a educação formal e as competências práticas exigidas pelo mercado de trabalho moderno. Também destaca o potencial de integração da ENF nas estratégias nacionais e europeias de empregabilidade jovem. A investigação conclui com recomendações para o desenvolvimento e reconhecimento da ENF, bem como sugestões para estudos futuros sobre os impactos a longo prazo da ENF na empregabilidade dos jovens.
This thesis explores the role of Non-Formal Education (NFE) in enhancing youth employability, focusing on the case study of the European Youth Parliament (EYP) Portugal. In an evolving global labour market, employers increasingly demand not only technical expertise but also soft skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability. However, traditional education systems often fall short of developing these competences. NFE, particularly through youth organisations like EYP, has emerged as a critical complement to formal education, offering experiential learning opportunities that foster both employability and intercultural competence. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study analysed feedback forms, surveys, and interviews with employers. The findings demonstrate that participation in EYP significantly contributes to the development of employability skills, with a particular focus on soft skills and the ability to work across cultures. Furthermore, EYP’s activities also promote active citizenship, encouraging young people to become more engaged in their communities and take on leadership roles. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on NFE by providing new empirical insights into how youth organisations can bridge the gap between formal education and the practical skills required by the modern labour market. It also highlights the potential for integrating NFE into national and European youth employment strategies. The research concludes by offering recommendations for further development and recognition of NFE and suggestions for future studies on the long-term impacts of NFE on youth employability.
This thesis explores the role of Non-Formal Education (NFE) in enhancing youth employability, focusing on the case study of the European Youth Parliament (EYP) Portugal. In an evolving global labour market, employers increasingly demand not only technical expertise but also soft skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability. However, traditional education systems often fall short of developing these competences. NFE, particularly through youth organisations like EYP, has emerged as a critical complement to formal education, offering experiential learning opportunities that foster both employability and intercultural competence. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study analysed feedback forms, surveys, and interviews with employers. The findings demonstrate that participation in EYP significantly contributes to the development of employability skills, with a particular focus on soft skills and the ability to work across cultures. Furthermore, EYP’s activities also promote active citizenship, encouraging young people to become more engaged in their communities and take on leadership roles. The study contributes to the growing body of literature on NFE by providing new empirical insights into how youth organisations can bridge the gap between formal education and the practical skills required by the modern labour market. It also highlights the potential for integrating NFE into national and European youth employment strategies. The research concludes by offering recommendations for further development and recognition of NFE and suggestions for future studies on the long-term impacts of NFE on youth employability.
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Keywords
Non-formal education Youth employability Soft skills Active citizenship Empregabilidade jovem Educação não-formal Competências interpessoais Cidadania ativa