The Project
SEQ Elevate was designed to tackle the social challenge of unequal access to competitive labor market skills faced by young people from marginalized groups. The project's social innovation goal is to bridge the widening gap of limited training options and traditional methods - which often fail to cater to their preferred learning styles or address the crucial social and emotional skills needed for job success - by developing a holistic learning approach, combining interactive micro-lessons with an innovative gamified digital app and engaging living labs, as flexible and self-paced learning options that resonate with the preferences of marginalized youth. Through this innovative approach, the project aims to increase employability and access to promising job opportunities for young people from marginalized groups.
Our Approach in a nutshell
From co-design to scaling up successful models.
Co-Design
We don't design *for* youth; we design *with* them. NEETs are involved at every stage to validate our tools.
Scaling The Vienna Model
Adapting the successful "Wiener Wochen" concept to pilot 40-hour immersive "Living Labs" in partner countries.
Digital Innovation
Blending face-to-face workshops with a gamified app to maintain engagement and track progress.
Our Priorities
Designed to support vulnerable youth in re-engaging with learning.
Upskilling vulnerable youth (NEETs)
The project prioritises young people who are not in employment, education, or training—especially those facing multiple barriers such as migrant background, early school leaving, disability, or living in remote areas—by offering accessible pathways back into learning and work.
Development of social and emotional (transversal) skills
A central priority is strengthening transversal competences essential for the labour market and social economy, including communication, teamwork, adaptability, empathy, resilience, self-reflection, leadership, and problem-solving, which are often missing from formal curricula.
Informal, flexible, and learner-centred education
SEQ Elevate prioritises non-formal and informal learning approaches that better match the learning styles and needs of vulnerable youth, allowing self-paced, low-threshold, and engaging participation through micro-learning units.
Innovation through digital and gamified learning
The project emphasises innovation by developing a multilingual, gamified digital tool that integrates micro-units, self-assessment (SEQ Comp Cards), and micro-credentials, increasing motivation, accessibility, and learner engagement.
Co-design with target groups and stakeholders
A strong priority is the active involvement of NEETs, social economy actors, NGOs, public bodies, and local stakeholders in designing, testing, and validating the learning model, tools, and outreach methods to ensure relevance and ownership.
Local engagement via Living Labs
SEQ Elevate prioritises community-based implementation through Living Labs inspired by the Vienna Weeks model, combining workshops, counselling, peer learning, and direct contact with labour market actors in safe, inclusive local settings.
Employability and labour market reintegration
All activities are oriented toward improving employability, confidence, and readiness for the labour market, particularly within the social economy and sustainable sectors.
Recognition and validation of learning
The project prioritises the validation of non-formal and informal learning through micro-credentials and digital badges, aligned with the European approach to micro-credentials, enhancing the credibility and transferability of acquired skills.
Social inclusion, equality, and EU values
SEQ Elevate embeds inclusivity, gender equality, non-discrimination, accessibility, and respect for fundamental rights across all activities, ensuring ethical participation and equal opportunities.
Sustainability, transferability, and policy impact
The project prioritises long-term impact by promoting uptake of the SEQ methodology beyond the project lifespan, supporting scalability, integration into existing training systems, and dialogue at EU policy level.
Our Target Groups
Primary Target Group
Vulnerable young people aged approximately 18–30 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEETs), including early school leavers, young migrants, youth from disadvantaged or remote areas, and young people with fewer opportunities.
Secondary Target Groups
- Social economy actors and social enterprises.
- NGOs and community organisations working with youth and vulnerable groups.
- Trainers, educators, youth workers, and career counsellors.
Local and public authorities involved in employment, education, and social inclusion. - Policymakers and EU-level stakeholders in skills, youth employment, and social innovation.
Work Packages
WP1
Project Management
WP2
The First Step: SEQ Methodology through Co-Design
WP3
The SEQ Gamified Digital Tool
WP4
The SEQ Living Labs
WP5
Communication Dissemination and Sustainability
Impact & Outcomes
Delivering measurable change for youth and the social economy.
Short-Term Outcomes
Improved social and emotional skills among vulnerable young people (NEETs).
Increased engagement and motivation to re-enter learning pathways.
Higher self-confidence, self-awareness, and resilience.
Practical use of micro-learning units and the gamified digital tool.
Active participation of NEETs and stakeholders in co-designed learning activities.
Initial validation of skills through self-assessment and micro-credentials.
Stronger local connections between youth, trainers, and social economy actors.
Long-Term Outcomes
Improved employability and sustainable labour market integration of vulnerable youth.
Reduced risk of long-term unemployment and social exclusion among NEETs.
Widespread recognition of social and emotional skills as essential labour market competences.
Increased uptake of informal and non-formal learning pathways in training systems.
Long-term use and scaling of the SEQ learning model, digital tools, and Living Labs.
Stronger local and European ecosystems supporting youth inclusion and the social economy.
Enhanced policy awareness and integration of innovative skills development approaches.