In Palermo, participation in the four Prodigy round-table discussions exceeds expectations
Active participation, fruitful discussion and a willingness to forge new partnerships are among the most significant outcomes of the four round-table discussions organised in Palermo as part of the European project PRODIGY – PROmoting Digital and Green Skills for Youth. The meeting on 27 October, hosted by theUniversity of Palermo, brought together young people, businesses, universities, employment services and third-sector organisations, sparking a dialogue that exceeded the organisers’ expectations in terms of the level of participation and the quality of the contributions.
Following the presentation of the project’s regional findings, participants engaged in discussions across four thematic groups focusing on social inclusion, job seeking, self-employment and lifelong learning. The experiences shared highlighted obstacles that still exist in accessing opportunities, but also provided concrete suggestions for strengthening collaboration between the various local stakeholders. The findings from the round-table discussions thus represent an initial shared body of analysis and proposals, to be utilised in the project’s forthcoming activities and in collaborations that may continue beyond its conclusion.
1. Young people and social inclusion: being able to choose one’s own future
The first roundtable, coordinated by Pietro Galluccio (Europe Direct Palermo), examined the impact of family, economic and cultural circumstances on young people’s aspirations and their ability to freely choose an educational and career path. In some contexts, the urgent need to contribute to the family income drives even motivated and capable young people to abandon promising educational pathways. The discussion highlighted the need to provide practical support for access to training, taking into account the costs of professional qualifications and the time required to obtain them. Particular attention was paid to young people who are in work, have family responsibilities or come from more vulnerable backgrounds. Offering opportunities also means creating the practical conditions so that everyone can seize them, thereby strengthening confidence in one’s own abilities and the possibility of planning for the future.
2. Young people and job-seeking: tailored guidance
The second round-table discussion, chaired by Corrado Tiralongo (University of Palermo), highlighted the limitations of standardised approaches aimed at NEETs, a category encompassing vastly different personal, educational and professional circumstances. A young graduate who needs to make the most of their soft skills has different needs from someone who left education early and requires digital literacy, basic technical training and motivational support. Hence the importance of multi-level guidance, capable of adapting to people’s needs and to the characteristics of the local business landscape, which consists mainly of micro-enterprises. The roundtable also emphasised the need to improve communication regarding employment services, using clearer language and channels that align with young people’s habits, to ensure that opportunities are effectively publicised and accessible.
3. Self-entrepreneurship and innovation: working with young people
The third roundtable, facilitated by Sabrina Infuso (JESic), explored the conditions necessary to transform an idea into a sustainable business venture. Alongside the interest in start-ups and innovation, there is a clear need to foster an entrepreneurial culture from school onwards, developing skills such as perseverance, the ability to collaborate, flexibility and relationship management. Among the obstacles identified are the lack of opportunities for young people to engage with established businesses and the complexity of procedures for accessing funding.
The discussion also drew on a reflection by Guglielmo Minervini, a leading figure in Italian social innovation: ‘We must not work for young people; we must work WITH young people.’ This principle calls for recognising young people as active partners, involving them directly in decisions and in the planning of initiatives that concern their future. Participation thus becomes an essential component of social innovation pathways.
4. Lifelong learning and equal opportunities: measuring change
The fourth round-table, coordinated by Marcello Di Vita (Speha-Fresia), addressed the issue of the quality and impact of training programmes and active labour market policies. Evaluation should take into account not only immediate quantitative results but also lasting changes in people’s skills, well-being and career prospects. Particular attention was paid to the quality of work placements and work integration experiences: a warm welcome from the company, mentoring and clear career prospects are key to nurturing and retaining talent in the local area. The roundtable also highlighted the need to consolidate partnerships between universities, job centres, businesses and the third sector, ensuring they remain active even beyond the duration of individual funding schemes. The continuity of these relationships was recognised as a strategic investment in local development.
Through participation in a stable network
A common perspective emerged from the four roundtables: building career opportunities requires an ongoing investment in people and relationships. Technical skills must go hand in hand with confidence in one’s own abilities, accessible services, personalised guidance and a willingness on the part of businesses to invest in young people. In her closing remarks, Monica Guizzardi, of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, emphasised the value of trust: young people’s trust in their own potential, businesses’ trust in local talent and organisations’ trust in their ability to collaborate. The quality of participation in the round-table discussions now provides a foundation on which to build further initiatives. The model trialled with PRODIGY – which combines flexible training, practical exercises, digital badges and individual support from a career coach – can be strengthened through the involvement of businesses and new partnership agreements. The shared objective in Palermo is to keep the dialogue open, transforming the relationships forged into concrete opportunities for career guidance, training and employment. This approach values the contribution of all those involved and recognises young people’s active role in shaping their own future.
