Evaluation based on a participant survey of the ESF-funded programme "Training Programme NRW"

The promotion of around 1,000 additional training places per year for young people with placement barriers is currently taking place in 34 North Rhine-Westphalian cities and districts where the training market situation is unfavourable. Through the programme, certified training providers attract interested training companies. The vocational counsellors of the employment agencies and job centres suggest potential participants to the training providers who are then placed with the companies. In the first phase of the training, the trainees receive support or coaching from the training provider. During the first 24 months of training, the company is financially subsidised to create an additional incentive to provide training places.

The evaluation is to examine the implementation, the achievement of objectives and the effects of the NRW training programme. The evaluation is designed to be summative rather than formative, especially since the programme has already been implemented since 2018. In all steps of the evaluation, the focus is on obtaining concrete and implementable  recommendations for action to improve the achievement of objectives and effectiveness as well as the further development of the programme. The focus is on the participants, as the company and provider perspectives are covered by a parallel research project.

A mixed-methods approach is used, which includes both quantitative (standardised survey, evaluation of statistical data) and qualitative research methods (guideline-based expert interviews, problem-centred interviews, focus groups, workshops).