Researchers Meeting – NextGen Opportunity

20/01/2026

From 12–15 January 2026, project partners met in Cavan, Ireland for the Researchers' Meeting which was hosted by Blackwater Training. The meeting focused on developing a shared research framework on employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship. Key areas of work included survey design, focus group methodology, indicators, and evaluation criteria. Partners jointly agreed on research objectives, roles, and timelines that will guide the implementation of research activities across all participating countries.

Club for Youth Empowerment 018 (KOM 018, Serbia), together with its partners RDAS – Regional Development Agency South (Serbia), Beyond Borders (Italy), Blackwater Training (Ireland), Nordic Crew (Denmark), Youth Progress (Czech Republic) and ATDD (Romania), is pleased to launch the NextGen Opportunity project. This European cooperation initiative aims to address youth unemployment, with a particular focus on young people facing social and economic disadvantage.

Project Objectives

The NextGen Opportunity project seeks to:

  • Analyse the employment landscape and identify gaps in support across six European countries

  • Establish Entrepreneurship and Employment Clinics to provide practical guidance and tailored support for young people

  • Promote self-employment and entrepreneurial skills development

  • Strengthen collaboration with stakeholders and policymakers to improve youth employment systems

  • Contribute to long-term, evidence-based policy recommendations for youth employment

Through coordinated research, mentoring, skills training, job placement support and advocacy activities, the project will support young people in accessing meaningful employment opportunities and developing sustainable career pathways.

The project runs from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2027 and is implemented in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Serbia. It is co-funded by the European Union.

NextGen Opportunity represents a shared commitment to improving youth employability through cooperation, innovation and practical action.

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