Project partner: Bundesagentur für Arbeit

Challenge: „Redesign ways to attract school dropouts in the context of creating new forms of empowerment and new formats of learning.“

During the research phase, the student team understood quickly that there are very diverse reasons for students to drop out of school. A common experience among the youth, however, is insecurity about their own abilities and little knowledge about jobs that would fit their skills and interests. Often, the programs provided by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit are not perceived as being useful for their specific needs. The student team learned that it is not a lack of motivation for education or work that hinders these students of becoming active. What they lack is a supportive environment that accompanies them on their way.

In order to support the students in developing a vision for their future and to enhance their awareness of their skills, the HPI D-School team developed a 4-step program that will last from 6 to 12 months. As part of the program, students will have individualized workshops with mentors, excursions to potential employers, internships and a digital companion in the form of an app.

The “Wayfinder”-pilot kick-off was on 13 June 2019 at Agentur für Arbeit Berlin Nord.