Transnational mobility under the ESF in Sweden

1. Brief description of planned programme

The mobility scheme of Sweden has its origin in a joint initiative within the ESF Transnational Learning Network, initiated by the European Commission. By promoting and using mobility as a method, the aim is to strengthen the target groups position on the labour market by way of internships abroad.

The added value of internships abroad consists of a number of factors, such as:

- increased probability that the participants complete the internship and thus develop to a greater extent. Participants tend to value the internship being far from home, and thus making it more difficult to interrupt at the first adversity

- the greater challenge of living abroad makes for an increased opportunity for development. The transnational exchange includes not only internships, but also the challenge of living in a new country, in a different environment, and living with and meeting previously unknown people

- the contextual change entails an opportunity for participants to release their negative self-images

- a motivator to break with an environment that has consisted of passivity, an inability to get away from home and the surrounding structures.

The common denominator for the mobility projects are the inclusion of the following phases:

-a preparatory phase, where participants take part in a variety of activities in order to increase their self-knowledge, enhancing their self-belief, and preparing them for both the labour market as well as the mobility itself, including language, culture and social customs of the host country

- the mobility phase, where participants train their social ability and job skills at a local company, while being supported by a partner organisation as well as the initial support of accompanying staff for a varying length of time

- a follow-up phase, where participants are expected to benefit from their experiences in order to strengthen their position in the labour market, as well as having an improved life situation.

2. Intended target group

Young people aged 18-30 in long-term unemployment, with disabilities and/or mental illness, low levels of school performance and school leavers.

3. ESF Thematic Priority

The Operational Programme of the Federal Government for the European Social Fund (ESF) for the funding period of 2014-2020 serve as a legal basis for the programme, and the mobility scheme is in line with the objectives and priorities of the 8th priority axis of the OP.

4. Timeline for calls of proposals

The programmes were concluded in 2021.

For more informations, please download this document.