NEXT-UP aims to explore and forecast the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the transition of youth from school/education to work/employment (YTSTW), co-creating evidence-informed, future-oriented policies and programmes alongside innovative stakeholder engagement. The project emphasises inclusivity, particularly supporting disadvantaged groups for equitable job access.

 NEXT-UP fosters a social innovation model to facilitate effective interactions among diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, employers, and youth organisations, to co-create and implement effective strategies for YTSTW. Informed policies and sustained social innovations through NEXT-UP are expected to lead to responsive and resilient educational and employment systems in Europe, innovative educational programmes, and enhanced support for young people entering the workforce. This will significantly impact the formation of social innovation ecosystems to address youth employment challenges in the post-pandemic era and promote social and economic inclusion across Europe.