Attracting university dropouts to vocational training in the state is the core objective of the state-wide Quickstart Saxony network. The interim review workshop on November 19, 2019 at the SMK in Dresden showed how existing regional advisory and placement services for the target group of university dropouts can be well bundled. The special feature of the project lies in the joint work of all Saxon university locations, several ministries, the Saxony Regional Directorate of the Federal Employment Agency and the employment agencies as well as the chambers, which were involved in the exchange.

The consolidation and qualification of advisory stakeholders were discussed. From next year, careers advisors at universities and other multipliers are to be trained in line with the "Talent Compass Saxony" concept. The focus will be on the challenges of advising dropouts and on methods for career guidance after dropping out of university.

Quickstart Saxony shows on its website that dropping out of university is not a failure and refers to alternative educational paths to a career. A radio spot in December will underline the presence of the lighthouse project throughout Saxony.

The Saxon universities - together with the project partners - will continue to work on optimizing the structures in the coming months so that dropouts can better reorient themselves on their individual career paths.

The project has been coordinated by the Graduate and Research Academy (GraFA) at TU Bergakademie Freiberg since April 2018 and will run until December 2020. It is funded via a bilateral agreement between the federal government (BMBF) and the Free State of Saxony [lead: Saxon State Ministry of Culture (SMK)].