Career Orientation for Female and Male Students by Municipal Authorities in the Free State of Saxony (SMK FRL BO kGKS)

The funding program "Career Orientation for Pupils by Municipal Authorities in the Free State of Saxony" strengthens municipal initiatives and supports districts as well as independent cities in Saxony in measures for career orientation. The program offers a grant for the implementation of essential projects that promote school-based career orientation. The measures include, among others, the establishment and operation of regional coordination offices (RKO), which intensify cooperation between general and vocational schools, as well as innovative projects such as "komm auf Tour" and the "SCHAU REIN! Week of Open Companies Saxony." For a successful application, qualified personnel are required, for example, those with completed vocational training and several years of relevant professional experience. These initiatives specifically target pupils in grades 7 and 8 of various school types, thus providing an important contribution to early career choice and the overall career concept.

The funding is granted as a subsidy, with the funding rate reaching up to 75 percent, and in certain cases even up to 90 percent of eligible expenses. Specifically, for example, up to EUR 90,000 per fiscal year can be approved for the operation of regional coordination offices, up to EUR 30,000 for the implementation of the "komm auf Tour" project, a flat rate of EUR 13,000 for the "SCHAU REIN! Week," and up to EUR 135,000 per fiscal year for coordinating cooperation. A prerequisite for eligibility to apply is that all general secondary schools in a region are covered and that the personnel employed are professionally qualified. Particular emphasis is placed on target group-oriented implementation of the projects, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and sustainable contribution to career orientation.

The program requires adherence to clearly defined deadlines: while FG1 and FG4 applications must be submitted every two years by November 1 of the previous year, FG2 applications offer a flexible period from January to November of the implementation year, and FG3 applications, with a duration of nine months, must be submitted by November 1 of the previous year. Timely submission of applications not only ensures the punctual progression of funding periods but also contributes to the professionalization of educational offerings. Thus, the funding program represents a strategic instrument that promotes the career orientation of young people while simultaneously strengthening cooperation between different educational institutions. Interested municipal authorities take this opportunity to further develop regional educational offerings and provide young people with a sustainable perspective for the transition into the professional world.