Abstract:

The prior knowledge of the organisational environment in which graduates will work is important in the transition from the university to the active life of work. When young are hired, they go to another culture, and there are changes that can affect their path and evolution in the institution if they are not trained. Knowing the culture of an organisation is extremely important to see how the student relates, the choice that the student will make when applying for a job. Student help can come from higher education institutions through career guidance and counseling centres, or through non-governmental organisations specifically set up to work in the student environment.
Starting from the need to know the organizational environment of the construction companies and the real needs of the employers, and at the same time to increase the degree of involvement of the academic environment in social accountability actions, the project "Centre for Career Counselling of Pupils and Students in Construction Field - ISCOP ", co-financed by the European Social Fund.

The project was implemented by a representative construction company in partnership with the Faculty of Constructions and Building Services from "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, and the "Gheorghe Asachi" High School of Iasi, with training programs in the construction field, from Romania.

The general objective of the project is to facilitate the insertion into the labour market and the development of the work skills of pupils and students, by creating a partnership between the educational units and the business environment in the construction field.

The project proposes an innovative method of organising and conducting internships, in which pupils and students are offered periods of practice in accordance with their curriculum, in the collaborators' network of the project initiator. This method of trainee approach brings significant added value and is able to provide a relevant level of skills and knowledge of company activity for scholars and students. In this way, young people gain greater trust in their abilities and felt motivated to confirm the expectations of employers.

Within the project, the “ISCOP Counselling Centre” was created through which 580 students and pupils benefited from counselling and professional guidance activities, as well as the organisation and implementation of practical training sessions for 217 beneficiaries, of which 188 were students and 29 pupils.

The paper presents the results of the project with a direct reference to changing the passive attitude of the young people who formed the target group of the project, and to ways of identifying and finding personal solutions, accessing information on the labour market, maintaining the link with the responsible institutions and organizations acting in labour market regulations, but also with economic agents.

Keywords:

School/university/industry collaboration, pupils/students insertion into the labour market, the development of the work skills and knowledge, civil engineering.