Back on Track training pilot shows strong impact for rural NEET youth 

The Back on Track project has successfully completed the pilot phase of its mentor-supported, mobile-first e-curriculum for young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) across the Danube Region. 

Between October and December 2025, 51 young people from Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania participated in the programme. During the pilot, 150 courses were started and 123 were completed. A total of 43 learners completed at least one full course — an overall completion rate of more than 80%. 

The curriculum, structured across seven skill-based modules aligned with EQF levels 3–5, focuses on digital skills, financial literacy, professional competences and resilience. Delivered via Moodle and supported by dedicated mentors, the programme combines flexible online learning with structured human guidance. 

Confidence, skills and real life applications 

Evaluation findings show that the curriculum is both relevant and engaging when delivered with consistent mentoring support. Most learners reported increased confidence and practical skill development. The Digital Skills module emerged as the most popular, with participants applying their learning directly to real-life tasks such as writing formal emails, preparing CVs and creating online forms. 

Mentoring proved to be the key success factor. Where mentors provided regular check-ins and encouragement, learners remained motivated and were more likely to complete modules and plan next steps toward education or employment. 

Lessons for improvement 

The pilot also revealed areas for refinement. In contexts where learners faced significant socio-economic stress or low digital readiness, engagement was lower. Technical challenges and platform usability issues highlighted the need for stronger onboarding and simplified design. 

Another important insight was that the curriculum was too extensive for the pilot timeframe. Both learners and mentors recommended a more focused approach — confirming that “less is more” when working with highly diverse target groups. 

A flexible bridge model 

Overall, the evaluation validates Back on Track as a flexible transition model within the CEDEFOP NEET distance continuum. For more disengaged learners, the programme acts as a stabilisation and re-engagement tool. For those closer to the labour market, it functions as an activation and employability accelerator. 

With further simplification, improved usability and strengthened mentoring structures, Back on Track offers a scalable and evidence-based approach to supporting rural NEET youth on their pathway back to education, training and employment.