LJA Job Shadow is an innovative digital work readiness program that empowers high school students in Lithuania with real-world career experiences. By integrating ICT solutions, it connects students with professionals, offering live school meetings, inspiring webinars, group site visits, and individual job shadowing opportunities. These experiences help students develop critical workplace skills and gain practical insights into diverse industries.

The program bridges the gap between education and employment by leveraging the EdTech platform seseliavimas.lt, which streamlines student-professional matching, delivers interactive work readiness activities, and tracks progress through pre-/post-program evaluations. Since its launch, LJA Job Shadow has impacted over 10,000 students, particularly those from underserved communities, ensuring equitable access to career opportunities.

Recognized by Lithuania’s President for its role in youth empowerment, the program has also received global recognition in digital education awards. It aligns with WSIS Action Lines by promoting inclusive education, digital transformation, and workforce preparedness. By using technology to prepare young people for the future, the program creates new career opportunities, strengthens the workforce, and helps build a more inclusive digital world.

https://www.seseliavimas.lt/about

• Lithuania

• Youth

LJA Job Shadow can easily be adapted and implemented in different countries because it’s built on a flexible, technology-driven model. The seseliavimas.lt platform makes it simple to connect students with professionals, meaning any region can use a similar approach to bridge the gap between education and real-world careers.

What makes this program so easy to replicate is its mix of online and in-person experiences—from virtual career talks to company visits and job-shadowing days. This structure allows communities to shape the program based on their local industries and resources, whether in big cities or rural areas.

The program has already been recognized nationally and internationally, proving its effectiveness. With the right partnerships between schools, businesses, and policymakers, it can work anywhere that wants to help students explore careers, build skills, and get ready for the workforce.

This model is especially valuable for countries with a growing digital economy, a need for skilled workers, or young people who lack access to career guidance. By using existing technology or adapting LJA’s framework, any region can create its own version of this impactful program.

The program’s foundation is its digital platform, seseliavimas.lt, which makes it easy to connect students with professionals while keeping operational costs low. By using technology, the program can continuously evolve and improve without needing large-scale physical resources, making it both scalable and sustainable.

What makes LJA Job Shadow financially sustainable is its diverse and stable funding model. The program is primarily supported by municipalities, which see career readiness as a long-term investment in youth employment and local economic growth. Additionally, some businesses contribute as sponsors, as they benefit from engaging with future talent and strengthening workforce development. This ensures ongoing financial support while reducing reliance on temporary project-based funding. Sustainability is also built through strong partnerships with schools, businesses, and policymakers. Schools integrate the program into their career education efforts, while companies and professionals continue participating because they see its long-term value.

LJA Job Shadow promotes WSIS values in our community by using digital solutions to create equal access to career opportunities, strengthen work readiness, and connect education with the workforce. Through seseliavimas.lt, students from both urban and rural areas can explore different careers, connect with professionals, and gain real-world experience. This directly aligns with WSIS’s focus on digital inclusion and using ICT to expand access to knowledge and opportunities. By removing geographical and socioeconomic barriers, the program ensures that all students—especially those from underserved communities—have the tools they need to make informed career choices. The program also promotes economic and social development by preparing young people for the modern workforce. By bringing together schools, businesses, and policymakers, it strengthens collaboration between education and industry, ensuring that students develop skills relevant to the evolving job market. This reflects WSIS’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and fostering sustainable growth through technology. Additionally, LJA Job Shadow incorporates webinars, virtual mentorship, and digital resources, demonstrating how ICT can transform education and empower young people. By using technology to make career education more accessible and impactful, the program helps build a more inclusive, future-ready society, fully aligned with WSIS values.