This Action encompasses the creation of a European-led multidisciplinary network from countries showing higher NEET youth rates in rural areas. Rural NEETs’ Youth Network (RNYN) aims at developing a model of comprehension for rural NEETs’ social exclusion risk and protective factors based on the bioecological model. It focuses on three specific goals:

(1) upholding future research capability, with an emphasis on Early Career Investigators (ECI) and Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC);

(2) creating a rural NEETs’ online observatory;

(3) fostering knowledge use by policy makers and practitioners.

The RNYN work plan will be produced by 3 working groups; it will contribute to define a coherent model for future research, based on
an intensive survey of national and cross-national trends regarding rural NEETs’ profile and support systems, as well as methodological and intervention best-practices in the field. RNYN added value stems from an
eclectic theoretical, disciplinary, institutional and international approach and in upskilling ECI in ITC that are more affected by high rural NEET rates. In the long run, RNYN’s scientific impact will lead to the creation of a
rural NEETs’ observatory, integrating ECI in a broad multidisciplinary community and strengthening the COST Inclusiveness Policy. Long-term socio-economic impact is expected to be translated into (in)ternational legislation to tackle rural NEETs’ needs and promote sectoral innovations. RNYN is a timely proposal by creating networks/platforms to organize findings, connect critical mass dealing with rural NEETs and build up research capacity. It is also socially relevant, by aiming at informing policies and on-the-ground practices.