The third regional seminar of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) for EU Candidate Countries takes place on 24-25 September 2018 in Tirana, Albania, jointly organised with the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Albania.

The purpose of the seminar is to discuss the latest policy developments in apprenticeships and work-based learning in EU Candidate Countries and share experiences between them and EAfA members.

The meeting will be opened by Ms Dajna Sorensen (Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of Albania) and by Mr Cesare Onestini (ETF Director). Representatives of the EU Delegation of the European Union to Albania and of Chambers of Commerce and Crafts will also have introductory remarks. The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU will deliver a presentation on its priorities.

Two thematic workshops will be organised focusing on the role of school-business liaison persons and on financing in the field of work-based learning.

The second day, participants will have the opportunity to visit schools and companies cooperating on work-based learning.

The seminar is part of the 2018 European Vocational Skills Week.

Target audience

There will be around 100 participants attending the seminar.

Delegations comprise representatives from candidate countries (governments, social partners, VET providers, companies, EAfA members, representatives from international organisations (e.g. EBRD) and staff from ETF and the European Commission.

The European Apprentices Network established in 2017 by the European Youth Forum and Obessu supported by the European Commission will play an active role in the seminar and will also hold an internal meeting in the margins of the event.

Background

The European Alliance for Apprenticeships was launched in 2013 to strengthen the supply, quality, image and mobility of apprenticeships. The Alliance is part of the EU's strategy to combat youth unemployment, as apprenticeships are a particularly effective form of work-based learning that eases the transition from education and training into work.

The EAfA has so far mobilised not only EU Member States, EFTA countries and a large number of stakeholders to engage in quality and effective apprenticeships, but also all five EU Candidate Countries - Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.

36 countries have made commitments on reforms and actions to strengthen apprenticeships, and 248 pledges have been signed by a wide range of stakeholders mobilising over 900.000 opportunities since 2013. Two new organisations - Rapsodia, Albanian Business Partner - will join the Alliance in Tirana, offering more opportunities for young people across Europe. 

The 3^rd European Vocational Skills Week will take place on 5 to 9 November 2018 in Vienna with the aim to promote excellence and attractiveness of vocational education and training.