European Alliance for Apprenticeships

We are pleased to share that our annual High-Level event was a success! Taking place on 17-18 June, ‘Unleashing untapped potential: apprenticeships as a response to labour shortages’ gathered experts, policymakers and key stakeholders to explore apprenticeships as a key solution to labour shortages. 

As well as recognising labour shortages as a persistent challenge for the EU, the two-day event included panels on filling labour gaps, the Youth Guarantee, guidance for apprenticeships and unlocking opportunities for adults. As day two came to a close, participants were invited to reimagine apprenticeships in Europe and exchange insights on addressing labour shortages through apprenticeships before networking at the Get Together event that followed. In case you missed it, you can catch up with the event material. 

Also taking place in June was a European Apprenticeships Network meeting which covered topics such as navigating the workplace as an apprentice, the mechanisms behind apprenticeship funding, and factors contributing to improved quality of life. 

Read more about the High-Level event key takeaways in our article. 

The EAfA Community on the Green and Digital Transition was launched in June 2023 and has expanded to more than 70 members. It has advanced significantly in examining the connection between apprenticeships and the dual green and digital transition. The Community aims to help apprentices acquire the skills needed to navigate the twin transition, paying special attention to awareness gaps, the digital divide, and the transition-related skills.  

Learn more about this Community. 

Continuing on this topic, since 2022, the Pact for Skills has continued to make big leaps in its progress. An impressive handful of results showcasing the impact of its members’ activities include:  

Now to look at some fresh initiatives. Aiming to increase learning mobility abroad, the Commission’s new proposal ‘Europe on the Move’ recommends increasing, among others, the target of participation of VET learners, including apprentices from 8% by 2025 to at least 12% by 2030.  

 Adopted by the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council on 13 May 2024, the Council Recommendation strives to make learning mobility experience opportunities a norm, making VET more attractive for students. The proposal not only covers the mobility of VET learners but was also looking into improving the opportunities for apprentices to spend part of their apprenticeship abroad. 

Learn more about Europe on the Move. 

On 20 March, the Commission adopted a new action plan to address labour and skills shortages in the EU. The plan outlines measures for the EU, Member States and social partners to enhance growth, competitiveness and opportunities for all.  

Building on initiatives like the European Skills Agenda and the European Year of Skills, the plan targets issues such as demographic changes, job growth from the green and digital transitions, and poor working conditions. It focuses on five key areas: supporting underrepresented groups, boosting skills development, improving working conditions, enhancing intra-EU mobility, and attracting talent from outside the EU. 

The second edition of the one-year Mutual Learning Programme on individual learning has officially kicked off. The initiative is designed to support Member States in enhancing adult participation in training through a series of three dynamic workshops. Following the first edition in 2023 featuring Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Italy, Poland, Romania and Hungary in an observer role, the 2024 edition welcomes Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta as well as Germany and the Netherlands as observers.  

Participants will explore practical steps for establishing individual learning accounts, governance, course quality and relevance, financing, and the enabling framework. During workshops they will build capacity, expertise and commitment to implement the Council Recommendation on Individual Learning Accounts at the national level. 

Following the 2023 call, 15 new projects have been selected to receive support from Erasmus+ to develop translational networks of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE). These projects span diverse high-growth sectors such as hydrogen technologies, offshore energy, climate-smart agriculture, construction, tourism, biodiversity, 3D printing, the battery sector, and data management. They also cover thematical issues, like social inclusion. 

The Erasmus+ CoVE initiative helps VET providers to rapidly adapt to changing economic and social needs, offering initial training for young people and upskilling and reskilling for adults.  

Between April and November 2024, there will be a mid-term review of the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027. The aim is to gather views on the plan’s effectiveness, as well as to prepare for emerging challenges and how they can be addressed at EU level. Based on this review, the Commission will propose additional or new measures if necessary. 

Have your say about Digital Education Plan.

On 19 April, the EAfA hosted a webinar on the crucial role of apprenticeships in promoting sustainability in the tourism and hospitality sectors. The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) estimates over 7 million job vacancies in the sector by 2035, highlighting the urgent need for skilled workers. However, the industry faces challenges like workforce shortages and inadequate training provisions, with job satisfaction at a low. 

During the event speakers highlighted successful initiatives such as the GreenHost project, which focuses on green skills and sustainable practices, and EFFAT’s efforts to enhance job satisfaction and attractiveness in the sector. Projects like Next Tourism Generation and PANTOUR are also working to understand and meet the evolving skills demands. 

Read the full recap and watch the recording.

For the first time, the Inter-Agency Group on Technical Vocational Education and Training (IAG TVET) meeting was hosted by the European Commission on 29 April. The IAG TVET is a unique platform that brings 17 different international organisations together to advance the global TVET and Skills Agenda.   

Led by UNESCO, the event brought together several United Nations bodies, including UNESCO-UNEVOC and UNIDO, as well as European agencies like CEDEFOP and ETF, alongside the OECD and the ILO. The IAG TVET working groups tackled crucial topics such as enhancing work-based learning and quality apprenticeships, shaping the future of vocational education with a focus on excellence and inclusion, modernising and digitalising career guidance, and promoting green skills development in VET. 

We are pleased to welcome the following new EAfA members since March 2024:  

Browse EAfA’s pledges.  

The EAfA Champions initiative aims to create a robust network of advocates amplifying the work of the EAfA and contributing to increased engagement in apprenticeships across Europe. As a champion, members benefit from increased visibility, support with content creation and networking, as well as opportunities to share their insights at EAfA events. EAfA champions are individuals representing the EAfA member organisation they belong to. The contact person for the organisation that has made a pledge will first be offered the role of an EAfA champion, and from there they can nominate a colleague to take part on their behalf.  

Interested in becoming a Champion? Get in touch via eafamembers@ecorys.com 

Looking more broadly at skills, on 30 April 2024, The European Year of Skills – What Comes Next? event celebrated the Year, its achievements, people, and future projections with over 1,000 participants in Brussels and online. It featured prominent political and stakeholder panels, inspiring speeches and interactive discussion groups. 

Commissioner Nicolas Schmit concluded the event stating that “the push coming from the Year of Skills should be continued and even increased, the spark is there – now we have to get the fire burning”. If you missed it, check the event recording, the full agenda and the video on the Real People, Real Skills project. 

Don’t forget to visit the EAfA website to stay on top of everything the Alliance and the European Commission do to strengthen the quality, supply and overall image of apprenticeships across Europe.  
 

Make sure to also join the EAfA LinkedIn Group and share your ideas, upcoming activities and useful resources on apprenticeships. In this group, you will find a network of friendly and supportive professionals from across Europe, including government representatives, VET and apprenticeship providers, and other experts.