Online event: The role of regions and cities in supporting apprenticeships, upskilling and reskilling in the health sector
On 23 March, the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR) held the online event ‘The role of regions and cities in supporting apprenticeships, upskilling and reskilling in the health sector’. This was the final event in a series of three roadmap events leading to a high-level conference on apprenticeships on 3 and 4 June. The discussion explored local and regional initiatives for training, upskilling and reskilling health workers, taking into account the future skill needs of the sector.
The Cedefop Skills Forecast projects that, by 2030, the EU healthcare sector will have grown by 10.1% and added close to 2.2 million jobs to the European economy. That is why it is important for the vocational education and training (VET) sector to develop a good method of collaboration with the health sector, so they can mutually benefit from each other. A good practice example from the Basque Government showed how VET centres can be commissioned by local government and hospitals to produce personal protective equipment and repair essential medical devices, such as respirators.
One of the key priorities of the Renewed EAfA is mobilising local and regional authorities, as it recognises the central role they play in fostering and implementing apprenticeships. Apprenticeships and lifelong learning initiatives play an important role in providing adults with the opportunity to reskill and join the health sector. The pandemic has increased the demand for medical staff, and one of the key takeaways from the event was that it is crucial to make the medical profession more attractive. Speakers also suggested that regional networks of VET providers can respond to the changing needs of society by adapting their curricula to ensure education continuity and relevance for students. Additionally, factors such as wage, working hours and conditions were identified as needing improvement.
The event was chaired by Ilias Lievanos from Cedefop’s Department for Skills and Labour Market, and moderated by Sandra Parthie of the German Economic Institute. It was organised in close cooperation with the European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning, the German delegation at the CoR, and the Basque Government.