What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In April 2016, a national committee for lifelong guidance delivered a report on increasing the quality and accessibility of career guidance in schools. The report suggested equal rights to career guidance for apprentices as for school pupils, and setting up an online platform for guidance in lower and upper secondary education. It also suggested opening career guidance centres for adults in all counties. In Norway, skills policy and career guidance are tightly connected. Skills Norway is...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
National Committee for Lifelong Guidance
Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills
The objective is to attract more students to VET through restructuring its management and making it less bureaucratic. A stronger focus on practical issues in primary and lower secondary education, reconstruction of the basic course in VET, greater security for internships and reduced dropout rates, a stronger involvement of the municipalities in guidance and a stronger focus on professional VET school boards are all expected to increase the attractiveness of VET. The aim is also to increase...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
On 22 November 2018, parties in the Danish Parliament concluded an agreement to increase the attractiveness of VET.
The main initiatives under the agreement were:
more professionalism in primary schools: students must also meet practical, creative and artisanal challenges in primary school;
a stronger foundation for choosing youth education: students must be challenged in their choice of youth education;
municipalities must have greater responsibility for young people's search for VET, which...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2015-17, NQF and EQF levels continued to be added gradually to qualifications and certificates. The NQF and the levelling of qualifications thus became a visible part of national education databases. The framework is operational and forms an integral part of the Danish education and training landscape. Two (interconnected) websites are available: the nqf. dk website, which targets the international public; and the ug. dk website, which provides the national public with comprehensive...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
On 19 December 2018, the Ministry of Finance presented a new policy action targeted at giving young people more room in choosing their education pathway or in changing pathways. Aspects of the initiative include:
a new subsidy and taximeter system: the current grant and taximeter system in youth education does not in itself motivate schools to focus on quality and has become too opaque. The government will therefore initiate a review to implement changes and simplify the system;
better...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Legislation aims to address the needs of each learner and provide the adequate environment to achieve their goals, promoting equity and equal opportunities throughout compulsory education.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The legislation introduced in 2018 and amended in 2019, aims to promote inclusive education and enable schools to recognise and respond to learners' diversity, individual needs and capabilities. It established a flexible learning model, which addresses the unique needs of learners and targets the acquisition of common knowledge throughout their school paths, regardless of the specific education or training programme in which they are enrolled. This legislation offers learners opportunities...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education (Until April 2024)
Directorate General for Education (DGE)
National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education and Training (ANQEP)
Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI)
The aim of the project is to improve the quality and content of 21st century vocational training and adult education.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The aims of the project Improving the quality and content of 21st century vocational training and adult education (GINOP - 6.2.4) include the review of the examination system, the development of a validation system and the preparation of a methodology for VET content development that is compatible with open and innovative learning settings as well as the demands of the economy. Uniform criteria were also developed to strengthen the external evaluation system in CVET. Criteria include...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Culture and Innovation
IKK Innovative Training Support Center (IKK Nonprofit Plc.)
National Office for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning (NOVETAL)
To facilitate access to educational resources that are specifically used for distance learning or education processes.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In education authority VET, the education community can find and create structured teaching material ready to be downloaded and used by teachers and learners in Procomún, the Repository of open educational resources (OER) of the ministry, operated by the National Institute for Education Technologies and Teacher Training (INTEF). Another initiative is the Educational Technology Observatory, which provides a virtual library with articles for teachers written by teachers about how to use...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (until 2023)
Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports
Establishment of the national system for validation of non-formal and informal learning and certification of competences, for lifelong learning.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The Law 92/2012 on the reform of the labour market defines for the first time in Italy the validation of non-formal and informal learning, as one of the key elements to ensure and implement lifelong learning in a comprehensive and systematic manner, establishing rules and regulatory requirements (standards) concerning the characteristics of the system and the stakeholders involved, ensuring transparency, usability and broad accessibility of validation/certification services (IVC).
In recent...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Labour and Social Policies
Regions and autonomous provinces
Ministry of Education and Merit
Ministry of Education (until 2022)
Ministry of Universities and Research
Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (until 2019)
To reduce early leaving from education and training through actions addressed in the 2015 national strategy:
to implement prevention, intervention and compensation programmes and measures to address the major causes of early school leaving, with a focus on reaching young people aged 11 to 17;
to reduce the share of young people aged 18 to 24 and lower secondary graduates not involved in further education or training (early school leavers). The goal is to reduce this share to less than 11.3% by...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The national strategy to reduce early school leaving in Romania was adopted in June 2015. It is based on prevention, intervention and compensation in thematic/policy areas and addresses the following directions of action/pillars:
ensuring access to quality education for all children;
ensuring the completion of compulsory education by all children;
reintegration into the education system of people who left school early;
developing adequate institutional support.
The strategy targets children...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education
Ministry of National Education (until 2021)
Institute of Education Sciences (until 2020)
Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Pre-university Education
Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (until 2021)
County school inspectorates
National Centre for Policy and Evaluation in Education (Unit for Research in Education)
Supporting teachers to better respond to the specific learning needs of disadvantaged learners is crucial. Especially regarding Roma learners, as they are facing challenges they were not prepared for within initial training. In-service training of teachers should prepare them to better adjust to disadvantaged learners' needs.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
For a long time ESF projects have been crucial in promoting teachers' in-service training regarding assisting disadvantaged learners, including Roma. In 2017, the implementation of the ESF 'Open school for all' project gave a new impulse to this effort. The project aims to further strengthen professional competences of teachers and teacher assistants in the provision of inclusive education to Roma within mainstream general education, an important prerequisite for provision of subsequent VET.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth
National Institute of Education and Youth (NIVAM)
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport (until 2024)
Based on specific criteria, underdeveloped districts are entitled to additional support from the government (state budget and EU funds). Developing action plans for respective districts addressing unemployment and identifying relevant investment opportunities is a precondition for the intervention of the government. Some measures address VET as an instrument for improving the qualifications of those at risk of unemployment.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Five-year action plans were launched in 2016 to address unemployment in the most vulnerable districts. Training centres and regional education centres, i.e. secondary VET schools, in originally 12 and gradually 20 districts (out of 79), identified as underdeveloped, were partially funded by ESIF.
The training centres are meant to provide practice-oriented training for the disadvantaged unemployed or low-qualified. The regional education centres are expected to address the specific needs of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Parliament of Slovakia
Government Council for Underdeveloped Districts
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for Investments and Informatisation
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatisation
Council of the Government for Regional Development and Cohesion Policy of the European Union
Enrich the public discourse on lifelong learning and skills development, learn from international experience in preparing a new lifelong learning strategy, a new act on lifelong learning, and in achieving coherence in future policies on skills development.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The education ministry has started an international project (with a budget of EUR 350 000) aimed at elaborating a National skills strategy for the Slovak Republic, in cooperation with the OECD. A launch conference was held on 29 January 2019 and a final OECD report is expected by the end of March 2020.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport (until 2024)
The objective of the national programme was to identify priorities for reforming the education system, including VET, and to quantify expenditures for respective measures.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
On 27 June 2018, the government approved the National programme for the development of education (NPDE). The NPDE was adopted, with 106 measures to be fulfilled until 2027. Some measures related to regional schooling and higher education are relevant also to VET. Measures directly aiming to align VET to labour market are as follows:
increasing the quality of dual VET through the funding of professional and employer organisations involved; they will receive approximately EUR 1 million annually...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport (until 2024)
To describe measures addressing identified weaknesses or suggested improvements.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In September 2017, the education ministry published the Learning Slovakia strategy paper, following a public discussion on a draft version from March 2017. The VET-related chapter of this strategy paper for the first time in the official documents clearly defines and distinguishes between the diverse forms of work-based learning: dual VET, as set in the 2015 Act on VET; work-based learning within VET school-enterprise agreements but without individual learning contracts; short-term...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport (until 2024)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2016-22 ESF project Professional support for development of key competences of adults focuses on encouraging participation in lifelong learning and raising the level of key competences for vulnerable groups through effective outreach, innovative instructional approaches and learning materials (including videos and other multimedia).
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To improve the level of literacy, numeracy and digital skills of adults (the unemployed, employees and the inactive) with a low level of education and training and/or help them acquire at least an EQF level 1 qualification.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2015-20 lifelong learning strategy addressed the acquisition and validation of key competences that help early leavers from education to find jobs. The measures included revision of the validation methodology, quality assurance and training of staff in assessment centres of prior learning. The allocated financing allowed 45 000 adults to acquire key competences.
In order to facilitate access to upskilling for low-qualified adults, the labour ministry introduced EQF level 1 qualifications...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education
Ministry of National Education (until 2021)
Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (until 2021)
To reduce unemployment among young people, and especially young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs): all young people under the age of 25 who lose their job or who do not find a job after finishing their studies receive, within 4 months from registering with employment agencies or at youth guarantee centres, an offer of good quality employment, continuation of education, apprenticeship or internship.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Since 2016, the Youth guarantee implementation plan has put emphasis on initiatives that combine employment with training of the workforce, which gives young people the opportunity to improve their skills obtained during initial education and to acquire new skills through participation in apprenticeships and traineeships. The new Youth guarantee implementation plan for 2017-20 continues all the measures of its predecessor.
The Youth guarantee implementation plan for 2017-20 focuses on...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education
Ministry of National Education (until 2021)
National Agency for Employment (ANOFM)
Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (until 2021)
To improve the quality of validation of non-formal and informal learning (VNFIL).
To improve the evidence-based approach to the validation of non-formal and informal learning by developing tools for collecting and analysing relevant data from the target groups.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2018, the regulatory framework for validation and recognition was revised with a view to introducing QA measures for validation and recognition. Specific criteria for certification of evaluator and external evaluator competences and additional requirements for assessment and certification, organised by the assessment centres, were introduced in legislation. By 2019, there were 37 fully functioning local assessment centres that could validate prior learning of candidates, mainly in...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education
Ministry of National Education (until 2021)
National Qualifications Authority (ANC)
Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (until 2021)
To develop an education and training system adapted to the demands of the labour market and its direct and indirect beneficiaries through fostering the labour market relevance of VET; improving participation and facilitating access to VET programmes; improving VET quality; and fostering innovation and cooperation in VET.
To reduce unemployment among young people, and especially young NEETs and ensure that all under age 25, who lose their job or who do not find a job after finishing their...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The strategy for education and vocational training in Romania for 2016-20 was adopted in 2016 (government Decision No 317 on 27 April 2016). It proposes the development of both an open-access and attractive and competitive system, offering quality education and training services in order to respond quickly and relevantly to the needs of people and the economy through efficient management of available resources. All individuals should benefit from the opportunity to acquire high-level...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education
Ministry of National Education (until 2021)
National Centre for TVET Development (CNDIPT)
Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity
Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (until 2021)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In March 2017, the government presented a white paper: Desire to learn, early intervention and quality in schools, that foresees timely support for all learners (including VET) with difficulties in reading, maths or writing. According to the white paper early intervention will be strengthened and all learners with difficulties in reading, maths or writing will get intensive instruction in these subjects; also a lower quality threshold will be introduced for them. In 2017, a budget of about...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Within the Youth unemployment action plan (Aanpak jeugdwerkloosheid) 2015-16, work agreements (werkakkoorden) have been concluded (75 in 2015; ended in 2017) between employer organisations, trade unions, large employers, and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. In these agreements, employers express their intention to support young people in finding a job by offering them a place to learn. Employers are also invited to open up jobs to...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
to minimise the skill gaps that exist in some of the in-demand sectors such as the digital, technical and financial sectors (main aim);
to recommend policy changes to the government that would reduce these gaps and equip the labour force with the right skills, to meet the future challenges.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In November 2016, a National Skills Council (NSC) was set up to establish the institutional framework for the anticipation of skills needs in Malta. The NSC is made up of representatives from:
the Ministry for Education and Employment;
University of Malta;
the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST);
Jobsplus (PES);
the Institute for Tourism Studies;
the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry;
Malta Enterprise;
lifelong learning entities and the civil society.
One of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry for Education (MFED)(until 2022)
Ministry of Education and Employment (MEDE) (until 2020)
Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research & Innovation (MEYR)
Guidance-related projects aim at improving guidance services for at-risk young people, to support their social inclusion, active participation in lifelong learning and their smooth integration into working life, thereby preventing school dropout.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Since 2014, following the adoption of the Youth guarantee, the public employment service (ADEM) and the National Youth Service (Service national de la jeunesse, SNJ) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth have been implementing guidance-related projects, many of which were part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Erasmus+ programme.
The Act! Jeunes project, offered an alternative programme of vocational training using, among others, theatre approaches to help...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
to develop the assessment of a person's acquired competences to allow them to obtain a qualification;
to develop the assessment of general competences acquired by a person;
to develop a system for the recognition of foreign qualifications;
to monitor the assessment of a person's acquired competences.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2016, to address the problem that non-formal training for unemployed adults organised by the public employment service (the Lithuanian labour exchange) did not lead to formal qualifications, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport agreed to enable validation and recognition of learning outcomes gained through such courses. That year, the employment service also began working on using modern methods of testing (ProfileXT) and tests in native languages to...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Particular emphasis, in line with the National plan for digital education (PNSD), is given to the following goals:
creation and development of innovative environments for teaching and learning and improvement of schools' digital equipment;
develop and strengthen teacher, learner, school director and staff digital competences;
develop and strengthen teacher, learner confidence in applying innovative teaching and learning methodologies in order to stimulate the process of learning in the...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2016, the education ministry adopted the multi annual National plan for digital education (PNSD). The plan has coordinated government, region and municipality digital resources, as well as managed all the projects focusing on digital education and innovation. The plan can be seen as a consequence of the Good school Law which emphasises the development of digital skills.
The plan aims to link education institutions with lifelong learning and life-wide learning in formal, informal and...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education (until 2022)
Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (until 2019)
Given the results of the analysis, the overall objective of recent policy developments are:
to provide alignment between skills demand and supply;
to strengthen skills supply either in the education and training system, improving school-work transitions, or in the labour market, improving continuous training of the workforce, with a view to preventing exclusion from the labour market;
to implement investments in innovative assets for the skills supply chain, such as 'digitalisation';
to...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
A National strategy for competences/skills has been launched based on the education and training (Good school) and labour (Jobs Act) reforms. Both reforms aim to improve the competences of young people and adults, including NEETs, and to provide new competences for the (long-term) unemployed and employees. The strategy also links skills with the labour market demand. As a result of the National strategy for competences/skills, cognitive (including basic skills), professional and particularly...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The development of data IT systems to track FET graduate outcomes, known as the Programme and learner support system (PLSS).
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The PLSS is a suite of software applications that are designed to provide an integrated approach to the collection and processing of personal data of users of PLSS and FET programmes funded through SOLAS, and the outputs, outcomes and performance of such programmes.The data are informing the SPAs between the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and SOLAS.
The PLSS consists of three elements:
national programme database (NDP) - a depository of all programmes/courses designed to be run by FET...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Various FET programmes (some of which include VET) have undergone external evaluation. For example, in 2017 the post-leaving certificate (PLC) programme underwent an evaluation by Ireland's Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Based on the recommendations arising from the evaluation, SOLAS established a PLC programme improvement advisory committee to develop an improvement plan. Actions to be implemented under this plan include:
the readjustment of the balance between PLC...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The SPAs define how ETBs contribute to achieving national performance targets for FET success in 'generating outcomes of employment, progression, active inclusion, lifelong learning, meeting critical skills needs, and new models of delivery' (National FET Strategy 2020-24).
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Each SPA set out plans for the development and innovation of the VET system and include each ETB's contribution to the national FET system targets agreed with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS). Measures and targets can vary by ETB, and take into account their regional characteristics, such as educational attainment, unemployment rates, enterprise base. Every year, the SPAs are reviewed and necessary amendments are agreed.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS)
Further Education and Training Authority (SOLAS)
City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB)
Cork Education and Training Board (CETB)
Donegal Education and Training Board (DETB)
Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB)
Dublin Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB)
Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB)
Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB)
Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB)
Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB)
Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB)
Limerick Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB)
Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB)
Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB)
Mayo Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB)
Tipperary Education and Training Board (TETB)
Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2025 National skills strategy is targeted at ensuring relevance of education and training to the needs of learners, society and the economy. It is based on active involvement of employers and quality teaching and learning, with a perspective of lifelong learning and inclusion. The strategy points to the need for employers - especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) - to provide work placement opportunities for learners.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Department of Education and Skills (until 2020)
Department of Education
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS)
To increase the number of apprenticeship and traineeship programmes and learners as a core contributor to Ireland's growth as a society and economy.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The Action plan to expand apprenticeship and traineeship 2016-20 in Ireland focuses on the actions required to achieve some of the goals set out in the National skills strategy 2025, the current programme for government in which Ireland aims to significantly grow work-based learning using the apprenticeship and traineeship modes of learning and skills development, and the education action plan. The actions outlined in these plans are funded through a variety of sources, depending on the...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Department of Education and Skills (until 2020)
Further Education and Training Authority (SOLAS)
Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS)
The GINOP 6.2.2 project, which began in 2016, aims to make vocational education and training more effective, developing the competences of upper secondary VET students, increasing the quality of their school performance and preparing them for lifelong learning, thus reducing the number of students leaving VET programmes without a qualification or reducing the number of early school leavers.
The GINOP 6.2.3-17 project aims to facilitate the overarching development of VET institutions to...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
To achieve its target of reducing early school leaving to less than 10%, Hungary has introduced two projects since 2016: Reducing the number of students leaving VET without a qualification - GINOP 6.2.2 VEKOP/15 and Overall development of VET structures - GINOP 6.2.3 - 17. Vocational training programmes are free of charge for SEN learners. They are also allowed to remain in full-time education regardless of their age. The 2019 reform opened up new opportunities for workers of any age to get...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Culture and Innovation
National Office for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning (NOVETAL)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Since 2015, the National Office of Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning has been responsible for the development and operation of the national careers guidance system. A careers orientation working group was set up in 2015 to survey and coordinate careers orientation in VET centres and to develop methodological guidelines. Based on its work, a nationwide careers orientation event was organised in 2016 (Night of the Professions) and since then it has been held annually....
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
National Office for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning (NOVETAL)
IKK Innovative Training Support Center (IKK Nonprofit Plc.)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The legal framework for a skills needs forecasting system was established in 2016. EIEAD was given the mandate to coordinate the development of the Mechanism of labour market diagnosis. A coordination committee was put in place, consisting of representatives from the ministries of labour, education and economy, EOPPEP, the regions, OAED and social partners. The Mechanism was established in 2016. In 2017, its methodological framework (data collection and processing, procedures for mapping...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
National Institute of Labour and Human Resources (EIEAD)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
A circular from the Ministry of Education issued in March 2016 allows students who made a wrong choice of VET programme to change their mind and move to another programme, whether in VET or general or technological education.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research
Ministry of National Education and Youth (until 2024)
Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports (from 2020 till 2022)
Reducing school dropout is a priority. A right to delayed training aims to give young dropouts a chance to return to initial education and training under scholar or trainee status.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Any student who, at the end of compulsory schooling, has not attained a level of training recognised by a national diploma or a professional qualification registered and classified at or above level 3 of the national register of professional qualifications (RNCP) must be able to pursue studies to acquire a qualification. The State provides the means necessary, as part of its responsibilities, for the resulting continued schooling. Any young person leaving the education system without a...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of National Education and Youth (until 2024)
Ministry of Labour, Full Employment and Inclusion
Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports (from 2020 till 2022)
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Professional Integration (until 2022)
To enhance digital literacy and technical expertise in response to emerging needs in different sectors - including ICT, automation and cyber-technologies- by providing targeted vocational training.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Within the framework of the 2016 State-Regions partnership agreement, 500 new training courses are offered in VET upper secondary schools (lycées professionnels) since September 2017. Almost 70% of these courses lead to national diplomas, with more than 20% of them being offered in apprenticeships or combined school-based / apprenticeship pathways. On completing an initial VET programme, graduates my continue with a second training programme leading to additional qualification, either to...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Labour, Full Employment and Inclusion
Ministry of National Education and Youth (until 2024)
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Professional Integration (until 2022)
Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports (from 2020 till 2022)
The aim of the initiatives is to ensure the success of young people seeking apprenticeship training.
The 2015 Success in apprenticeship initiative supports apprenticeship programmes for young people from prioritised disadvantaged urban areas underrepresented among apprentices. The Prépa apprentissageprogramme, established by the 2018 law, aims to meet the needs of young people wishing to move into apprenticeship training and needing support to prepare and strengthen their basic skills to...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2015 Success in apprenticeship initiative has put in place 142 projects in 20 regions, most involving the local youth employment and social integration centres (Missions locales) in partnership with apprentice training centres (Centre de formation d'apprentis, CFA). Programmes last 12 months and include guidance. The 2018 Law for the freedom to choose one's professional future sets up a mechanism to support those target group members who wish to enter an apprenticeship with a view to...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Labour, Full Employment and Inclusion
Delegate Minister for VET under the education and labour ministers
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Professional Integration (until 2022)
Ministry of National Education and Youth (until 2024)
Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports (from 2020 till 2022)
The aim is to support NEETS and low-qualified young people in access to training and to acquire a qualification at EQF levels 3 and 4 and contribute to equality of opportunity.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Within the framework of 2016 partnership agreement between the State and the regions to support employment and social inclusion, a strategy was set out to extend the range of qualifications that can be gained through apprenticeship. The aim is to support NEETS and low-qualified young people in access to training and acquire a qualification at EQF levels 3 and 4. At least 11 sectors have expressed interest in the approach, including the construction, temporary work, metalwork, plastics and...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Labour, Full Employment and Inclusion
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Professional Integration (until 2022)
Ministry of National Education and Youth (until 2024)
Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports (from 2020 till 2022)
National guidance policies aim to provide learners with information and guidance on their future education and career options, including apprenticeships, and to provide individualised support for forward planning.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The Pathways for the future (Parcours d'avenir) measure, announced in 2015, has been in place in all lower secondary education schools since September 2015. It is available to all learners from lower to the end of upper secondary years (from Sixième to Terminale). A particular focus is placed on apprenticeships.
A practical guide for the implementation of the Parcours d'avenir measure has been circulated to the heads of institutions. It emphasises the importance of raising awareness of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research
Ministry of Labour, Full Employment and Inclusion
Delegate Minister for VET under the education and labour ministers
Regional authorities
Ministry of National Education and Youth (until 2024)
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Professional Integration (until 2022)
Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports (from 2020 till 2022)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In the education system, the process towards an integrated vocational guidance system was initiated in 2018. A working group was set within the General Council for Vocational Training, with the aim of laying down basic principles and legal provisions. In guidance under employment authorities, the Action plan for youth employment (2019-21) foresees the hiring of 3 000 professional counsellors by the regional PES to provide guidance services in connection to the common services portfolio. The...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (until 2023)
Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports
The Strategic plan for vocational training aims to make VET more responsive to the needs of the productive system, meeting skills demands in a quick and prospective way.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The new government, in power since June 2018, reorganised the administration. The change of name in the education administration state, now the Education and Vocational Training ministry (previously Education, Culture and Sports), reflects the new strategy to promote VET. In October 2018, the Government presented the Strategic plan for vocational training under education authorities. In February 2019, the Council of Ministers published the Agenda for change (Agenda del Cambio). The agenda...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (until 2023)
Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports
The 2017-20 Spanish employment activation strategy includes projects and measures to rationalise the unemployment protection system, to develop a set of tools, infrastructures and information systems necessary for the modernisation of the national employment system, and to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness. These include measures aimed at strengthening and developing management and evaluation systems, and particularly at improving the management system and support for the Youth...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Employment authorities have reflected the policy priority given to dual VET and apprenticeships, including them as structural objectives in the 2017-20 Spanish employment activation strategy approved in December 2017. The strategy takes into account recommendations made to Spain both within the framework of the National reform programme and by the European Network of Public Employment Services (SPE-UE Network). The strategy covers dual and alternance training, regarded as key elements for...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
An entrepreneurial mindset and entrepreneurship education are developed at all levels and in all types of education with the aim to contribute to the growth of graduates' competitiveness in the labour market.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In the Labour market and education cooperation programme, EUR 10 million has been devoted for 2015-20 to supporting the development of entrepreneurship competence at all levels and in all types of education (including teacher training). An entrepreneurial competence model and entrepreneurship education modules for EQF levels 2-5 were prepared and piloted in 14 VET schools.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The aim of the programme was to create high-quality, flexible and diverse vocational training opportunities for the Estonian population that meet their needs and abilities and the development needs of the labour market.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The programme was adopted in 2015. It is implemented through a single measure (Correspondence between lifelong learning opportunities and the needs of the labour market and increased participation in learning). Its main activities are:
developing the quality and organisation of vocational education;
planning of volumes of studies, provision of study places and students´ support measures;
regional distribution of curriculum groups in vocational education institutions and modernisation of the...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education and Research
Information Technology Foundation for Education (HITSA) (until 2020)
To offer career counselling and information to the whole population on a unified basis to assist people in finding appropriate educational and work opportunities, making and carrying out choices.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In April 2018 the government decided to connect the career services of Innove Rajaleidja centres with the career service system of Eesti Töötukassa (the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund). The objective is to offer career counselling and information to the whole population on a unified basis. Since January 2019, Eesti Töötukassa has thus been providing career advice and career information services for everyone, including schoolchildren. The Ministry of Education and Research is still...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The aim is to ease the transition of learners from compulsory education to VET and/or to the labour market.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The orientation year aims at easing the transition from compulsory education to VET and/or to the labour market. It is a preparatory study programme for young people who lack the skills or readiness to choose a profession.
Vocational orientation is targeted mainly at pupils with difficulties in deciding their field of studies, learners with SEN, learners who have dropped out from VET or upper secondary general education, NEETs, learners with a migrant background, or those lacking the basic...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The objectives of the Alliance for initial and further training are:
reducing the number of young people without school leaving certificate;
providing each person with a path leading to a VET qualification;
reducing the mismatch between applicants seeking apprenticeship places and companies offering them, and supporting the regional mobility of applicants;
strengthening further training, particularly advanced VET at tertiary level;
increasing the number of apprenticeship places and companies...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2015-18 Alliance for initial and further training was agreed between the Federal Government, Federal States, business and industry, the unions and the Federal Employment Agency at the end of 2014.
Within the alliance, sectors committed to providing 20 000 places annually for introductory training (transition programme), which has been implemented: 17 500 young people took up this type of training in 2015 and 21 000 in 2018. Evaluations showed that around 70% of young people moved into...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) (until December 2021)
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration
German Trade Union Confederation (DGB)
Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK)
Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA)
Federation of German Industries (BDI)
German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH)
Federal association of liberal professions (BFB)
Federal Employment Agency (BA)
Federal States (Länder)
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
The final goal of standard support instruments (Social Code, SGB III) in the transition from school to work and of the policy programme Educational chains is the completion of a qualification by all young people by supporting them in the following fields:
obtaining a general school leaving certificate;
making the transition from school to training;
completing a full VET qualification successfully.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Nationwide standard support measures anchored in the Social Code (e.g. SGB III) cover the transition from school to work, for example with various forms of vocational preparation and continuous support during training. The main measures are: vocational orientation, training entry and placement support, introductory training (internship placement), vocational preparatory measures, assistance during training and vocational training grant.
In 2016, measures within the Educational chains...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Federal States (Länder)
Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)
Federal Employment Agency (BA)
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS)
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
The objective is to define a model of a quality school that allows for external and internal school evaluation.
It is planned that the project results in setting of a complex system through which the individual segments of initial education system is able to carry out evaluation of quality and effectivity of education based on sophisticated methods, procedures and tools synergistically linked to both national and international space while reflecting socio-economical aspects of education. At...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In July 2016, the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport approved the Quality school model, which was developed by the Czech School Inspectorate (CSI) in 2015. It identifies and evaluates provision and outcomes of education, their compliance with school-based curricula and links to the national curricula. The model of a quality school allows for external and internal school evaluation in line with the EQAVET. It includes criteria and methodology for inspections in all types and levels of...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
From October 2016 to September 2018, the Erasmus+ project Apprenticeship helpdesk for small and medium sized enterprises in Cyprus (and Poland) aimed to build the capacity of key intermediary bodies to support those SMEs (small- and medium-sized enterprises) offering training places for apprentices. The need for this project derived from past experience, when the lack of support structures for enterprises deterred SMEs from offering apprenticeships. The main project goals were to:
set up a...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth (MoECSY) (until 2022)
Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ministry of Education and Culture (MoEC) (until 2019)
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Based on the 2015-20 strategic plan for technical and vocational education and training, a proposal for upgrading the apprenticeship system, in cooperation with the apprenticeship board, was approved in August 2015. The reform affects both the preparatory and core programmes;
at preparatory apprenticeship level: to respond to the needs of students from different academic backgrounds, two different classes (A and B) are offered. Assessment criteria have been developed for students wishing to...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth (MoECSY) (until 2022)
Ministry of Education and Culture (MoEC) (until 2019)
To offer jobseekers including early leavers in Brussels the possibility of training in digital skills.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Thanks to the financial resources of the European Social Fund (ESF) made available within the framework of the Youth employment initiative 2, pilot training courses have been set up with experienced partners:
MolenGeek: training as a mobile web developer - or coder / coder in everyday language - and in e-marketing;
BeCode Brussels: training as a mobile web developer, AI data developer / developer, Devsecops (cybersecurity training).
Launched in March 2017 in Brussels, these projects intend to...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Bruxelles Formation (Brussels Institute for Vocational Training)
Orientation and guidance measures aim at supporting the public in defining their professional career and the related requirements by emphasising the discovery of trades and establishing contact with professionals from several sectors.
Amongst the implemented measures available to the public, Cités des métiers aim to be centres of excellence in guidance, entrepreneurship, working and training. They also contribute to the promotion of technical professions, to the organisation of events linked...
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Several centres of excellence in guidance, entrepreneurship, working and training were set up, namely one Cité des métiers centre in Namur in June 2016 and another one in Brussels in 2018. Founded in May 2019 by the Government of the Walloon Region, the University of Liège and Le Forem, the non-profit organisation named Centrale des Métiers de Liège is responsible for the Cité des Métiers project in the city of Liège.
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Public Service of Wallonia (SPW) for Economy, Employment, Research - Department of Employment and Vocational Training
To link data on learning pathways with information on labour market participation more easily.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2017, progress was made towards more easily linking administrative data on learning pathways with information on labour market participation. Based on an agreement between the Flemish public employment service (VDAB) and the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training, schools will, in the future, receive data not only on the progression of their graduates towards higher education (as was the case so far) but also on the transition of their IVET graduates to the labour market. VDAB and the...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
The dual learning system, which includes a large proportion of work-based learning, aims to close the gap between education and the labour market, and reduce early school leaving and youth unemployment.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In April 2015, the Flemish government approved the resolution for implementing pilot projects on dual learning. Between 2015 and 2019, a series of pilot projects experimented with the concept of dual learning.
Dual learning is an integrated secondary education pathway that consists of general education, vocational training, and work experience at the workplace, leading to a secondary education qualification. The number of days spent on the job depends on the field of study. In dual learning,...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Facilitating access to employment through a close-to-reality learning experience in a highly realistic training environment.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
In 2015, the CVET centre in Sankt Vith introduced the virtual enterprise Vithalit as a new learning scheme to allow a close-to-reality learning experience in a highly realistic training environment. From merchandise traffic to business relations, all procedures mirror commercial practice. The programme promotes integrated learning and aims at facilitating (re-)entry into employment. Since the launch of the programme, the trainees participated in various national and international fairs for...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
BIDA's goal is to support young people facing difficulties in entering apprenticeship programmes as well as apprentices who are at risk of breaking their training contract or who have already dropped out of training. The aim is getting them back into the dual vocational education and training (VET) system. The target group also includes migrants (including refugees) and learners with disabilities.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
On 1 January 2016, the Centre for Education and Training (ZAWM) in Eupen set up the 2-year ESF project Vocational integration through training guidance in dual education (BIDA) for the German-speaking community. BIDA's goal is to support apprentices who are at risk of breaking their training contract or who have already dropped out of training, with the aim of getting them back into the dual vocational education and training (VET) system.
The BIDA project offers custom-made services to young...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
To reduce the number of early school leavers and young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs).
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The legislation introducing a training obligation until the age of 18 was approved by parliament in 2016 and came into force in the summer of 2017. Since July 2017, young people who would otherwise not continue education and training beyond compulsory schooling (age 15) or discontinue a programme they have taken up, will have to undertake some form of training until they have passed the age of 18. Those who do not get a place in a school or in a company to do an apprenticeship must either:
...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth (BMAFJ) (until 2020)
Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) (until 2022)
Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)
Federal Ministry of Labour (BMA) (until 2022)
Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection
Increasing the transparency and recognition of partial qualifications on the labour market and in training companies, considering especially the needs of disadvantaged learners (young people who cannot find a regular apprenticeship place or have disabilities or special educational needs) for such proof.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
The 2015 amendment to the Vocational Training Act provided for standardised forms of partial qualifications. As a consequence, while individualised training is still possible, the Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs can provide guidelines for standardised partial qualifications to ensure they are recognised on the labour market and also to make it easier for learners to continue training in the corresponding apprenticeship trade.
In the province of Upper Austria, training for the first...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) (until 2022)
The aim is to support training progress and to avoid dropout.
Description
What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.
Coaching and counselling for apprentices and companies (in particular the apprenticeship trainers) has been mainstreamed across Austria since October 2015. These services were evaluated in a 2018-19 pilot project. In particular, guidance and counselling can be divided as follows:
youth coaching: this is an assistance programme for young people at the end of their mandatory schooling or after they drop out of school. Within the coaching process they should get to know their personal skills,...
Bodies responsible
This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO)
Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth (BMAFJ) (until 2020)
Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW) (until 2022)
