Apprenticeships have remained high on the European policy agenda for more than a decade, as reflected in recent initiatives such as the Herning Declaration and the 2023 ILO Recommendation on Quality Apprenticeships. Their growing prominence stems from their capacity to respond to changing labour market needs, expand to new sectors and occupations, and deliver strong labour market outcomes for graduates. With apprenticeships expected to feature prominently in the forthcoming European VET Strategy, ensuring high-performing, attractive, relevant and effective apprenticeship schemes remains a key policy priority across Europe.
Against this backdrop, Cedefop and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) organised the webinar Quality Apprenticeships in Europe on 1 July, bringing together European and national policymakers, researchers, social partners and apprenticeship stakeholders to discuss findings from Cedefop's cross-country analysis on the quality of apprenticeships in the EU.
Progress in strengthening apprenticeship quality
Drawing on the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (Council Recommendation, 2018), the analysis examines how apprenticeship schemes across Europe have strengthened key quality elements while identifying common success areas and shared challenges, helping Member States understand how to achieve broader and higher levels of apprenticeship quality.
The findings show that many core quality elements are already well established across apprenticeship schemes:
all analysed schemes are based on agreements defining the rights and obligations of apprentices and employers
all schemes lead to recognised qualifications
apprentices are paid in every scheme analysed
in around 80% of schemes, workplace learning accounts for more than half of the programme.
The analysis also highlights progress in several areas, including:
strengthening regulatory frameworks
improving progression opportunities to higher education and training
increasing the contribution of labour market actors in shaping qualifications and curricula
providing financial and non-financial support to employers and learners.
Together, these quality elements improve the labour market relevance of apprenticeship programmes, help address skills shortages, contribute to productivity, increase programme attractiveness and inclusiveness, and strengthen collaboration between education and labour market stakeholders.
From evidence to policy action
The analysis also identifies areas where further efforts can strengthen apprenticeship systems across Europe, including:
strengthening the quality assurance of workplace training through company accreditation, monitoring, assessment and requirements for in-company trainers
promoting more equitable and sustainable cost-sharing arrangements
strengthening monitoring and evaluation to better demonstrate apprenticeship benefits for learners, employers and society
reinforcing the role of social partners and labour market actors in coordination and decision-making.
The webinar concluded with an expert panel discussion exploring practical approaches to the design, implementation and continuous improvement of quality apprenticeship systems. Drawing on national experiences from across Europe, speakers demonstrated how collaboration between policymakers, education providers, employers and social partners helps translate quality principles into practice. Discussions highlighted the importance of supportive regulatory frameworks, stakeholder engagement and continuous dialogue, while showing that all actors have a role in improving workplace learning and supporting VET providers, training companies and learners.
Looking ahead, Member States face a dual challenge: broadening the implementation of quality elements across all criteria of the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships while deepening their implementation through a more comprehensive use of quality indicators within each criterion. Cedefop's cross-country analysis will continue to support policy dialogue on strengthening apprenticeship quality and contribute to discussions in the context of the forthcoming European VET Strategy.
In case you missed the webinar, you can now watch all the highlights of the event here.