The event will be built around papers that present new evidence or offer analysis on the challenges and opportunities that digitalisation already brings or may bring for apprenticeships in the future. Paper presentations will be complemented by presentations by Cedefop and the OECD, panel discussions and Q&A rounds with the engagement of participants.
Digital technologies have the potential to boost more inclusive and sustainable growth by spurring innovation, generating efficiencies and improving services. Digitalisation and automation, underpinned by advances in robotics, artificial intelligence and other digital technologies, have an impact on employment, changing skill needs and potentially resulting in skill mismatch. They also support the development of new forms of work and learning, such as platform or gig work, remote ICT-based work, distance or blended learning, crowdlearning.
As new or redefined skills may be required, apprenticeships, by being tightly linked to the labour market, can provide opportunities to develop the right skills for the digital transition, both for youth in initial education and for adults in need of upskilling or reskilling. They can support and foster the transformation processes triggered by digitalisation, at least in terms of new or redefined training content/learning outcomes. At the same time, digitalisation presents an opportunity for apprenticeships to adjust to new forms of training that are facilitated by new technologies.
The symposium will explore the link between apprenticeship and the digital transition in two strands:
A. What is the impact of digitalisation on the demand for apprenticeship training (e.g., in terms of new or redefined skills, occupations, programmes, curricula etc.)?
B. What is the impact of digitalisation on apprenticeship training supply (e.g., teaching and training methodologies, training of teachers and trainers to use new technologies etc.)?
Information for participants
Preregistration is now open. Click here to submit your interest to attend the event in person.
Agenda Outline – March 2023
Please note that times stated are indicative. Final agenda will be communicated two weeks before the symposium.
Thursday, 15 June: 10:00-17:30 local time
- Opening speeches
- Setting-the-scene presentations by Cedefop and the OECD
- Sessions of paper presentations
- Q&As / discussions
Friday, 16 June: 10:00-15:00 local time
- Sessions of paper presentations
- Q&As / discussions
- Panel discussion with representatives from the implementation level
- Closing messages
As announced, the organisers do not cover any travel or accommodation costs, but offer:
- Coffee and lunch during each day of the event
- Shuttle services on specific time from central points in Thessaloniki to Cedefop premises and back according to the symposium programme
- Special rates in specific hotels, depending on their room availability
Information for authors/ presenters
Cedefop and the OECD have received abstracts on both strands following a call for papers
A joint Cedefop/OECD panel has already assessed the abstracts and authors of the most relevant ones have been informed to develop full papers. Selected, papers will be (a) presented during the 2023 Symposium and/or (b) included in the subsequent joint Cedefop/OECD publication.
Key steps and dates for authors:
- Deadline for draft full paper: 1 March 2023
- Draft full paper review by Cedefop/OECD: 2 May 2023
- Deadline for symposium presentations: 9 June 2023
- Event: 15-16 June 2023
- Deadline for full paper: September 2023 (provisional, tbc)
- Expected publication date: January 2024 (provisional, tbc)
The 2023 Symposium continues the joint work of Cedefop and the OECD on apprenticeships. See more about our past events and publications: