1Description
Since 2014
2Foundations
This instrument is implemented under priority "Educating the society and strengthening the potential of human resources" of the Operational programme for the European Union Funds' Investments in 2014-2020.
Provide support for projects of apprenticeship and the acquisition of sectoral competences, and also for the development of a sub-system for qualifications obtained in the working environment. The rationale for the intervention is to increase workforce competitiveness, ensuring opportunities to adapt to economic needs.
Prepared training programs for apprenticeship are the result of the close cooperation between educational organizations and employers. Programs are constructed in such a way to satisfy the need of market and employers.
Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Lithuania
Ministry of Education and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, ESFA, training providers.
The instrument is financed by ESF. The value of signed contracts is €4,763,804. The funding from the European Social Fund is €2,663,132. The remaining amount is private funds.
Direct beneficiaries include pupils and other people seeking apprenticeships or seeking to obtain professional competences relevant for the labour market, in order to improve their possibilities for employment. Indirect beneficiaries include educational organizations, who prepare training programs, together with employers, tailored to apprenticeships and meeting business needs, as well as employers, who benefit from an enlarged supply of labour.
3Processes
The programme prepares specialists with relevant skills for employers and labour market needs. The training programs are focused on the needs of each company, by conducting surveys and assessments of the training needs of new staff in formal/non-formal training programs, and providing new qualifications and training needs for the required occupations. The measure is aimed at training employees of enterprises:
1) Apprenticeship training for the qualification or part of it.
2) Training in the workplace to improve qualifications.
The training is organized by the project promoter (employer) at the workplace, assigning a teacher or apprentice teacher (trained person by the project promoter or partner). It is also possible to buy training (no more than 30% of the curriculum time) and knowledge assessment services. At least 70% of the training time must be devoted to practical training (not applicable if the formal training program or its module has a different relationship between practical and theoretical training).
Subsidies for open calls. Subsidies are dedicated to training providers and enterprises that provide practical training at a work place. Teachers' (e.g. a craftsman or another position at production) working hours with apprentice are being financed and theoretical studies (training providers) are financed.
Two more calls will be launched with some updates.
The program was launched with 7 professional training centres. The need in 2015 doubled and some adjustments were implemented in order to satisfy the need. The number of stakeholders was increased to 12 and 5 labour training centres were involved.
There has only been one call for application. All projects are still under implementation.
The following indicators are monitored: the number of employees participated in ESF trainings, providing qualification or competence; the number of trained employees from micro, small and medium organizations; the number of people participated in activities based on formal education courses or modules basis; and the percentage of successfully trained graduated people, who apply knowledge between 6 and 24 months after graduation.
4Sustainability
There was only one call for applications. All projects of this call are still under implementation. There is no possibility to evaluate the benefits while all projects are under implementation. At this moment, the numbers of learners, involved social partners and training providers are counted.
Regulation EU No 1303/2013, article 5.
The mechanism of instrument implementation and coordination, processes of collaboration among professional training schools, employer and apprentice could be transferred to another country.
One call for applications is planned during the period 2017.