Referencing to EFQEA

 

Information provided by Cedefop databases on apprenticeships can be referenced to the criteria set by the Council Recommendation on a European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (EFQEA, 2018).

The table below presents a first referencing exercise of Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes and the Database on financing apprenticeship in the EU with the EFQEA criteria. Questions or variables of Cedefop online databases that provide relevant information are listed below each EFQEA criterion[3].

To see country-specific information relevant to the EQFEA, you may visit the corresponding database (links provided in the first column), select the corresponding country or scheme fiche and look for the specific question(s) or variable(s) in which you are interested. In the following months the referencing exercise will be fine-tuned and retrieval of information available in Cedefop databases relevant for the EQFEA will be more direct and interactive.

EFQEA criteria for learning and working conditions:

relevant information available in Cedefop databases on apprenticeships

1. Written contract
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q27. Is any contractual arrangement between the learner and company, required as per regulation?
Q28. What is the nature of the contractual arrangement?
Q29. Where is the contract or the formal agreement registered?
Q35. Is the company hosting apprentices required by regulation to follow a training plan at the workplace?  

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Apprentices remuneration - characteristics
2. Learning outcomes
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q16. Which is the type of qualification obtained through the apprenticeship scheme?
Q20. How is the scheme linked to a training programme?
Q21. If the scheme is implemented via specific apprenticeship programme, what is its duration?
Q22. If the scheme is not implemented via specific apprenticeship programme, how is duration of apprenticeships defined in the regulation?
Q35. Is the company hosting apprentices required by regulation to follow a training plan at the workplace?
Q38. What is the role of chambers, employers’ and employees’ representatives, sectoral councils (if existent), in shaping apprenticeship content, as per regulation?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Education and training level eligible (instrument fiches)
3. Pedagogical support
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q35. Is the company hosting apprentices required by regulation to follow a training plan at the workplace?
Q36. What are the requirements on companies to provide placements, as per regulation?

4. Workplace component
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q23. Is there a distinction between the training time and working time for the period spent at workplace, as per regulation?
Q24. Is it compulsory to alternate training between two learning venues (school and company)?
Q25. Is the in-company training defined as minimum share of the apprenticeship scheme duration?
Q26. What is the form of alternation of training between workplace (company) and school?
Q34. Does the wage or allowance of the apprentice cover both the time spent at school and in the company?
Q35. Is the company hosting apprentices required by regulation to follow a training plan at the workplace? 
Q36. What are the requirements on companies to provide placements, as per regulation?
Q37. Are there any sanctions on companies that do not provide training to apprentices at the workplace?

Q12. What are the sources of financing of the direct costs for the in-company training part of the apprenticeship scheme?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Apprentices remuneration - characteristics
5. Pay and/or compensation
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q28. What is the nature of the contractual arrangement?
Q31. Do apprentices receive a wage or allowance?
Q32. How is the apprentice wage (taxable income) set?
Q33. Who covers the cost of the wage or allowance of the apprentice?
Q34. Does the wage or allowance of the apprentice cover both the time spent at school and in the company?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Apprentices remuneration - characteristics
Q: Apprentices remuneration - amount
Q: Additional support for apprentice
Q: Financing formula and allocation mechanisms (instrument fiches)
6. Social protection
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q28. What is the nature of the contractual arrangement?
Q31. Do apprentices receive a wage or allowance?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Apprentice social insurance
7. Work, health and safety conditions
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q28. What is the nature of the contractual arrangement?
Q24. Is it compulsory to alternate training between two learning venues (school and company)?
Q36. What are the requirements on companies to provide placements, as per regulation?
Q37. Are there any sanctions on companies that do not provide training to apprentices at the workplace?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Apprentice social insurance
8. Regulatory framework
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q1. Is there a stable legal basis for apprenticeships in your country?
Q2. Is there an official definition of ‘apprenticeship’ or ‘apprentice’ in your country?
Q6. Does the legal basis define the minimum and maximum age limits for enrolment of the target group of this scheme?
Q22. If the scheme is not implemented via specific apprenticeship programme, how is duration of apprenticeships defined in the regulation?
Q30. What is the status of the learner?
Q35. Is the company hosting apprentices required by regulation to follow a training plan at the workplace?
Q36. What are the requirements on companies to provide placements, as per regulation?
Q38. What is the role of chambers, employers’ and employees’ representatives, sectoral councils (if existent), in shaping apprenticeship content, as per regulation?
Q39. What is the role of chambers, employers’ and employees’ representatives in implementing the apprenticeship scheme, as per regulation?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU

Q: Legal basis (instrument fiches)
Q: Governance (instrument fiches)

9. Involvement of social partners
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q38. What is the role of chambers, employers’ and employees’ representatives, sectoral councils (if existent), in shaping apprenticeship content, as per regulation?
Q39. What is the role of chambers, employers’ and employees’ representatives in implementing the apprenticeship scheme, as per regulation?

Q32. How is the apprentice wage (taxable income) set?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Level of operation
Q: Governance (instrument fiches)
Q: Source of financing (instrument fiches)
Q: Monitoring/evaluation reports available (instrument fiches)
10. Support for companies
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q12. What are the sources of financing of the direct costs for the in-company training part of the apprenticeship scheme?
Q13. Are there any financial incentives for companies that offer apprenticeship places?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Support for companies
Q: Eligible groups (instrument fiches)
Q: Source of financing (instrument fiches)
Q: Financing formula (instrument fiches)
Q: Eligible costs (instrument fiches)
11. Flexible pathways and mobility
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q17. Is the qualification included in the National Qualification Framework (NQF)?
Q19. Does the scheme provide direct access to higher education?
Q21. If the scheme is implemented via specific apprenticeship programme, what is its duration?
Q22. If the scheme is not implemented via specific apprenticeship programme, how is duration of apprenticeships defined in the regulation?

Q7. What is the average age of learners in practice?

13. Transparency
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q9. Is there any organization at the national level with roles in co-ordinating the scheme?
Q16. Which is the type of qualification obtained through the apprenticeship scheme?
Q17. Is the qualification included in the National Qualification Framework (NQF)?
Q18. How does the qualification link to the scheme?
Q19. Does the scheme provide direct access to higher education?

Q6. Does the legal basis define the minimum and maximum age limits for enrolment of the target group of this scheme?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Monitoring/evaluation reports available (instrument fiches)
14. Quality assurance and graduate tracking
Cedefop European database on apprenticeship schemes questions

Q9. Is there any organization at the national level with roles in co-ordinating the scheme?
Q16. Which is the type of qualification obtained through the apprenticeship scheme?
Q18. How does the qualification link to the scheme?
Q20. How is the scheme linked to a training programme?

Q21. If the scheme is implemented via specific apprenticeship programme, what is its duration?
Q22. If the scheme is not implemented via specific apprenticeship programme, how is duration of apprenticeships defined in the regulation
Q23. Is there a distinction between the training time and working time for the period spent at workplace, as per regulation?
Q24. Is it compulsory to alternate training between two learning venues (school and company)?
Q30. What is the status of the learner?
Q35. Is the company hosting apprentices required by regulation to follow a training plan at the workplace?  
Q36. What are the requirements on companies to provide placements, as per regulation?
Q37. Are there any sanctions on companies that do not provide training to apprentices at the workplace?
Q38. What is the role of chambers, employers’ and employees’ representatives, sectoral councils (if existent), in shaping apprenticeship content, as per regulation?
Q39. What is the role of chambers, employers’ and employees’ representatives in implementing the apprenticeship scheme, as per regulation?

Q14. How many learners are enrolled in this scheme?
Q15. What is the share of apprentices enrolled in this scheme in relation to all VET students for the corresponding educational level(s) as reported in Q3 (see country fiche)?

Database on financing apprenticeships in the EU Q: Assessment of financing arrangements
Q: Labour market outcomes
Q: Monitoring/evaluation reports available (instrument fiches)

 

[1] Country fiches describe apprenticeship systems in relation to their legal bases, official definitions, educational level of apprenticeships and how well they are established in the country (questions 1 to 5).

[2] Scheme fiches are organised around the following content categories (questions 6 to 39): target group, overview of the scheme, duration, alternation of work-based with school-based training, formal relationship with the employer, compensation and responsibility of employers.

[3] Supporting evidence is provided for all EQFEA 14 criteria but one, i.e. criterion ‘12. Career guidance and awareness raising’. This refers to apprenticeship implementation level, while Cedefop databases draw information from the countries’ legal bases and stable features of their apprenticeship systems and schemes.