The portal offers a single-window system, where employers, VET institutions, apprentices and other interested stakeholders can be informed, guided and access relevant training. The idea for such a tool was born in developing social dialogue with interested stakeholders: Ministry of Education, Sport and Science, Ministry of Economy and Innovation, associated structures of employers, and VET institutions. It was agreed unanimously that, to achieve quality in apprenticeship, it is necessary to ensure better accessibility of information and electronic services and offer a common place where employers, VET institutions and apprentices can find each other.

 

The design and development of the portal was assigned to the Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre (KPMPC), the national reference point of the European quality assurance in vocational education and training (EQAVET). It was developed between 2019-21 as part of the Erasmus+ project Financial support to the European quality assurance in vocational education and training in 2019-20.

The project aim was to increase cooperation between enterprises and VET institutions, foster the onsite training culture and improve quality assurance in vocational education and training in line with EQAVET. Different activities took place during development: consultations to identify the needs of all VET stakeholders, to define the content and the type of delivery of the training courses, and run quality assessments. The portal is the main information point on apprenticeship where:

  • national authorities and employer associations can publish information on upcoming events, new initiatives, projects, etc.;
  • companies and learners have their own entry point to information on the concept of apprenticeship, its main features and how it can be organised;
  • quality assurance requirements are presented in an easy and informative way (infographics and/or video);
  • an FAQ section is available and regularly updated;
  • success stories are published to raise the interest of, and attract, learners and companies;
  • a corner is dedicated to information material (publications, research, forms such as the typical trilateral contract model, results achieved by other institutions involved in apprenticeship, legal acts).

Supporting continuing professional development of VET teachers and trainers

During the implementation of the project a set of open online courses has been developed, targeting both professionals who intend, or are already, training apprentices at the workplace and VET teachers involved in apprenticeship delivery in VET institutions. To offer quality apprenticeships, it is not enough to be an excellent professional: it is important also to become a teacher. The courses allow in-company trainers to acquire didactic knowledge, better understand the apprentice’s psychology, and familiarise themselves with the legal framework and quality assurance criteria of the apprenticeship system.

The courses for VET teachers help them acquire sound knowledge of the apprenticeship system, support and advise on how to liaise effectively with enterprises. They show how to raise the prestige of the VET institution to attract companies and be ready to initiate the apprenticeship (trilateral) employment contract, and ensure quality of the apprenticeship process.

Each online course lasts 40 academic hours, it is offered at no cost and is available to registered users. Since March 2021, more than 300 participants have completed such courses and received an electronic certificate attesting the skills acquired.

Next steps

The first stage of the development of the national apprenticeship portal was implemented in the course of the project running until 2021. Its purpose was to raise the attractiveness of apprenticeship. Future developments include the creation of accounts for registered users, software for direct online communication among users, and monitoring modules.

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Lithuania National Apprenticeship Portal

Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania (1997). Law No. XIII-888 of the Republic of Lithuania amending Law on Vocational Education and Training of the Republic of Lithuania No. VIII-450 of 14 December 2017 (current edition)

 

Please cite this news item as: ReferNet Lithuania; Cedefop (2021). Lithuania: towards successful enabling of apprenticeship. National news on VET