Timeline
  • 2018Implementation
  • 2019Implementation
  • 2020Implementation
  • 2021Implementation
  • 2022Implementation
  • 2023Implementation
  • 2024Implementation
ID number
28260

Background

A brief overview of the context and rationale of the policy development, explaining why it is implemented or why it is important.

Since 2016, the Greek government has been putting in place a series of important reforms to improve the link between VET and the labour market. The new EPAL apprenticeship programme, the post-secondary year - Apprenticeship class, was initially launched by the education ministry in the school year 2016/17.

Objectives

Goals and objectives of the policy development.

The objective is to ensure the proper implementation of the post-secondary apprenticeship year and the reinforcement of links with the labour market.

Description

What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.

The Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) is carrying out the project Teachers and trainers training on issues related to apprenticeship. Particular attention is paid to the continuing professional development (CPD) of teaching staff who used to work in school-based programmes and are (re)allocated to the new apprenticeship programmes (mostly the EPAL post-secondary apprenticeship year, but also apprenticeships within post-secondary VET programmes of the Institute of Vocational Training (IEK)). The action is co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) under the operational programme Human resources development, education and lifelong learning 2014-20. A EUR 917 000 budget has been allocated to the CPD of upper secondary vocational (EPAL) teachers till 2020.

The focus is on developing teachers' knowledge and competences to enable further cooperation with enterprises and apprentices. Peer-learning and capturing the experience of teachers who have already piloted work-based learning in previous years is also important. The programme combines classroom and online training (39 hours in total) including thematic areas such as basic principles of adult education and modern teaching methods, counselling and vocational guidance, occupational safety and health and entrepreneurship.

Several short duration sensitisation seminars on apprenticeship were carried out in 2016 and 2017, before the first implementation of the post-secondary...

The Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) is carrying out the project Teachers and trainers training on issues related to apprenticeship. Particular attention is paid to the continuing professional development (CPD) of teaching staff who used to work in school-based programmes and are (re)allocated to the new apprenticeship programmes (mostly the EPAL post-secondary apprenticeship year, but also apprenticeships within post-secondary VET programmes of the Institute of Vocational Training (IEK)). The action is co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) under the operational programme Human resources development, education and lifelong learning 2014-20. A EUR 917 000 budget has been allocated to the CPD of upper secondary vocational (EPAL) teachers till 2020.

The focus is on developing teachers' knowledge and competences to enable further cooperation with enterprises and apprentices. Peer-learning and capturing the experience of teachers who have already piloted work-based learning in previous years is also important. The programme combines classroom and online training (39 hours in total) including thematic areas such as basic principles of adult education and modern teaching methods, counselling and vocational guidance, occupational safety and health and entrepreneurship.

Several short duration sensitisation seminars on apprenticeship were carried out in 2016 and 2017, before the first implementation of the post-secondary apprenticeship year.

2018
Implementation

In 2018, 786 staff members were trained. More than 3 000 beneficiaries took part during the whole project.

2019
Implementation

In 2019 apprenticeship teachers' CPD took place from May till October 2019.

2020
Implementation

The third series of training took place from February till May 2020.

2021
Implementation

Teacher and trainer CPD on issues related to apprenticeship continued via synchronous and asynchronous training modes from May to June 2021.

2022
Implementation

Until the end of 2022, the teacher and trainer CPD on apprenticeship, organised by the IEP, continued.

2023
Implementation

As part of the ,A new beginning at EPAL, project, a specialised training programme was implemented for teachers of all disciplines in EPAL (Vocational upper secondary schools). The programme targeted both permanent teaching staff and substitute psychologists (PE23), as well as members of the Special Educational Personnel (SEP) working in EPAL during the 2022-2023 school year.

The training covered four thematic modules aimed at strengthening teaching practices and school support systems:

  1. thematic module 1: focused on the implementation of alternative reinforcement teaching (co-teaching) for the subject of Modern Greek in the first grade of EPAL.
  2. thematic module 2): addressed the implementation of co-teaching methods for mathematics in the first grade of EPAL.
  3. thematic module 3: highlighted the role of the teacher advisor, with an emphasis on supporting students' integration into school life, particularly first-grade learners.
  4. thematic module 4: examined the role of the school psychologist and strategies for collaboration with teacher advisors to promote a supportive learning environment.

The training took place between January and March 2023. A total of 1 117 teachers applied, of whom 829 completed the programme and received certificates of completion. The initiative aimed to enhance staff capacity to address student diversity and foster inclusive, supportive and effective learning environments in EPAL schools.

In parallel, under the programme ,Training of Teachers and Trainers on Apprenticeship Issues, a total of 1 828 applications were submitted between April and June 2023, including 343 applications from SAEK (formerly IEK) trainers. Following evaluation, 1 271 applications were approved. A total of 815 participants from EPAL and SAEK successfully completed the programme and were awarded certificates.

2024
Implementation

In 2024, the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) completed the ESF-funded projects for the training of teachers and trainers. New training projects are currently under design.

Bodies responsible

This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
  • Institute of Educational Policy (IEP)
  • Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs

Target groups

Those who are positively and directly affected by the measures of the policy development; those on the list are specifically defined in the EU VET policy documents. A policy development can be addressed to one or several target groups.

Education professionals

  • Teachers
  • Trainers
  • School leaders

Entities providing VET

  • VET providers (all kinds)

Thematic categories

Thematic categories capture main aspects of the decision-making and operation of national VET and LLL systems. These broad areas represent key elements that all VET and LLL systems have to different extents and in different combinations, and which come into focus depending on the EU and national priorities. Thematic categories are further divided into thematic sub-categories. Based on their description, policy developments can be assigned to one or several thematic categories.

Modernising VET offer and delivery

This thematic category looks at what and how individuals learn, how learning content and learning outcomes in initial and continuing VET are defined, adapted and updated. First and foremost, it examines how VET standards, curricula, programmes and training courses are updated and modernised or new ones created. Updated and renewed VET content ensures that learners acquire a balanced mix of competences that address modern demands, and are more closely aligned with the realities of the labour market, including key competences, digital competences and skills for green transition and sustainability, both sector-specific and across sectors. Using learning outcomes as a basis is important to facilitate this modernisation, including modularisation of VET programmes. Updating and developing teaching and learning materials to support the above is also part of the category.

The thematic category continues to focus on strengthening high-quality and inclusive apprenticeships and work-based learning in real-life work environments and in line with the European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships. It looks at expanding apprenticeship to continuing vocational training and at developing VET programmes at EQF levels 5-8 for better permeability and lifelong learning and to support the need for higher vocational skills.

This thematic category also focuses on VET delivery through a mix of open, digital and participative learning environments, including workplaces conducive to learning, which are flexible, more adaptable to the ways individuals learn, and provide more access and outreach to various groups of learners, diversifying modes of learning and exploiting the potential of digital learning solutions and blended learning to complement face-to-face learning.

Centres of vocational excellence that connect VET to innovation and skill ecosystems and facilitate stronger cooperation with business and research also fall into this category.

Reinforcing work-based learning, including apprenticeships

This thematic sub-category covers all developments related to work-based learning (WBL) elements in VET programmes and apprenticeships which continue to be important in the policy agenda. It includes measures to stabilise the offer of apprenticeships, the implementation of the European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships, and using the EU on-demand support services and policy learning initiatives among the Member States. It also covers further expansion of apprenticeships and WBL to continuing VET (CVET), for transition to work and inclusion of vulnerable groups, and for improving citizens’ qualification levels.

Teachers, trainers and school leaders competences

Competent and motivated VET teachers in schools and trainers in companies are crucial to VET becoming innovative and relevant, agile, resilient, flexible, inclusive and lifelong.

This thematic category comprises policies and practices of initial training and continuing professional development approaches in a systemic and systematic manner. It also looks at measures aiming to update (entry) requirements and make teaching and training careers attractive and bring more young and talented individuals and business professionals into teaching and training. Supporting VET educators by equipping them with adequate competences, skills and tools for the green transition and digital teaching and learning are addressed in separate thematic sub-categories.

The measures in this category target teachers and school leaders, company trainers and mentors, adult educators and guidance practitioners.

Systematic approaches to and opportunities for initial and continuous professional development of school leaders, teachers and trainers

This thematic sub-category refers to all kinds of initial and continuing professional development (CPD) for VET educators who work in vocational schools and in companies providing VET. VET educators include teachers and school leaders, trainers and company managers involved in VET, as well as adult educators and guidance practitioners – those who work in school- and work-based settings. The thematic sub-category includes national strategies, training programmes or individual courses to address the learning needs of VET educators and to develop their vocational (technical) skills, and pedagogical (teaching) skills and competences. Such programmes concern state-of-the-art vocational pedagogy, innovative teaching methods, and competences needed to address evolving teaching environments, e.g. teaching in multicultural settings, working with learners at risk of early leaving, etc.

Supporting teachers and trainers for and through digital

This thematic sub-category is in line with the EU policy focus on the digital transition, and refers to professional development and other measures to prepare and support teachers and trainers in teaching their learners digital skills and competences. It also covers measures and support for them to increase their own digital skills and competences, including for teaching in virtual environments, working with digital tools and applying digital pedagogies. Emergency measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic also fall into this sub-category.

Subsystem

Part of the vocational education and training and lifelong learning systems the policy development applies to.
IVET

Further reading

Sources for further reading where readers can find more information on policy developments: links to official documents, dedicated websites, project pages. Some sources may only be available in national languages.

Country

Type of development

Policy developments are divided into three types: strategy/action plan; regulation/legislation; and practical measure/initiative.
Practical measure/Initiative
Cite as

Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Teacher CPD focused on apprenticeship: Greece. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].

https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/28260