News

The 4th EAfA stakeholder meeting took place on 5 October in Brussels with two thematic sessions: support for SMEs engaging in and regional approaches to apprenticeships. For the first time Member States and EFTA/candidate countries were asked to join and three countries presented their VET system and reforms. The meeting was also an opportunity to discuss the way forward for the Alliance after the re-boosting event on 22 June in Riga.
 

EAfA reflections beyond 2015

• The debate focused on how to improve the functioning and monitoring of the Alliance,

including in the context of an upcoming external study to be launched by the

Commission end of this year, which will include interviews with stakeholders. It was

requested to follow a more targeted approach in future surveys taking into account

the diversity of stakeholders‘ ambitions (such as the role of teachers‘ trade unions

not being able to provide figures on the supply, but focusing on quality provision).

• Two key topics emerged: quality outcomes and VET mobility, besides the ongoing

work on the better involvement of enterprises/SMEs. Other new topics included

the issue of migrants, the evaluation of prior learning/skills of refugees or

drop-outs from higher education in key subjects like engineering to integrate them in apprenticeships.

• Other subjects which were proposed to tackle included entrepreneurship (including cooperation with JA Europe/European Education Entrepreneurship Network), digital skills, the key role of intermediary organisations (SMEs, local and regional approaches etc) and widening access including for women and vulnerable people.

• On system level it was suggested to build on the European Semester policy recommendations

including effective social partner involvement for strong VET systems and enhance cooperation with the European Parliament for stronger political backing and better targeted funding opportunities.

• On functioning of stakeholder meetings, it was noted that in future due to size considerations

meetings could benefit from splitting the participants into workshops to encourage more interactive debates and peer learning. Further reflections were needed on how to optimise the meetings in terms of content, output, networking and better respond to the needs of stakeholders.