1 João Delgado DG Education and Culture Unit B4, Professional training; « Leonardo da Vinci » Strasbourg, 8 July 2010 Mobility for Apprentices Status and Current Initiatives

2 Guy-Quint budget line Three studies were carried out between with the aim to get a comprehensive understanding of the barriers preventing higher mobility of apprentices and other young people in IVET: Move-It study on the obstacles to the mobility of apprentices and young people in vocational education and training and how these obstacles can be surmounted; ECVET-Reflector study on the relation between the ECVET system and the different systems of certification in the Member States; ECVET Connexion study on the relation between the ECVET system and the offer on initial VET, apprenticeship included.

3 Guy-Quint budget line 12 pilot projects were carried out to test and validate the findings of the studies and to develop concrete tools to support mobility of young people in initial VET, apprentices included The outcomes of the projects are described in the final report A practical guide with tools and good examples was made on the bases of the project outcomes

4 Guy-Quint budget line Three general messages were highlighted in the final report (12 projects) 1. The mobility of apprentices is a complex phenomenon, there is no single remedy that will magically make numbers of apprentices on placements abroad soar 2. The role of intermediary organisations to assist enterprises is essential 3. Tools and practices developed in one context cannot necessarily be adopted at face value in another

5 Guy-Quint budget line A test phase for implementing individual applications to the National Agencies for mobility by persons in apprenticeship was carried out involving three countries: Finland, Malta, Poland Main results of the test phase, reported by the NAs: 1. The individual experiences were good based on the feedback from participating students and employers 2. It is difficult for NAs to create network between enterprises and help the apprentices to find placements 3. The role of the intermediaries are essential in organising the mobility

6 Guy-Quint budget line The EuroApprenticeship project The aim of the project is to create a sustainable network of operators and competent bodies supported by a web-base platform in the area of mobility for apprentices It is planned to publicly launch the web-site in November 2010, at the conference 15 years of the Leonardo da Vinci programme

7 Working Group on the Mobility for Apprentices A working group was set up by the Commission 2009 in order to develop and propose concrete ideas to adapt the programme to support the mobility for apprentices and persons in alternate VET The recommendations listed in the report give a good bases for the Commission’s further work both short term and long term A recommendation on creating a separate target group within the LdV-IVT-mobility is already implemented

8 Study on the impact of Leonardo da Vinci Mobility Experiences of Trainees The study shows that vocational skills gained during a period of vocational training abroad pay dividends during the subsequent career. The evaluators came to the conclusion that the success of the projects funded under LdV depends on the project design, the quality of pedagogical, linguistic and cultural preparation and on the quality of cooperation between the sending and the hosting country. The recognition and certification of the placement abroad has an additional positive impact.

9 Study on a possible framework for placements The question on how to overcome the legal and statutory obstacles to transnational mobility encountered by apprentices and trainees in VET was highlighted in the consultation to the Green Paper: Promoting the learning mobility of young people To propose appropriate action, the Commission has launched a feasibility study on how to address the legal/statutory aspects of apprentices and trainees on placements abroad, such as social security, tax and labour laws, work safety, insurance etc.

10 Call for tender for a study on apprenticeship supply in Member States DG EMPL has recently launched a call for tender with the objective to provide an overview of apprentice-type schemes in VET in MS, with a focus on recent developments including the context of the crises. This overview should briefly describe the main features of these schemes and discuss their effectiveness in raising employability and facilitating labour market transitions. The possible effects of the crises on such schemes should also be discussed and recommendations should be made whether and how the availability of apprentices places should be increased. The European dimension should be included by information about the geographical mobility in apprenticeship-based VET (opportunities).

11 Planned call for tender for a study on Mobility Developments outside the EAC programmes DG EAC will launch a study on mobility developments in school education, VET, adult education and youth exchanges The study will complement the study launched in the area of student mobility The study will cover the following areas: Mapping of existing mobility schemes and statistical data on mobility flows in Europe – outside the EAC programmes Analysing of trends and objectives on the bases of existing data Possibly recommendations on mobility developments in the light of the next generation of programmes

12 Leonardo da Vinci participants per target group

13 Leonardo da Vinci support to mobility for trainees in initial vocational training Target groups for this action: 1. Apprentices an trainees in initial vocational education based on alternate learning or work-related training in enterprises 2. Trainees in school based initial vocational training The sub-group for apprentices has been introduced in the IVT target group since the call year 2010 and will in future allow to identify apprentices mobility separately The amount granted for mobility in IVT was Euro in 2008 including subsistence and travel, the costs for pedagogical, linguistic and cultural preparation for participants as well as the costs for organisation of mobility

14 Work in progress in relation to mobility for apprentices Concrete ideas to adapt the future programme to support the mobility for apprentices Work in progress on the creation of a sustainable network of competent bodies supported by a web- based platform Work in progress on how to address and overcome legal and statutory obstacles to mobility Work in progress on mapping apprenticeship schemes and analysing the effectiveness of these schemes (employability and transition to work) Work planned on mapping and analysing mobility developments outside the LLP

15 Updated web-page for mobility for apprentices: education/doc1149_en.htm