Working paper - Eurochambres

Working paper
January 2013
Initial suggestions for the aims and activities of the
European Alliance for Apprenticeships
Introduction
Apprenticeship schemes are a crucial element both in addressing growing levels of youth unemployment
across the EU and in driving economic recovery and growth. EUROCHAMBRES therefore fully supports
the prominence of apprenticeship schemes in the Commission’s December 2012 ‘Moving Youth into
Employment’ communication.
EUROCHAMBRES believes that apprenticeship schemes must be a cornerstone of the delivery by
member states of their weighty commitment to comply with the Youth Guarantee1, a central feature of the
December communication. Building on the Chamber network’s on-going dialogue with the European
Commission’s Directorates-General for Education & Culture and Employment, this working paper
represents an initial contribution from EUROCHAMBRES to the services’ reflections on how to move
forward with the announced European Alliance for Apprenticeships.
The alliance must facilitate the EU-wide cultivation of a number of key success factors for effective
apprenticeship schemes. These include:
a. Ensuring that vocational education & training (VET) is on an equal footing with
general/academic education;
b. Encouraging permeability between VET and general/academic education;
c. Focusing on the needs of companies and gaining their support for work based training by
demonstrating its economic value;
d. Combining theory and practice in an effective way through a dual training approach;
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While fully supporting the laudable aims of the Youth Guarantee, Chambers stress that making such a political
guarantee is one thing, delivering it is quite another, especially in those countries enduring extreme levels of youth
unemployment and implementing stringent fiscal consolidation programmes. Chambers therefore urge caution and
pragmatism in developing this initiative further.
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Chamber House, Avenue des Arts, 19 A/D B - 1000 Brussels • Belgium
• Tel. +32 2 282 08 50 • Fax +32 2 230 00 38 • [email protected] • www.eurochambres.eu
Chamber proposals for European Alliance for Apprenticeships
e. Developing robust and credible apprenticeship governance and delivery structures based on
shared responsibility between the state and social partners and with the strong involvement of
Chambers of Commerce and Industry or comparable structures;
f.
Facilitating the cross border mobility of apprentices.
Whether or not the Alliance proves a vital catalyst in raising the profile, quality and uptake of
apprenticeship schemes across the EU depends on its ability to generate constructive dialogue and foster
specific, concrete measures. Such measures inevitably have budgetary implications. The December
communication refers extensively to European Social Funds and this is certainly one source, but
Chambers also believe that financing should be assured via the on-going Lifelong Learning Programme
and its post 2014 successor, Erasmus for All, particularly in relation to cross-border activities.
Alliance objectives
1.
Drive far-reaching VET reforms across the member states, especially those with high levels of
youth unemployment rate
Recommended measures:
a. Exchange best practices and obstacles in order to identify, consider and cultivate
apprenticeship scheme success factors;
b. Based on the above, establish country specific recommendations for implementing and
improving apprenticeship schemes;
c. Instigate joint meetings on apprenticeship among the member states’ ministers responsible for
education and employment in order to develop a coherent strategy and common measures;
d. Establish a European Apprenticeship Envoy Network consisting of senior national and EU
level representatives2. This network should be underpinned by regular, structured dialogue
initiated domestically by the national Apprenticeship Envoys - both between relevant ministries
(education, employment and economy) and with stakeholders such as Chambers - on the
items under discussion;
e. Facilitate capacity and institution building by establishing a twinning programme between
those member states with effective apprenticeship schemes and those wishing to develop
them, involving public administrations and other key stakeholders, including Chambers.
2. Promote VET to potential apprentices, potential employers and all relevant policy makers
Recommended measures:
a. Provide statistical updates on apprenticeship employability / earning potential: potentially in
collaboration with the OECD, the Commission should benchmark the value of apprenticeship
schemes in different member states in terms of employment creation, career enhancement
and human capital added value. This may take the form of a ‘PISA Study for VET’;
2
This recommendation is based on the equivalent SME Envoy Network, established in 2011, which is beginning to
have a positive impact on the delivery of the Small Business Act and the cross-fertilisation of national approaches on
a wide range of SME related issues.
EUROCHAMBRES
January 2013
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Chamber proposals for European Alliance for Apprenticeships
b. Encourage young people to choose apprenticeship schemes: exchanges and dissemination of
best practices in the field of guidance activities, services, tools, methodology and information
systems aimed at helping young people into the labour market;
c. Raise the value of the vocational skills: exchanges and dissemination of best practices in the
field of validation, certification and mutual recognition of formal, non-formal and informal skills
acquired during apprenticeship experiences;
3. Ensure that VET is on an equal footing with general and higher education
Recommended measures:
a. Afford VET qualifications the correct recognition in the European Qualifications Framework
and in National Qualifications Frameworks, including upper level classification;
b. Provide comparable access to mobility schemes for VET students, potentially through the
development of an on-going ‘Erasmus for Apprentices’ programme.
How Chambers of Commerce can contribute
Chambers are already involved in activities comparable to those that the Alliance should develop on an
informal and usually bilateral basis. For example:

The Spanish and German Chambers signed a memorandum of understanding in September 2012
on cooperation in the field of Dual Vocational Training;

Similarly, the Italian and German Chambers signed a memorandum of understanding in November
2012 on cooperation in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, including
specific issues such as the development of apprenticeship schemes, the encouragement of
transnational mobility through internships and work experience exchange programmes, and the
validation, certification and mutual recognition of formal, non-formal and informal skills;

The French Chambers have facilitated the cross-border mobility of 1.500 apprentices via the
Movil’App programme;

Turkish Chambers collaborate with other member countries of Organisaiton of Islamic Cooperation
through bilateral study visits and share best practices;

The network of mobility coaches established by the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce
and Skilled Crafts with ESF support and the association International Young Workers Exchange,
supported by the Austrian Economic Chambers, provides guidance and support to SMEs planning
and organizing professional internships as part of their apprenticeships;

The Austrian and German Chambers will organise an exchange of best-practices in apprenticeship
schemes with the Greek Chamber Organisation in Athens in February 2013.
EUROCHAMBRES
January 2013
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Chambers such as those in Austria, France, Germany and Luxembourg that are already involved in wellestablished national apprenticeship schemes are ready and willing to provide support to Chambers and
other stakeholders in developing their own schemes in other member states. EUROCHAMBRES, as the
European association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, is ideally placed to facilitate this and would
be keen for example to coordinate an apprenticeship capacity building programme between Chambers or
contribute to a wider project involving other actors.
The Chamber network reiterates its more general willingness to contribute to the development of the
European Alliance for Apprenticeships and to participate actively in it once it is established.
EUROCHAMBRES – The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry represents over
20 million enterprises in Europe – 93% of which are SMEs – through members in 44 countries and a
European network of 2000 regional and local Chambers.
Further information: Ms Anna Szatkowska, Tel. +32 2 282 08 77, [email protected]
Press contact: Ms Guendalina Cominotti, Tel. +32 2 282 08 66, [email protected]
All our position papers can be downloaded from
www.eurochambres.eu/content/default.asp?PageID=145
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Chamber House, Avenue des Arts, 19 A/D B - 1000 Brussels • Belgium
• Tel. +32 2 282 08 50 • Fax +32 2 230 00 38 • [email protected] • www.eurochambres.eu