We are happy to continue our support to development of work-based learning (WBL) systems in the ETF partner countries in the framework of a new assignment for the ETF: ‘Work-based learning – an assessment per EU quality standards’.
🖖 Having completed in May the previous ‘Work-based learning system overviews’ project, we have now set out to conduct mapping and analysis of WBL arrangements to produce two country reports in BiH and Moldova, as well as two cross-country reports covering five Western Balkans countries: Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
🌐 WBL has been high on the policy agendas of many countries and international organisations, and has become a key issue of reforms in several ETF partner countries. Defined as any form of learning that occurs in a real work environment, WBL equips individuals with the skills necessary to obtain, maintain and advance in their jobs and professional development.
📌 In particular, apprenticeships and traineeships are two forms of WBL with high importance for youth employment, and therefore the European Commission has developed relevant quality standards: the 2018 European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships, and the 2014 Quality Framework for Traineeships. These two frameworks and the quality criteria which they define will be the basis for our mapping and analytical work in the project.
🔎 As part of the project, we will be looking at WBL in initial VET, WBL in continuing VET, and WBL in ALMP, and how they fulfil EU criteria related to issues such as written agreement, learning outcomes/objectives, pedagogical support, pay/compensation, working conditions, involvement of social partners, recognition and flexible pathways, transparency of apprenticeship/traineeship offer, etc. The cross-country reports will focus on comparison, identifying similarities and differences between the VET programmes offered, as well as recognising trends and patterns across the countries.
GREATVISORY is looking forward to working with the ETF to contribute to the debate on WBL in the ETF partner countries and at the regional level.
