EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Education and Culture ET 2020 WORKING GROUP PART 1: MANDATE

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Education and Culture ET 2020 WORKING GROUP PART 1: MANDATE Title Duration Mandate WG on Vocational Education and Training (VET) January 2014 October 2015

1 EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Education and Culture ET 2020 WORKING GROUP PART 1: MANDATE Title Duration Mandate WG on Vocational Education and Training (VET) January 2014 October 2015 [this is the standard for all TWGs] Corresponding DG / HLG meeting Coordinating EAC Unit EAC Chair (Head of Unit level) 1 Coordinating EAC official DGVT B2 Dana Bachmann Wilhelm Vukovich RATIONALE OF THE WG: Vocational education and training (VET) is receiving increasing attention from European decision makers due to its ability to bridge the worlds of education and work. Work-based learning, in particular apprenticeship type training, is seen as one means to tackle the current all-time high youth unemployment rates. Reform of VET systems can ensure a smoother transition from education and training to work, equipping learners with the skills they need. Hence a key issue of VET reform is the integration of a high quality work-based learning element in all initial VET programmes as well as a good articulation between VET, the labour market and the wider education system. The work of the WG responds to the objectives of Europe 2020, ET 2020, Rethinking Education, and the objectives set out in the Bruges Communiqué, notably the call to governments, social partners and VET providers to take the necessary measures to maximise work-based learning, including apprenticeships, and to make related policies more targeted and effective. The Communication "Rethinking Education" calls for a built-in mechanism in VET systems to better adapt to current and future skills needs, making training more demand-driven. A high proportion of work-based learning, and notably dual models, appears to better cater for skills matches and result in better employability for young people. As one of the priorities in the field of VET the Communication 1 For some of the specific policy challenges identified below, Member State representatives may be invited to take the lead, if appropriate.

2 invites Member States to - inter alia - develop, according to national circumstances, high quality apprenticeship or dual schemes. The primary focus of the WG is to benefit the Member States in their work of furthering policy development in the area of vocational education and training through mutual learning and the identification of good practices. The aim is to support effective implementation of national VET reforms which set up or strengthen work-based learning and apprenticeship type schemes. POLICY CHALLENGES: The key challenges to address by the WG shall be to increase the provision of work-based learning in initial VET, improve the quality and attractiveness of apprenticeships and raise the number of apprentices in Europe. The TWG on VET will be an important supporting element of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships and the overall VET policy agenda. On June 2013 the Council endorsed country specific recommendations (CSRs) for 16 Member States on VET related issues, and 10 of them specifically concern apprenticeships. These CSRs highlight the need for reforms which better connect VET and the labour market and support a better transition from VET to work. A key issue in these reforms is the integration of a high quality workbased learning (WBL) element in initial VET programmes, which can be achieved by apprenticeship schemes. In line with the strengthening of county-support to the benefit of Member State policy development, the WG will strive to achieve the following outputs: Guidance Frameworks for clusters of countries that have a common interest in a specific topic related to apprenticeships, based on the results of the learning needs / support offers survey and DGVT consultations Assistance to countries for a successful implementation or modernisation of VET work-based learning, in particular apprenticeships Bilateral cooperation between "mentor" countries and countries which need to strengthen particular WBL aspects of their VET systems Country policy reports on on-going national developments with regard to WBL and apprenticeships (whenever the TWG feels this would be necessary in order to enhance mutual learning and the identification of good practices and avoiding the duplication of information collection already done by other bodies or through other reporting processes) Wide dissemination and valorisation at national level by members of the TWG of the different outcomes The WG's progress and outputs will be reported to DGVT and ACVT, given the crucial role of social partners in VET reform. Its work will directly feed into the Bruges review process its follow up. OVERALL ROADMAP: Kick off meeting January 2014 Specific and operational policy challenge 1: Support for companies, in particular SMEs, offering company placements February May 2014: In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and Specific and operational policy challenge 2: Positive image of apprenticeships and improved career guidance 2

3 June November 2014: In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and Specific and operational policy challenge 3: National governance, regulatory framework and social partners' involvement December 2014 March 2015: In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and Specific and operational policy challenge 4: Quality assurance in work-based learning April 2015 July 2015: In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and SPECIFIC POLICY CHALLENGES AND OUTPUTS: The WG concentrates on delivering concrete and useable outputs that respond to specific and operational policy challenges identified at the EU level and/or of importance for clusters of Member States. With respect to the outputs designated below, the term "Guidance Framework is the overall label for outputs of WGs that provide concrete policy guidance/support/assistance/advise to specific Member States, clusters of Member States, and/or the EU as a whole in response to specific policy challenges. In practice, they may take several formats (vademecum of best practices, policy handbook, ). "Guidance Frameworks" are developed by WGs under their own responsibility. They are entirely voluntary in nature, i.e. in line with the ET 2020 OMC, Member States decide themselves whether or not to participate in the elaboration of such "Guidance Frameworks". Member States are also free to make use of "Guidance Frameworks" as they see fit. Specific and operational policy challenge 1: Support for companies, in particular SMEs, offering company placements Identifying policies and measures for support for companies, in particular SMEs. This includes the analysis of employer subsidies, such as direct grants or reduction of non-wage labour costs, total or partial exemption from social security contributions, tax breaks, etc. As the provision of employer subsidies is not in itself sufficient for the success of a scheme, the analysis will also examine ways to motivate and commit companies to provide high quality training. The issue of supporting in-company trainers of apprentices will also be part of this analysis. Corresponding output 1: Guidance Framework for MS to introduce or reform support for companies, in particular SMEs, offering apprenticeships, including participating countries' company support schemes and their effectiveness, models for the provision of in-company training and/or training centres and career development of trainers. Requested for which date and purpose: March 2014, first results in time for DGVT discussion. June 2014, final results in time for ACVT discussion with social partners. Output will feed into EAC contribution to the European Semester process, the Bruges Review (a new set of short-term deliverables for VET cooperation to be defined by autumn 2014) and the next Joint Report in March/April Roadmap for output 1: 3

4 February May 2014: In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and Relevance for a horizontal theme: [Indication of whether the output would be relevant for ET financing, equity, or teachers and trainers themes that should be mainstreamed in all WGs]: Structural funding experience and opportunities in the up-coming financing period, in particular Youth Employment Initiative funding for introducing the Youth Guarantee, ESF funding for ET in SMEs, supporting structures for apprentices' mobility and exchange of in-company trainers within Erasmus+. Specific and operational policy challenge 2: Enhance VET attractiveness and career guidance Investigate successful policies for increasing VET attractiveness, in particular making apprenticeships more attractive to young people and their parents, including by building on results of recent Cedefop work. Surveys consistently reveal that VET is regarded as a second choice in many MS, and does not enjoy parity of esteem among parents and young people with the higher education pathway. The crucial role of career guidance in addressing this challenge will be analysed. Corresponding output 2: Guidance Framework for MS on increasing VET attractiveness, including national examples of successful measures and a specific focus on the role of career guidance in steering young people and their families towards apprenticeships. Requested for which date and purpose: November 2014, first results in time for DGVT discussion. December 2014, final results in time for ACVT discussion with social partners. Output will feed into the Bruges Review (a new set of short-term deliverables for VET cooperation to be defined by autumn 2014) and the next Joint Report in March/April Roadmap for output 2: June November 2014 In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and Relevance for a horizontal theme: [Indication of whether the output would be relevant for ET financing, equity, or teachers and trainers themes that should be mainstreamed in all WGs]: Structural funding experience and opportunities in the up-coming financing period, in particular measures facilitating apprentices' mobility within Erasmus+. Specific and operational policy challenge 3: National governance, regulatory framework and social partners' involvement Need to establish an effective national governance system and a suitable regulatory framework defining the relation of student, company and school. Making the partnership approach between the world of education and world of work a reality. Analysis of approaches for shared responsibility with the active involvement of social partners what works? 4

5 Corresponding output 3: Guidance Framework for MS on successful principles and models for governance, regulatory framework and social partners' involvement, including practical guidelines for implementation in Member States. Requested for which date and purpose: March 2015, first results in time for DGVT discussion. June 2015, final results in time for ACVT discussion with social partners. Output will feed into EAC contribution to the European Semester process and the next Joint Report in March/April Roadmap for output 3: December 2014 March 2015: In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and Relevance for a horizontal theme: [Indication of whether the output would be relevant for ET financing, equity, or teachers and trainers themes that should be mainstreamed in all TWGs]: Structural funding experience and opportunities in the up-coming financing period. Specific and operational policy challenge 4: Quality assurance in work-based learning Quality assurance measures required from employers are not identical to those required from VET schools. Analysis of quality assurance measures in place on a company level, investigating ways of establishing QA mechanisms while not creating burdens for companies with a negative impact on their willingness to offer apprenticeship placements. Accreditation as a tool for guaranteeing quality assurance. Linking public funding to quality standards. Corresponding output 4: Guidance Framework for MS encompassing guidelines and key principles on QA targeted at companies providing apprenticeship type training, building also on the work of the EQAVET network. Requested for which date and purpose: September 2015, first results in time for DGVT discussion. November 2015, final results in time for ACVT discussion with social partners. Output will feed into EAC contribution to the European Semester process and the next Joint Report in March/April Roadmap for output 4: April 2015 July 2015: In-depth country focus workshop to examine specific policy development and Relevance for a horizontal theme: [Indication of whether the output would be relevant for ET financing, equity, or teachers and trainers themes that should be mainstreamed in all WGs]: 5

6 Structural funding experience and opportunities in the up-coming financing period, inter alia, for the support of quality assurance in companies and the training of trainers. Recurrent activity: Assistance to Member States facing issues identified in CSRs [this is standard for all WGs] Provide assistance to clusters of Member States in responding to issues identified in CSRs, by having such Member States benefit from the practical experience and good practices of other Member States. Corresponding output: - Strengthening of the capacity of clusters of Member States to implement CSRs. Requested for which date & purpose: Recurrent. Roadmap for output: - The WG will receive an annual debriefing on new CSRs, to identify clusters of Member States facing similar issues. - The WG will organise in-depth country focus workshops on pertinent issues mentioned in the CSRs, to the benefit of Member States. 6

7 MEMBERSHIP: The nominated representatives should have: - A longstanding involvement with national policy development in education and training; - A relevant national experience and senior responsibility at national level with respect to the specific objective that is pursued in the WG. In view of the differing responsibility for apprenticeships within the national administrations, Member States may wish to nominate a substitute from another ministry (e.g. ministry for employment or economic affairs) - The commitment to participate actively in the Open Method of Coordination process and have the ability to contribute to outputs of WG (for practical reasons, a good knowledge of English is essential); - The commitment to provide effective and regular feedback to and from their high-level policymakers on the work and outputs of the WG. Each Member State, Candidate Country, EFTA Country and each invited institutional partner and European Social Partner organisation is asked to designate one member having senior responsibility for policy in the area of VET, in particular work-based learning and apprenticeships. Participation in the WG is voluntary, but the expectation is that in particular Member States with VET related CSRs, notably work-based learning and apprenticeships, would enrol for the WG. Ideally, the respondent countries to the survey on support offers and learning needs should join the working group. Member States, Candidate Countries and EFTA Countries are requested to nominate persons in employment of the governmental administration only. This may include experts employed by the government in a consulting or advisory role. Independent experts can be invited to make a contribution on a topical issue that is of particular importance to the work of the WG. They can also be invited to participate in one or more meetings of the TWG, but they are not formal members. Member States Candidate Countries European Social Partners Institutional Partners 7

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9 PART 2: IMPLEMENTATION FICHE REPORTING: Every six months, the WG should produce a 2-page feedback to policy-makers that is submitted to the corresponding DG/HLG meeting. The feedback should ensure dissemination of the work and provide transparency regarding the WG s progress (and possible difficulties) in getting towards the pre-established output(s). The electronic links to the six-monthly feedback reports are added below. Report 1: Report 2: Report 3:... FINAL OUTPUT(S): The electronic links to the final output(s) are added below: Final output 1: Final output 2: Final output 3: 9

Council of the European Union Brussels, 4 November 2015 (OR. en)

Council of the European Union Brussels, 4 November 2015 (OR. en) 13631/15 NOTE From: To: General Secretariat of the Council JEUN 96 EDUC 285 SOC 633 EMPL 416 CULT 73 SAN 356 Permanent Representatives Committee/Council