Ensuring high-quality apprenticeships and fair working conditions remains a top EU priority. The recently launched Union of Skills builds on the legacy of the European Year of Skills, aiming to enhance Europe’s competitiveness by equipping individuals with the skills needed in a fast-changing labour market. This includes a renewed focus on strengthening basic skills and reinforcing vocational education and training systems.
EU-led actions continue to steer efforts to ensure that apprenticeships meet high standards, fair working conditions and reflect learners’ needs. These actions include the 2018 European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (EFQEA), which sets 14 key quality criteria, initiatives such as the European Apprentices Network, and support for cross-sector collaborations and social partner involvement.
The webinar was an opportunity to showcase concrete, inspiring practices and strategies to support quality apprenticeships. These included a common quality framework for all apprenticeship schemes established in Greece since 2021 and based on the EFQEA, and the dual training system, which blends theoretical and practical learning, implemented by ULMA Packaging, a global leader in innovative packaging solutions across more than 130 countries.
Quality apprenticeships are essential to equip learners with the right skills for the future. However, the discussion highlighted that, to achieve successful outcomes, apprenticeships must ensure:
- fair pay and working conditions,
- inclusive dialogue between governments, employers, trade unions, training providers,
- apprentices’ wellbeing and professional development.
Read the full webinar report and watch the recording now!
Details
- Publication date
- 24 April 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion