This project presentation summarizes a European project to strengthen apprenticeship systems. The project was funded by the German Ministry of Education and involved trade unions in Italy, Greece, Latvia, Portugal, and Slovakia. The objectives were to strengthen cooperation between trade unions and vocational training organizations, promote social partner involvement, and establish quality standards. The approach involved networking trade unions, pilot projects, and training programs. Initial work in Italy focused on apprenticeship reform and building union capacity through local agreements and training.

1. Project presentation

2. Basic data
• European Project sponsored & funded by the German Federal
Ministry of Education and Science
• Duration: 1st June 2015 – 31st May 2017; prolongation until 31st
May 2018 in preparation
• Project management: bfw in close cooperation with DGB
• Partner countries: Italy, Greece, Latvia, Portugal, and Slovakia

3. 1. Starting Point
Following the Joint Declaration on the European Alliance for
Apprenticeships, the DGB committed itself in ETUC:
- To support the alliance
- To contribute to reforming, developing and enhancing apprenticeship
systems
- To raise awareness on the added value of apprenticeships among
emloyers and youth
- To disseminate information and take action on more attractive
conditions for corporations and apprendices

4. 1. Starting Point
ETUC´s recommendation on apprenticeship and work-based learning
Apprenticeship schemes should be clearly defined on the basis of the
proposal made by CEDEFOP, the European Centre for the
Development of Vocational Training:
´….systematic, long-term training alternating periods at the workplace
and in an educational institution or training institutions. The apprentice
is contractually linked to the employer and receives remuneration
(wage or allowance). The employer assumes responsibility for
providing the trainee with training leading to a specific occupation’

5. 2. Objectives
• Strengthen the cooperation of trade unions with their respective
partner organisations in the field of vocational education and
training (apprenticeships) in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Latvia, and
Slovakia
• Promote the active involvement of social partners in the existing
and planned initiatives for vocational training cooperation
• Strengthen and consolidate the cooperation among the partner
trade unions and expand the networking to other relevant
organisations in the countries
• Initiate learning processes and training dialogues for a quality
framework and provide minimum standards

6. 3. Approach
The project initiative has been set up to promote sustainable trade
union cooperation in vocational training and to integrate them into
dialogue processes of the relevant actors on the ground.
- Networking and promoting cooperation in the field of vocational
education and training (apprenticeships) with trade unions in partner
countries
- Specification of pilot projects and the exchange of peer review based
on the results achieved with all partners
- Preparation and transfer of results

7. 3. Approach
• Vertical cooperation with Italy and Greece. Based on locally
proposed pilot activities.
• Greece: Development and testing of a qualification concept for
apprenticeship mentors
• Horizontal cooperation between all partners.
• Availability of support to local pilot activities through:
• "Train-the-Trainer": development and implementation of
training modules
• Development and proposition of training modules for
tutors and trainers in enterprises
• Seminars

8. 4. Implementation 2016 - 2017
• Continuation of the bilateral dialogue
• South - South dialogue about the particular challenges of promoting in-
company learning in Southern Europe (conference in Athens, Nov. 2016)
• Exchange with representatives of the other German “strategic projects”
SCIVET (crafts sector) and VETnet (industry)

9. 11
Italian
Apprenticeships
under Reform
• CGIL Piemonte
• CISL Piemonte
• UIL Piemonte
Unions4VET
• Common project
initiatives
• Common training
of trade unionists
• Launch of pilot
shop floor level
bargaining
together with
• Supportive
training to trade
unionists
Piedmont Trade
Unions capacity
to enhance
quality of
apprenticeships
strengthened
• Pilot shop floor
agreements
• Increased
awareness of
individual trade
unionists
• Stronger position
of trade unions in
the vocational
training agenda
5. Unions4VET in Piedmont

10. 6. Implementation – broader and deeper cooperation
05/2017 – 05/2018
• Regional expansion by involvement of further Italian regions
• International expansion by networking with trade unions in South
Africa and Costa Rica
• Support to partner trade unions for an active role in the relevant
structures of governance
• Networking of the trade unions partners with the national activities
of the SCIVET (crafts) and VETnet-projects (industry)
• Implementation of further pilot projects

11. 7. Delivery and transfer of results
• Formulation of recommended actions (integration European Alliance for
Apprenticeships)
• Preparation and dissemination of results to the German Federal Ministry of
Education and Science, ETUC and public
• Closing Conference

12. Contact:
Hans Ulrich Nordhaus
DGB Federal Executive Committee
Department – Educational Works and Policies
Tel.: 0049-30 - 24060 - 382
E-Mail: ulrich.nordhaus@dgb.de
Martin Roggenkamp
bfw-Unternehmen für Bildung
Tel.: 0049-(0)151-27083064
E-Mail: roggenkamp.martin@bfw.de
Claudia Oehl
Tel.: 0039-340 560 34 02
E-Mail: c.oehl@libero.it