Apprenticeship: a pill for every ill?

Following the financial crisis and the ensuing economic downturn in the past decade, apprenticeship sparked renewed interest among policy-makers both in Brussels and the EU Member States. Since, European and national crisis management strategies have advocated apprenticeship both as a short-term solution to youth unemployment and a useful response to companies' skill needs in the longer term. Increasing the uptake of apprenticeships has consequently been at the heart of a massive policy effort that has resulted in a proliferation of apprenticeship schemes with different purposes:...  [+] Show more

Following the financial crisis and the ensuing economic downturn in the past decade, apprenticeship sparked renewed interest among policy-makers both in Brussels and the EU Member States. Since, European and national crisis management strategies have advocated apprenticeship both as a short-term solution to youth unemployment and a useful response to companies' skill needs in the longer term. Increasing the uptake of apprenticeships has consequently been at the heart of a massive policy effort that has resulted in a proliferation of apprenticeship schemes with different purposes: vocational training fully preparing learners for an occupation, short-term skills development, social inclusion, and offering second-chance pathways for [vocational education and training] VET dropouts and other vulnerable groups.

Excerpt from publication.