How are European countries managing apprenticeships to respond to the COVID-19 crisis?

In April 2020, Cedefop's community of apprenticeship experts launched an internal consultation on how European countries are managing apprenticeships in the current health emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic. Twenty five experts contributed to this exercise from: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK (England and Wales). This publication is the synthesis report from the consultation. It is presented in five main sections: (1) Impact on apprenticeships school-based component; (2) Impact on company-based component' (3) Implications on contracts, remuneration; (4) Assessment and final examination; (5) Centralised support.

Some key findings: all the above countries make efforts to keep up with the learning at school via distance learning and maintain the contracts with the companies; distance learning is piecemeal, and its use very much depends on the schools' and teachers' e-skills and availability, and on sectors; the role of teachers and of cooperation at school-company level is critical to ensuring training continuity (especially via distance learning); apprentices who still go to companies, are occasionally allowed - in cooperation with schools - to make up for parts of learning meant to be delivered in schools; all schools and VET providers offering training to apprentices are closed; most countries have set up arrangements for distance learning, including organised online classes; In most countries, apprentices do not go to companies, but the situation varies by sector, scheme or education level - where it is considered safe, in-company training continues); in general, apprentices whose contracts are not suspended are paid as usual.

Edited excerpts from publication and the publisher's website. Show less