Strong together: Increased participation of companies as a goal of VET policy worldwide
Promoting lifelong learning and the acquisition of vocational qualifications in the changing world of work is more important than ever. Thus, in 2020, the Employment Policy Department of the International Labour Organization (ILO), with the support of the Flemish government, launched a project: Apprenticeships Development for Universal Lifelong Learning and Training (ADULT). All reports from this project are now available.
The project aimed at developing new ideas and policy options for modernising apprenticeships in order to address current challenges. It focuses on the needs of all population groups in existing and new economic sectors, including the digital and green economy and countries at different stages of development. It also looks at how systems can provide both young people and adults with the skills relevant to the future of work, facilitating transition into the labour market.
In addition to several country case studies, a total of 7 thematic reports were produced in the project:
- Adapt apprenticeship training for the qualification of adults and older workers;
- Promote apprenticeships to meet the skills needs of the digital and knowledge economy;
- Use of technology to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of apprenticeships;
- Increase the participation of enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the provision of training opportunities;
- Improving the attractiveness and social perception of apprenticeships, including promoting pathways to higher education;
- Introduction or strengthening of dual training through internships, traineeships and other work-based learning programmes in addition to school-based vocational training;
- Improving the quality of apprenticeship training in the informal economy.
Thematic Report 4 on the involvement of SMEs in apprenticeship training was written under the auspices of BIBB in collaboration with three authors, Philipp Grollmann and Isabelle Le Mouillour from BIBB and Wolfgang Wittig from f-bb. All reports can now be downloaded from the project's page at ILO.