Strategies for developing apprenticeships in the European Union
The European Commission has, on the initiative of Commissioners Cresson and Flynn, adopted a communication setting out five strategies for encouraging the development of apprenticeships in the European Union. A number of recently published research projects and reports highlight the role of apprenticeships in improving the job prospects of young people in the European Union. In the light of these results, and as a follow-up to its White Paper "Teaching and learning: Towards the learning society", the Commission seeks to contribute to the development of high-quality apprenticeships through the implementation of five recommended strategies: - The extension and development of apprenticeships, particularly in growth sectors and emerging job categories, and the identification of good practice in this area; - Enhancing the quality of training through closer cooperation between educational establishments and companies, and between teaching and training staff; - Encouraging mobility for apprentices, notably through the development of a common reference framework to encourage apprenticeships in Europe and of a mobility programme for apprentices along the lines of the SOCRATES/ERASMUS programmes; - Involving the social partners and increasing the debate on apprenticeship within the context of the social dialogue; - Adopting genuine apprenticeship strategies.