The expert panel of speakers includes: Dmitrijs Kuļšs, an expert in VET at Cedefop, Jean-François Plard, Head of International Development at GIP Pix, Knut Becker, Head of Operations, State Agency for Basic Skills, Baden-Württemberg, and Joann Power, Apprenticeship Support Coordinator at the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board. The webinar will be introduced by Andrea Leruste from DG EMPL.
Literacy, numeracy, science, digital and citizenship skills are essential building blocks for employability and lifelong learning.
Yet recent OECD data point to persistent challenges in basic skills development across Europe, highlighting the need for continued action to strengthen learners’ foundational skills.
VET and apprenticeships are well placed to help address these challenges, by combining learning with experience in a workplace setting. They can support young and adult learners to strengthen their basic skills through practical learning.
Practical guidance for apprenticeship providers
On 19 November, the Alliance will publish a new EAfA Toolkit on strengthening basic skills through apprenticeships to help improve lifelong learning and employability for working-age people in Europe.
Aimed at EAfA members, VET practitioners and other stakeholders, the toolkit provides practical guidance on how to overcome the barriers that prevent apprenticeship providers from integrating basic skills development into their apprenticeship programmes.
The toolkit contributes to the 2025 Union of Skills – the EU’s key strategy for investing in skills, lifelong learning and education and training – which sets out clear targets to reduce underachievement in basic skills.
In addition, the EU’s Action Plan on Basic Skills identifies boosting basic skills teaching and learning, supporting educators and enabling supportive environments as key intervention areas to address the root causes of current basic skills gaps.
In support of the Action Plan’s intervention areas, the toolkit will help you to identify and assess basic skills needs, adapt learning pathways to respond to those needs and provide quality support to apprentices throughout their learning journey.
Discover the toolkit at the EAfA webinar
Want to find out how these approaches can work in practice?
Join the Alliance on 19 November from 11:00–12:30 CET to discover the new toolkit, explore practical approaches to strengthening basic skills through apprenticeships, and exchange experiences with EAfA members and other stakeholders.
Beginning by taking a look at the current state of basic skills in Europe, the webinar will give you an overview of key EU-level actions to support their development, including how apprenticeships can help support learners.
Expect to hear from experts, industry stakeholders and institutional representatives who will share good practices and discuss how the toolkit can support VET providers and employers.
Panel discussions will tackle some of the high-level questions facing apprenticeship providers on understanding and assessing basic skills needs.
You will have the chance to learn more about how to respond to changing labour market needs while supporting apprentices’ foundational skills, and how employers, VET providers and other stakeholders can work together to do so.
Further panel discussions will focus on integrating and monitoring basic skills development in apprenticeships by setting learning objectives with apprentices, adapting teaching methods and learning environments, and supporting the in-company trainers and teachers who work with learners with lower levels of basic skills.
If you are eager to find out more, register here for the webinar.
