In the latest EAfA Member Spotlight article, we spoke with a representative from the ENGIM Foundation (Fondazione ENGIM – Ente Nazionale Giuseppini del Murialdo), a dedicated EAfA member. Driven by a strong commitment to social inclusion, ENGIM organises training programmes designed to support individuals in accessing the labour market and equip them with hard and soft skills, enabling them to contribute effectively to society. Their initiatives aim to help people adapt to an increasingly changing society.
Read on to learn more about ENGIM’s pledge and the initiatives that they are implementing to support EAfA’s objectives.
What motivated you to submit a pledge to EAfA?
For ENGIM, apprenticeships are more than just contracts – they represent an educational approach that connects people with real job opportunities and fosters personal growth.
We submitted our pledge to EAfA in 2023 because we believe that quality apprenticeships can be powerful tools for inclusion, empowerment, and sustainable development.
By joining EAfA, we aim to share our experience in dual education and training enterprises and contribute to a European community dedicated to improving access to quality work-based learning.
Our pledge also supports our efforts to align with EAfA objectives and promote inclusive, future-oriented vocational training both in Italy and abroad.
Could you give us a short overview of your pledge and some of your achievements to date?
We are committed to promoting high-quality apprenticeships as a central part of our educational model, which is grounded in inclusion, social justice, and personal development.
Our pledge focuses on strengthening work-based learning via the dual system, expanding apprenticeship contracts, and developing real-life learning environments such as our training enterprises, active in 11 locations across Italy and Albania.
Our pledge supports several EAfA objectives: improving the quality and supply of apprenticeships, promoting the mobility of apprentices, and strengthening partnerships with employers through co-designed training pathways.
In 2023, we provided 120 apprenticeship contracts and supported the international mobility of 143 learners. In 2024, we activated 192 contracts and sent 55 learners abroad. Across our network of 30 vocational training centres, we deliver over 600 courses annually, involving more than 8 900 learners.
We also promote the Professional Development Tutor’s role in mentoring and guiding learners, especially in the workplace.
In which fields does your organisation offer apprenticeships?
We offer apprenticeships across a wide range of sectors, reflecting the needs of local economies and learners at our 30 vocational training centres in Italy. The sectors include hospitality and tourism, mechanical and industrial technology, digital technologies, agrifood and sustainable agriculture, health and wellness, transport and logistics, renewable energy, and green technologies.
Our training enterprises present additional work-based learning opportunities in areas like catering, agrifood processing, bicycle repair, hair and beauty, and work integration social enterprises.
All apprenticeship pathways are developed in close collaboration with companies and are supported by our Professional Development Tutors, who help learners acquire both technical and transversal skills aligned with labour market needs.
How has EAfA membership helped your organisation to collaborate across Europe?
Being part of EAfA has strengthened ENGIM’s role in connecting regional training systems with European networks.
The Alliance has increased our visibility and credibility, making it easier to build partnerships across Europe for joint mobility projects, peer learning initiatives, and international vocational training cooperation.
Our involvement in platforms and instruments such as the European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, the European Training Foundation, and Erasmus+ has been inspired and reinforced by our EAfA membership. These collaborations offer valuable opportunities for learners, educators, and training centres to exchange best practices and innovate together.
How has your organisation contributed to EAfA activities?
Since joining EAfA, our model of training enterprises and inclusive approach to apprenticeships has been shared as a method for skills development and social empowerment.
We highlight the role of the Professional Development Tutor as essential to quality workplace learning, in accordance with the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (EFQEA) and the International Labour Organisation’s Recommendation No. 208 on Quality Apprenticeships.
In October 2023, we hosted a site visit at our premises in Turin, Italy, for the EAfA–ETF Seminar participants. We also regularly participate in events, working groups, and campaigns such as the EAfA Member Spotlight series.
Our ongoing engagement supports EAfA’s mission to make apprenticeships a driver of growth, equity, and sustainability in Europe.
How do you promote EAfA membership to your partners and stakeholders?
We actively promote the values of EAfA through various channels. After having submitted our pledge, we communicated our commitment to colleagues and regional stakeholders involved in work-based learning.
We leveraged key events, such as the ‘EAfA Journey to Sustainability’ webinar held in April 2024, to raise awareness about the Alliance and showcase our training enterprise model. This model supports green and digital transitions through real work environments.
We also present the benefits of EAfA membership during meetings with businesses, institutions, and regional authorities and encourage other training providers within our network to explore membership and collaborate on best practices.
Through our projects and policy engagement activities, we continue to advocate for strong apprenticeship systems and underscore the role of EAfA in supporting them.
What steps have you taken to promote gender equality in apprenticeships?
ENGIM is strongly committed to promoting gender equality and tackling stereotypes in vocational education and training.
Across our 31 centres, we ensure equal access and participation in our programmes regardless of gender, with particular focus on underrepresented groups in specific fields. We offer career guidance that encourages learners to explore careers beyond traditional gender roles, whether in mechanics, computer technologies, or care work.
Our training enterprises are inclusive environments where learners are assessed based on their skills and motivation rather than social norms. Women make up 53% of our staff, and we actively promote gender equity in leadership, fostering a culture of respect and opportunity.
We employ education, mentoring, and awareness-raising campaigns to endorse apprenticeships that value diversity and support shared responsibility for equity.
Do you have any success stories from apprentices?
Mattia, a former student in the Food and Beverage Service Operator course at ENGIM Nichelino (Piedmont), currently oversees BarLab – the training enterprise that provides learners with real-life experience with customers. He manages the bar with present students, who rotate through different tasks to gain practical skills in a real-world setting.
Giulia, a fourth-year Wellness Operator – Aesthetic Pathway student at ENGIM San Paolo, shared her personal journey:
Hi, I’m Giulia and I have dyslexia. I was bullied in middle school and felt like giving up. Then I found a passion thanks to my aunts, both beauticians. I started doing massages for family and nail polish for anyone who’d let me. I realised this could be my path. I love drawing, so nail art became my dream. ENGIM welcomed and supported me. Now, as I near graduation, I can say: what is dyslexia? It’s the tool that helped me discover my future.
Two apprentices from ENGIM Emilia Romagna
Why should other organisations join EAfA and submit a pledge?
Joining EAfA means becoming part of a European community committed to improving people’s lives through quality apprenticeships.
Submitting a pledge aligns your work with shared goals, providing access to collaborative opportunities and the ability to influence policy.
For ENGIM, this affiliation has amplified our impact, enabled connections with like-minded organisations, and helped enhance our model through dialogue and exchange.
We encourage others to join and contribute to building a stronger, more inclusive, and future-ready apprenticeship ecosystem.
Has ENGIM’s story inspired you to learn more about submitting a pledge to EAfA? Discover how you can start your journey to becoming an EAfA member on our EAfA Membership and Pledges webpage.
