Exploring Apprenticeships in Europe and Beyond: 10th EAfA Seminar for Partner Countries

The Seminar will bring together governments, businesses, social partners, and vocational education providers to explore how apprenticeships can be strengthened across Europe and neighbouring regions.

Organised by the European Commission and the European Training Foundation (ETF), in cooperation with Montenegro's Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, the seminar will provide a space for sharing experiences, exchanging good practices, and reflecting on how work-based learning can prepare young people for the labour market.

Key themes

This year, discussions will centre on two key challenges:

• The first explores how financial and non-financial incentives can make apprenticeships more attractive, inclusive, and effective. Drawing on international examples from Serbia, France and beyond, participants will examine funding models and their impact on quality of apprenticeships. They reflect on strengths and weaknesses observed during implementation and identify what kind of support may be necessary (and national and EU level) to sustain ongoing efforts on the ground.
• The second theme addresses the matching of learners and companies. In the systems of ETF partner countries, the matching between learners and companies usually takes place at a later point in time, e.g. months after the start of the apprenticeship or dual VET programme. The vocational school then usually plays a key role in the matching process. This results in special challenges, which will be discussed with panellists from Montenegro, Hungary, Spain, and the European Apprentices Network.

Agenda highlights and site visits

Montenegro's apprenticeship ecosystem will provide examples of these approaches in practice:

• At the Vocational Secondary School "Spasoje Raspopović", students combine classroom learning with hands-on training across disciplines from chemistry to fashion design, supported by strong employer partnerships.
• La Parisienne Factory will showcase how apprentices gain real-world experience in bakery, pastry, and café businesses.
• The Junior High School of Electrical Engineering "Vaso Aligrudić" will demonstrate how technical education, paired with workplace learning, builds practical skills and confidence.

Alongside these learning opportunities, the seminar will also provide updates from the Alliance, welcoming new members Ukraine and Kosovo - bringing the EAfA to a total of 43 countries, and share latest developments from North Macedonia, Lithuania, Türkiye, and Luxembourg, reinforcing the growing European and regional network. Participants will have opportunities for informal exchange, including a networking dinner in Podgorica, strengthening links between governments, businesses, and education providers.

By connecting policy discussion with real-life practices, the seminar will illustrate how incentives, effective matching, and collaborative learning environments can help apprenticeships thrive. The event will offer valuable insights for stakeholders to make apprenticeship across Europe more inclusive, qualitative, and future-oriented.

Check out the event's website for more details!

Details