EAfA Webinar: Launch of the Toolkit on Adult Apprenticeships
21/11/2025
On 20 November, the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) hosted a webinar to introduce the new Toolkit on Adult Apprenticeships, bringing together EAfA members, policymakers, Public Employment Services, organizations and civil society representatives to discuss its relevance and practical use.
EARLALL participated in the session, contributing to the exchange on how the toolkit can support the development of high-quality adult apprenticeship pathways.
This moment was particularly significant for EARLALL, as it served as a meaningful follow-up to our earlier involvement in shaping the Toolkit. In July 2025, EARLALL provided feedback on the EAfA Toolkit on Adult Apprenticeships through the Stakeholder Consultation. By contributing its comments, EARLALL supported the development of this reference tool at European level.
Andrew McCoshan, VET Expert at EAfA, opened the webinar with welcome remarks and handed over to Andrea Leruste, Deputy Head of Unit, DG EMPL, European Commission, who highlighted the growing necessity of upskilling and reskilling. Leruste noted that apprenticeships allow training to be tailored to the specific needs of adults, supporting them in their everyday lives with flexibility and practical benefits. She emphasized the importance of the toolkit in overcoming barriers and leveraging best practices to create new opportunities.
A panel discussion followed designed to explore key issues around apprenticeships from multiple perspectives. Gina Ebner, Head of Policy and Deputy Secretary General of the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA), emphasized the importance of keeping the learner at the center. Further highlighting how the toolkit provides guidance and flexible learning pathways to recognize and validate diverse needs. Ebner further tackled the stigma surrounding apprenticeships, stressing the importance of promoting the positive outcome of apprenticeships and presenting them as a valuable pathway for those seeking to become skilled craftspeople. Gertrud Hirtreiter, Head of Unit at the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts, complemented Ebner’s message with the employer’s perspective, calling for a forward-looking learning system, including women in male-dominated fields and people from migrant backgrounds. Hirtreiter underscored the need to link the many facets of the lifelong learning domain with the demands of industry, lifting digital tools as enablers for enhancing flexibility.
Sara Consuegra, Labour Area Officer at PIMEC, voiced the mismatch between supply and demand, calling for more coordination between companies and VET to tackle outdated skills. Vlasis Korovilos, Expert at CEDEFOP Department for VET and Skills, built on the discussion by mentioning a compatible learning experience for adults by introducing smart incentives and raising awareness. Concluding that apprenticeships must be available to adults through adapted curricula to maximize their benefit.
Flavia Colonnese, Senior Research Manager at Ecorys, presented an overview of the EAfA Toolkit. Underlining the different phases in adult apprenticeships and main takeaways from the toolkit, such as:
- Key concepts to understand adult education and the role of apprenticeships in supporting lifelong learning.
- Overview of the main EU policies and funding instruments that supports adult education.
- Building blocks for policymakers to establish an enabling environment for adult apprenticeships.
- Step-by-step guidance to support companies, VET providers, and PES (Performative
- Evaluation Standard).
- Examples of implemented projects and relevant initiatives.
- A checklist summarizing the key steps of setting up and implementing apprenticeships.
Through QUEEN, Quality apprenticeships for evolving labour needs Interreg project and its WG on Youth Policies, EARLALL is actively supporting the improvement of regional apprenticeship policies across Europe. Local and regional stakeholders play a crucial role in effective outreach, enabling adults to actively shape their apprenticeship learning experiences. The discussion also addressed the role of micro-credentials in adult apprenticeships, welcoming their flexibility as a tool to update curricula and enhance pedagogical approaches. EARLALL closely follows EAfA’s work, contributing to a more responsive and future-ready adult learning and apprenticeship ecosystem.
