QUEEN Interregional Capacity Building Module published
29/06/2026
The QUEEN-Quality apprenticeships for evolving labour needs (Interreg Europe project) is pleased to announce the official launch of its Interregional Capacity Building Programme, marking an important milestone in its work to strengthen quality apprenticeship systems across Europe. The first module has now been developed and published, laying the foundation for shared learning and cooperation among project partners and participating organisations.
A shared learning journey across regions
The interregional capacity-building activities are designed to foster a common understanding among all QUEEN partners, supporting knowledge exchange and policy learning throughout the project. The programme is structured into three modules delivered at key stages of the project, each addressing different dimensions of apprenticeship policy and practice.
The first module focuses on introducing the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (EFQEA) and presenting early insights from the QUEEN project. It brings together video materials, interviews, and curated documentation into a single, accessible master presentation to support interactive and self-paced learning.
Structure of the first module
The module is organised into five learning blocks, each serving a distinct purpose within the learning journey:
- Learning Block 0 – Introduction to QUEEN: This block provides an overview of the project’s objectives, its policy improvement approach, and the key challenges it addresses in relation to quality apprenticeships. It ensures that all participants, regardless of prior familiarity, begin with a shared baseline understanding.
- Learning Block 1 – Key concepts and stakeholders: This section clarifies essential terminology such as the distinction between apprenticeships and quality apprenticeships, supported by additional reference materials and external sources. It also introduces key organisations in the field, including the International Labour Organization, the European Alliance for Apprenticeships, and Cedefop, while briefly outlining the EFQEA framework.
- Learning Blocks 2 and 3 – EFQEA criteria in practice: These blocks explore the 14 criteria of the European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships in greater depth. Each criterion is presented with explanations, alongside insights into interregional progress gathered through partner surveys. The content highlights good practices and provides a comparative overview of developments across participating regions.
To support reflection and dialogue, these blocks also include guiding questions and visual summaries of regional progress, encouraging participants to consider differences in implementation and identify shared challenges.
- Learning Block 4 – QUEEN project activities and outputs: The final block presents key activities carried out within the QUEEN project to date, including apprenticeship models, high-level events in Brussels, and regional stakeholder meetings. It also provides links to interviews and the Interreg Europe platform, enabling participants to further explore project outputs and developments.
Encouraging reflection and dialogue
Throughout the module, emphasis is placed not only on knowledge transfer but also on reflection and peer learning. Participants are invited to engage with the material critically, particularly in relation to the implementation of the 14 EFQEA criteria and the varying levels of progress observed across regions. This reflective approach supports deeper understanding of why certain criteria are more challenging to achieve and how policy learning can contribute to improvement.
Looking ahead
The first module represents the starting point of a broader learning journey within the QUEEN project. The second module will focus on identifying and analysing good practices in quality apprenticeships across regions. The programme will be completed with a third module dedicated to designing, monitoring, and achieving policy change.
Through this structured capacity-building approach, QUEEN continues to support collaboration, mutual learning, and policy innovation aimed at strengthening quality apprenticeship systems across Europe.