Development of Apprenticeship Learning in IVET in Romania
The on-going changing society marked by demanding expectations and challenges raised the policy-makers awareness that only joints efforts provide appropriate measures and actions for sustainable economic growth and fair competitiveness. The Lisbon declaration, the Bruges Communiqué emphasized the role of education and training as main instrument that stand as basis for an enforced human capital, “Rethinking Education” urges European Member States to take immediate action and “re-think”, adapt education and training systems to the labour market real needs.
The Recommendations of July 9, 2013 of the Council of the European Union on the National Reform Programme 2013 of Romania and on the Convergence Programme for 2012-2016 also emphasise the need to increase the employment rate, the youth employment and activity. They all form overarching issues that are acknowledged at both European and national levels, being assumed by the EU Member States through ET 2020 Strategy.
The needs identified in the initial VET system refer mainly to better matching the training offer and the competencies of the graduates to the labour market needs and the improvement of the social partner and employers’ participation and accountability in initial education and training.
DALIVET – At a glance
The project general aim is to create the starting point for the development and introduction of a more flexible, work-based learning and training opportunity for young people who want to train for a labour-market relevant qualification by enrolling in an apprenticeship pathway in initial VET in Romania.
The specific objectives of the project are also developing the basis of a legal framework for introducing apprenticeship in IVET, improving the skills and competencies of the teachers and trainers involved in work-based learning, through a pilot training programme, enhancing the accountability of the key actors involved in IVET and raising awareness of all relevant stakeholders that could contribute to this new pathway.
The results envisaged in general terms consist in the feasibility study, a master plan for the implementation of the feasibility recommendations, a training programme, two conferences and dissemination materials and tools, two visits of exchange of good practices.
The target group will include different categories of public: policy makers, stakeholders and social partners, representatives of the inspectorates and of regional / county authorities.
The project activity will have an important impact at system level first of all by creating the premises of the introduction and implementation of a flexible and attractive apprenticeship pathway in IVET, then at regional and local level by better addressing the needs of the companies, increasing IVET graduates employability and raising their and the public’s confidence in the new form of training and in the end , improving IVET the and relevancy credibility and image of IVET in Romania.
Announcement
Selection Process of the Target Group in the Project ”Development of Apprenticeship-type Programs in Initial Vocational Education and Training in Romania (DALIVET)”
February 22nd – March 11th 2016
National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education Development (NCTVED), located in Bucharest, 10-12 Spiru Haret Street, CP 010176, phone no. 021.311.11.62, fax 021.312.54.98, invites you, between February 22nd and March 11th 2016, to be part of the selection process of the target group in the project ”Development of apprenticeship-type programs in initial vocational education and training in Romania (DALIVET)”, no. 557135-EPP-1-2014-1-RO-EPPKA3-APPREN, Program ERASMUS +: National Authorities for Apprenticeships Call EACEA/13/2014.
To achieve the overall objective of the project – to enhance learning at the working place during initial vocational training through apprenticeship-type programs – a training of 50 people will take place (25 teachers who teach technical subjects in vocational education lasting 2/3 years, along with 25 tutors of practice as providers of learning programs at work). The training program is called “Together we build bridges – practical internships training in vocational and technical education” and has a duration of 24 hours. The project was submitted for accreditation at the General Directorate for Management and Educational Network, the Directorate for Continuing Education of Personnel from Pre-universitary Education in Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research.
The duration of the training program is expected to take place between the 15th and 17th of April 2016, in Bucharest, in a location that will be announced later. The costs of travel, accommodation (up to 3 nights) and training are provided by the project mentioned above. There may be changes in the development period, depending on the acquisition, that will be done later on.
Calling for selection will be made by a team of two people working in a team with a group / class of students enrolled in vocational education lasting 2/3 years:
– a teacher who teaches technical subjects in vocational education lasting 2/3 years;
– a tutor of practice as a provider of learning programs at work.
Details about the modality of selection are presented in the Announcement and Selection Procedure of participants in the training program “Together we build bridges – practical internships training in vocational and technical education”.
Attached materials:
Aim: Maximizing work – based – learning in Romania through the establishment of an apprenticeship pathway embedded in the IVET system
The potential of work-based- learning in developing VET students’ skills and competences needed by the world of work is strongly acknowledged.
Specific objectives (SO):
SO1: Developing the basis of a legal framework for introducing apprenticeship in IVET
SO2: Improving the skills and competences of the teachers, trainers and tutors involved in work-based –learning, through a pilot training programme
SO3: Enhancing the accountability of the key actors involved in work-based-learning in IVET
SO4: Raising the level of awareness of all relevant stakeholders related to the contribution of work-based-learning to supporting youth employment and economic competitiveness
The potential of work-based- learning in developing VET students’ skills and competences needed by the world of work is strongly acknowledged. Maximizing work – based – learning in Romania through the establishment of an apprenticeship pathway embedded in the IVET system is of crucial importance to enhance the relevance of IVET to the needs of the labour market.
Approach
This aim can be attained only by a holistic approach that takes into account all key aspects. Both system and provider level have to be foreseen and all relevant stakeholders have to be involved.
The application proposes the development of the basis legal framework for introducing apprenticeship in IVET based on a sound analysis of one of the best – performing system at EU level – the German dual system. Teachers and trainers are a key factor of the success of any training programme, it is therefore extremely important to improve their skills and competences, through an adequate training programme.
The success of the approach relies on a common effort of all key actors (policy makers, social partners’ representatives, representatives of the inspectorates and of regional / local authorities). Last but not least, in a country as Romania, where IVET attractiveness is low, raising the level of awareness of all relevant stakeholders is critical.
Target Groups
The project addresses following target groups:
- 20 Policy makers (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Small and Medium Size Enterprises); they will be involved in the feasibility study and elaboration of implementation Master Plan;
- 160 stakeholders at the regional level, participants to the regional seminars: they will take part to the national consultation process for development of the VET Master Plan;
- 630 stakeholders and social partners (representatives of Local Committee for Social Partnership Development – LCSPD), persons involved in creating strategies for development of education and training, at county level: professionals, experts involved in policy development in VET, as well as labour & employment; overall, we intend to involve representatives of governmental agencies and other public bodies at national, regional and local levels;
- 25 tutors/teachers/trainers participating to the pilot training program for apprenticeship;
- 10 policy implementation staff that can contribute to the implementation of recommendations of the project;
- students and parents: the final beneficiars of this project; they will be informed through the websites proiectdalivet.ro / alegetidrumul.ro and all the dissemination activities about the benefits of the apprenticeship.
The project intends to reach at least 5000 visits of the website, during the project lifetime.
An Important Impact at the System Level
A better cooperation between training providers and companies, and an education and training offer better adapted to the real needs of the companies.
Expected Impact
The project is intended to have an important impact at the system level (creating the framework for introducing apprenticeship education in IVET in Romania, a better cooperation between training providers and companies, and an education and training offer better adapted to the real needs of the companies.
National and international companies, who already expressed their interest in being involved in the training process, will benefit the project results. They will be encouraged to participate more in education and training in order to benefit from a qualified labour force. The VET system accountability will increase as well.
The consultation process organised during the project implementation will ensure an important participation of the main stakeholders at national and local level. A number of 630 members of the Local Committees will be informed about the reform and they will have the possibility to express their opinion and provide feedback. Their engagement in the process from the beginning will ensure the necessary ownership and commitment for their future involvement in providing apprenticeship training.
The project will impact the teachers/ trainers and tutors, which will be trained in order to provide quality apprenticeship schemes. The training programme will be replicated to other schools/ companies who will implement the apprenticeship schemes in the future.
Through the dissemination process the project will address new stakeholders and companies and also the parents of future VET students, which will be better informed about the benefits of VET and more likely to guide their children for choosing a vocational pathway.
The project could be used as example on how the German and Austrian models could inspire the development of an existing VET system, by creating a model adapted in a specific national context, inspiring other countries interested in implementing apprenticeship schemes in the future (e.g. countries form Danube Region or South Eastern Europe).
The impact is envisaged on short, medium and long term. On short term the project will have impact on the target group and stakeholders directly involved. On medium term other national institutions, IVET schools and companies will benefit on the project results. On long term we expect to have an important increase of the VET graduates employment rates.
Description of the Work programme and Deliverables
All the materials produced in the project can be used for a proper career guidance and counselling of the students to choose a vocational pathway.
Project management
This work package will contain activities of planning, organizing, monitoring, evaluation and management of resources to achieve the successful completion of the aim and objectives of the project.
Deliverables: outputs / results / achievements:
– 1 Internal Procedure for implementing the project and monitoring the results
– 7 Quality monitoring reports (M3, M6, M9, M12, M15, M18, M21, M24)
– 1 Final Report
– 2 Reports after the 2 working meetings (M 07-08 and M 17 – 18)
– 4 Reports after participation to the meetings required by EC
– 1 Decision on the establishment of a Steering committee
– 1 kick-off meeting report
– 1 Intermediate project evaluation
– 1 Report of Factual Findings on the Final Financial Report
– 1 Final evaluation report
Elaboration of the feasibility study in order to introduce a specific pathway for apprenticeship in IVET in Romania
In this activity we intend to have an overview on the educational and training system from Romania, on the good apprenticeship experience from Germany, to adapt, transfer and have some recommendation for the introduction of the apprenticeship pathway in Romania.
Deliverables: outputs / results / achievements:
– 2 Reports of workshops
– 1 Feasibility study – “Terms of Reference for introducing apprenticeship in initial VET in Romania” validated by the Steering Committee
Download materials:
Exchanges of good practice in Germany for the Steering Committee, policy makers and relevant stakeholders
The activities conducted in Germany will be focused on the examples of good experience related to apprenticeship, provided by representatives from German school units and the local authorities: the Baden-Wurttemberg ministry/ies dealing with apprenticeship, representative companies and the Academy for Training.
Deliverables: outputs / results / achievements:
– 2 Reports of the exchanges of good practice
Development of a Master plan for 2015 – 2020 period for implementing the apprenticeship in IVET system
In this work package will transfer the recommendations of the Feasibility study – “Terms of Reference for introducing apprenticeship in initial VET in Romania” into an operative Master plan which will have tasks, terms, responsibilities. A draft of the Master plan will be written by the experts from the project and will be submitted for debate in a national consultation process in 8 regional seminars and this result will be valorised in 42 meetings of the Local Committee for Social Partnership Development (LCSPD), structures related to VET at the local level.
Deliverables: outputs / results / achievements:
– 1 questionnaire designed and applied
– 160 questionnaires filled in during the seminars
– 8 reports (1 report for each of 8 seminars that summarises the proposals from the participants for improving the Master plan)
– 1 Master plan validated by the Steering Committee
– 42 Reports (1 for each county)
– 630 Practical assignments on implementation of the Master plan
Download materials:
Design and implementation of a pilot training program for trainers/teachers/tutors for apprenticeship education
In order to increase the quality of the work-based learning in company, the experts from the project will design a training programme for tutors to acquire the necessary, basic pedagogical competencies (the in-company tutors) and for teachers to upgrade their technical competences.
The program will be design to put together the tutors and the teachers in order to ensure all the conditions for a good training of the students. The program will be developed with the partner from Germany based on the good experience in Germany.
Deliverables: outputs / results / achievements:
– 1 training program designed
– 1 meeting with the implementing team
– 1 procedure for selecting the target group
– 25 persons selected for the training
– 25 persons trained
– 1 feed-back questionnaire designed
– 25 questionnaires applied
Dissemination of the project results
The activity will be referring to increasing the apprenticeship attractiveness for students, parents and companies.
2 Conferences will be organised with several types of participants: stakeholders, representative students, parents and companies. One of the Conferences will be an international one with 100 participants and the second one will be a national conference with 50 participants.
Deliverables: outputs / results / achievements:
– 1 dissemination strategy, including 1 operative strategy plan for dissemination
– 2 Conference Reports
– 3 press releases
– 1 website (www.alegetidrumul.ro) updated and improve in terms to sustain the introduction of the apprenticeship in Romania
– 4 electronic newsletters produced and distributed
– 1 leaflet in Romanian, English and German language and 300 copies of each
– 1 brochure in Romanian, English and German language and 60 copies in Romanian Language and 20 copies in English and German language
– 1 poster
– 1 roll-up
– 1 banner
Download materials:
Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research launched the public consultation on completion of education and training – options of 8th grade graduates for dual professional system
In April 2016, within DALIVET project, it were held a number of 42 meetings of the Local Committees for Social Partnership Development (CLDPS). In these meetings, it was discussed the Master plan for introducing dual system / apprenticeship in initial vocational education and training in Romania. Based on the issues discussed in these meetings and the strategic priorities of the Ministry of education (http://www.edu.ro/index.php/articles/23874), Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research (MNESR) and National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development (NCTVETD) launched on Thursday, May 19, the public consultation on completion of education and training – options of 8th grade graduates for dual professional system.
This concept document is outlines a number of key elements: analysis of current situation of professional education, clarifying specific training programs of professional dual system, establishing routes for further study and exits for the labor market, economic and environmental demands for dual professional system.
In the press conference that marked the initiation of the consultation process, the Minister Adrian Curaj outlined the main novelties included in the package of measures proposed by the Ministry of Education.
„The main change, or, simply, the improvement, is about the professional trajectory of the student who decide to enroll in this form of education: because, at the moment, there is only one possibility for level three of qualification, for a skilled worker, we introduced two new levels, namely: level four of qualification (technician) and level five of qualification (specialist technician). We base our proposals on a five countries case studies and our model, although not copy a certain model, respond and is aligned to what happens in countries with a lot of experience in the field, countries that manage to come up with qualified human resources to the labor market and meet the development needs. Secondly, we speak, from now on, only about dual-professional education, because the training can not be done without a major involvement and an appropriate practice in the industry, to the beneficiary “, said the Minister of Education.
To collect opinions and proposals from all stakeholders on the amendments proposed by the concept paper “Education and training options for 8th grade graduates” focused on:
- The structure and the content of the raining options proposed;
- The type of contract regulating the relationship between the student and the employer;
- Cost-sharing in the dual training system and funding sources;
- Incentives for students
- Incentives and exemptions for companies
- Certification of students’ competences;
- Administrative flexibility.
In order to obtain relevant feedback for the objective proposed, the consultation of social partners involves wide participation of all stakeholders. For this purpose, the public dialogue will be organised as follows:
- On-line consultation by submission of proposals and comments to the e-mail address: consultare-dual@tvet.ro. Proposals and comments may be submitted in the period of 19 May – 16 June 2016.
- On line invitations submitted to teachers, students’ and parents’ representatives, social partners’ representatives in order to participate in the consultation;
- Face-to-face meetings with representatives of social partners, organised at regional level (in the period 30 May – 03 June 2016, two regional meetings with social partners in West and South East region, in the period 06 – 10 June 2016, eight regional meetings with social partners in Centru, West, North West, South East, South West Oltenia, South Muntenia, North East region;
- National debate with social partners.
The press conference was also attended by the State Secretary for the preuniversitary education, Mrs. Monica Anisie and by the Director of the NTVETD, Gabriela Liliana Petre.
USEFUL MATERIALS:
International Conference “Work based learning: challenges and opportunities”
19-20 October 2015, Bucharest, Romania
National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVETD) organized on 19th and 20th of October 2015, the International Conference “Work based learning: challenges and opportunities”, within the Erasmus + project, „Development of apprenticeship Learning in initial VET in Romania (DALIVET)”, reference 557135-EPP-1-2014-1-RO-EPPKA3-APPREN. The conference was held at the Conference Center of the Cervantes Institute, located on the ground floor of Cişmigiu Hotel, Elisabeta Blvd, nr. 38, district 1, Bucharest, Romania.
The conference was opened by the Minister of Education and Scientific Research, Mr. Sorin Mihai Cîmpeanu, which, together with NCTVETD Director, Ms. Liliana Gabriela Petre, underlined the importance of work based learning in order to develop a successful career of the young generation. A special attention is regarding to the participation of the Minister of Education in Moldova, Ms. Corina Fusu, who reiterated her willingness to cooperate with Romania in joint projects that increase the relevance of work based learning component for the labor market.
The conference brought together representatives from the economic environment, relevant and responsible public authorities whose field of competence and activity intermingles with the issue of work-based learning, initial VET schools, universities, pupils and social partners. The conference was attended by Member States with experience in organizing work based learning programs, such as Germany and Austria, but also from other countries such as Moldova, Turkey, Italy, Greece and Belgium.
The event was a platform for exchanging best practices at international level in the field of work-based learning in VET, including dual and apprenticeship, the debates focusing on challenges, opportunities, especially on concrete actions that support learning programmes at work.
The main topics of the conference was focused on the relevancy, quality and governance of work based learning programmes, in the perspective of European developments in the field, with a regard on Romanian priorities for VET sector development, especially on the need to boost and optimize the involvement of business world in VET.
Among the important guests at the conference include representatives of institutions with decision-making across Europe in terms of learning at work. Thus, the internatinal conference was concluded by Mr. James Calleja, Director of CEDEFOP, Mr. Sigve Bjorstad, European Commission – DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Ms. Madlen Serban, Director of European Training Foundation. The importance of WBL was clearly highlighted as a prerequisite for lowering youth unemployment and improving the relevance of education and training for the labor market in Romania.
The debates within the conference and its conclusions will be taken and highlight in the Master plan for implementing the recommendations of the Feasibility Study ” Terms of Reference for introducing dual system / apprenticeship in initial VET in Romania”.
USEFUL MATERIALS:
Feel free to contact us
CNDIPT
10-12 Spiru Haret st., Sector 1, Bucharest
phone: 021-311.11.62, 021-312.11.61
fax: 021-312.54.98
e-mail: vet@tvet.ro
Program ERASMUS+: National Authorities for Apprenticeships, Call EACEA/13/2014
Title: „Development of Apprenticeship Learning in IVET in Romania (DALIVET)”
Reference: 557135-EPP-1-2014-1-RO-EPPKA3-APPREN
Aplicant: Centrul Naţional de Dezvoltare a Învăţământului Profesional şi Tehnic (CNDIPT), România
Partener: Landesakademie für Fortbildung und Personalentwicklung an Schulen rAöR, Germania