On 30 June – 1 July 2025, Brussels hosted the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) high-level event, which underlined the role of apprenticeships in the Union of Skills and Clean Industrial Deal strategies. The two-day gathering brought together policymakers, education experts, employers, employee representatives, and apprentices themselves.
Main Theme: Apprenticeships for Europe’s Green and Digital Transition
The event focused on how apprenticeships contribute to two major EU initiatives – the Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal – which are at the core of Europe’s green and digital transformation. These developments set new requirements for vocational education and workforce skills.
Why This Event Matters for Apprenticeship Policy
Today, apprenticeships are not only a form of practical learning but also a strategic response to Europe’s challenges:
- Climate neutrality → developing green skills and professions
- Technological transformation → new competences in the era of artificial intelligence
- Demographic change → inclusive education for vulnerable groups
- Gender balance in STEM → empowering women in engineering, IT, and energy
Speakers emphasised that apprenticeships must be high-quality, inclusive, visible, and accessible to all.
Key Initiatives and Commitments
- Traineeships in EU institutions: From 2026, VET graduates will be able to take part in the “Blue Book” traineeships – an important step towards raising the prestige of apprenticeships.
- A growing EAfA community: The Alliance currently brings together over 500 organisations from 43 countries and aims to reach 700 members by 2030.
- Gender balance in STEM: By 2030, the target is to attract 1 million women, provide 50,000 apprenticeship placements, and increase women’s share in STEM apprenticeships to 25%.
Apprenticeships: Not Only an Education Model, but a Project for a Sustainable Europe
The event gave special attention to:
- stronger learner representation,
- cross-border apprenticeship programmes,
- new forms of cooperation between businesses and VET providers.
Read more: Apprenticeships at the heart of Europe’s transformation – EAfA 2025