Culinary Mastery as Inspiration: A Path to Success in VET
The European Commission has published the methodological guide “Vocational Excellence Cookbook” (April 2025). Inspired by culinary principles such as discipline, teamwork, and continuous improvement, it offers new ways to design high-quality vocational training. The guide highlights the role of apprenticeships in combining theory with practice and fostering professional pride, motivation, and cooperation with employers.
The Importance of Digital Skills in the European Labour Market and Apprenticeship Model
Digitalisation is reshaping the European labour market, making digital competences essential in all sectors. ESCO and the European Commission stress the need for accessible training for everyone, while apprenticeship programmes are increasingly integrating skills such as data analysis, AI, and cybersecurity. The European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) underlines these trends in its 2024 review.
See also the EAfA webinar “Digital Skills in Apprenticeships”, which showcases the latest practices and policy directions.
The aim of the project is to enhance the capability of European VET systems to respond to the plastics sector-specific labour market needs by designing, piloting and implementing an innovative vocational training programme for plastics production line conductors with specific emphasis on digital skills to work with robotics and other smart manufacturing technologies, as well as green skills and entrepreneurial competencies.
The framework sets out 14 criteria in relation to working and learning conditions as well as to framework conditions. It provides a common understanding among Member States and it will support their efforts to reform and modernise apprenticeship systems that provide an excellent learning and career pathway.
Apprenticeship schemes in European countries
This report details CEDEFOP’s first cross-nation study of apprenticeships in the European Union. The point of departure for the study is what countries define and offer as apprenticeship training.
JAMK University of Applied Sciences, School of Professional Teacher Education conducted the research in the Baltic countries on the impact of the work-based learning tutor training, in which the teachers from VET schools and the representatives of the companies were trained together. The report describes how the participants of the tandem training assessed their competence before and six months after the training.
Apprenticeship review: Lithuania
The publication is the final report of the thematic country review of apprenticeship in Lithuania. The report is based on information and views gathered by CEDEFOP in consultation with stakeholders in Lithuania (representatives of ministries, social partners, VET providers, companies, students, teachers, and trainers).