The Education and Employment Programme (PEO) from Romania is fully in line with the EU Policy Object 4 – More social Europe - (i) labour markets & employment: it aims to capitalise on human potential, in fair conditions.

PEO’s policy objective on education and employment is: "A more social Romania with equal access to sustainable, quality employment, to an education system relevant to the labour market, stimulating for lifelong learning, a society based on solidarity and better living conditions for all citizens".

It has 2 other main objectives:

1. Optimising education and training systems to meet demands of the labour market, while promoting equal access to education and fostering lifelong learning;
2. Strengthening effective functioning of the labour market and facilitating inclusive and equal access to and participation in quality and sustainable employment for the labour resource.

The PEO strategy transposes these objectives into 9 investment priorities, which reflect both the priority needs in the description of the current situation and the Strategic Country Report from 2019 and 2020 regarding investment needs in the field of employment, education and social dialogue, as well as the related PO 4 priorities.
PEO is cofinanced through ESF, so selected ESF+ specific objectives, will contribute to achieving the Specific objectives (SO).

The SO of specific relevance to QUEEN aims at improving access to the labour market and enabling measures for all jobseekers, especially for young people.

The Long-term plan of Education and Development of the Educational System of the South Moravian Region follows the Long-term plan of Education and Development of the Educational System of the Czech Republic, which is an implementation document of the Strategy for the Development of Education of the Czech Republic 2030+.

The document presents the basic tendencies and objectives of the education policy for the given period, sets out measures and key activities at the level of the region and defines the space for their specific solutions.

The issue of apprenticeship education is included in this document, in particular in chapter B.3 “Quality secondary and higher vocational education for further education and practice”.

The proposed measures are aimed at improving the quality of vocational education through:

• the development of vocational training centres,
• supporting systemic cooperation between schools and employers (in particular, provision of internships and apprenticeships for apprentices at employers' workplaces)
• the establishment of merit scholarships for students in selected apprenticeship fields
• supporting the development of basic literacy skills of students in apprenticeship fields.

Part of the measure is aimed at teaching staff in vocational schools - networking between school management and teachers of vocational subjects will be supported in order to share examples of good practice in providing theoretical and practical training for apprentices. 

The Tuscany Region addresses the Regional Investment Programme for Growth, Employment, Education, and Training within the RP ESF+ 2021-27 framework. The Programme is structured in 4 Priorities: Priority n.2 “Education & Training”, supports Specific Objectives (SO), including ESO4.5 which aims "to improve the quality, inclusiveness, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems, to support the acquisition of key competences and by promoting the introduction of dual training systems and apprenticeships”.

This is intended to improve dialogue, cooperation and match between businesses and education and training institutions through:

• increasing opportunities to activate dual apprenticeship contracts through actions such as co-design of courses, training mentoring, pre-apprenticeship and information campaigns/services to support key actors (enterprises, training, schools) in the implementation of the dual system
• reinforcement and qualification of training provision through joint school-enterprise planning,
• strengthening governance of the Technical and Professional Poles, in close connection with needs expressed by industrial sectors.

Measures will include particular support to the development of sectoral skills necessary for the digital and green transition, as from EU Rec. 2020/C 417/01.

QUEEN is also consistent with the:

• Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) 2021-27 of Tuscany Region, where intervention in the technical and scientific skills of workers moves in synergy with the SME’s technological upgrading
• Regional Quality Charter for Apprenticeships adopted by the Tuscany Region with Regional Council No. 1165/2023 (DGR 1165/2023).

In February 2021, the Assembly of Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDC) adopted an integrated, multi-sectoral strategic document: Development Strategy of Zenica-Doboj Canton 2021-2027. This provides the basis for defining public policies and directs the development of ZDC.

Interregional learning in QUEEN feeds particularly into Strategic Goal 2 – “Improve the quality of life and ensure equal opportunities for all citizens, through creation of a sustainable and just social environment”. Within this, Priority 2.1 focuses on improved services in the education sector, in line with labor market needs.

This priority is implemented through:

• 2.1.1. Better align the education system with the needs of the labor market
• 2.1.2. Increase employment levels, with a focus on increasing employability of vulnerable groups in the labor market.

These measures aim to improve the education system and institutional structures, in accordance with the needs and dynamics of the regional labor market. They support cooperation between educational institutions, business entities and economic actors to boost employment and develop entrepreneurial culture and skills.

There is a focus on reducing unemployment of vulnerable groups. The Strategy contains an indicative financial framework with necessary financial resources to achieve strategic goals, priorities and measures. Budget from regional, national and international funds is allocated to specific measures. It can be used to fund strategic projects within each measure.

The Basque Education System Guidance Plan 2023 -2026 is a structured framework that integrates two initiatives: the Educational Guidance Plan (Compulsory Secondary Education and Baccalaureate) and the Vocational Guidance Plan (Vocational Training sector and apprenticeships).

The Vocational Guidance Plan aims to enhance effectiveness and comprehensiveness of guidance in vocational training centers in the Region. Consistent with Law 3/2022, the plan aims to:
 

1. Strengthen the work of Vocational Information and Guidance Services to provide comprehensive guidance to all students;
2. Increase the impact of vocational guidance by putting the person at the center, together with vocational schools and social and economic actors;
3. Ensure the maximum development of VET learners, considering personal characteristics and context, with the support of stakeholders;
4. Ensure the education system as a driver of career change, free of gender bias and discrimination.

The Plan also contains a set of guiding principles, approaches and criteria to guide the process towards effective implementation.

Objective 3 encompasses measures for apprenticeships, focusing on enhancing collaboration with companies, administrations, and social agents to provide effective information and career guidance, while also reinforcing the alignment between apprenticeship training programs and the requirements of the social and labor market.

Challenges, strengths and weaknesses in guidance for apprenticeships and dual education were mentioned in the 2022 diagnosis study.

The Southwest Finland Regional Strategy 2040+ identifies the issues to which joint resources of the region's actors should be directed. It enables broad cooperation between stakeholders to implement goals and tackle identified challenges.

One of the visions is to be a communal region that offers everyone opportunities for well-being, promoting high and diverse expertise.

The regional strategy combines 2 statutory documents:

• regional plan
• regional programme.

The regional programme, updated every four years, consists of 18 objectives and 44 measures.
Objective 8 of the regional programme highlights the region's versatile expertise and the value of continues learning opportunities.

Within this objective, the skills needs of top industries are anticipated, and the availability of skilled labour is developed, has a goal to make the future competence needs a part of the planning of practical training and apprenticeship models.
 

This objective is closely aligned with QUEEN and aims to foster ecosystems that facilitate its implementation.

It is carried out through the following measures, designed to enhance the effectiveness of apprenticeships: 

• Promoting opportunities for continuous learning, ensuring a quality working life, and bolstering the availability of skilled labor. 
• Enhancing and establishing more direct recruitment pathways and internship/apprenticeship models connecting educational institutions with companies. 

The Cork County Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP), prepared under the Local Government Reform Act of 2014, outlines objectives and actions required by the local authority to support both the economic and community development in their region.  The LECP is a statutory policy, with which all funding stream applications must align. It runs through LECP implementation Plans (reviewed annually).

One key characteristic of the LECP is the collaborative approach to its preparation and implementation. This is represented in part through the LECP Advisory Group which consists of 34 economic and community stakeholders including representatives from Enterprise Offices, 3rd level Institutes, Education & Training & the Regional Enterprise Office.

The LECP has 6 High Level Goals (HLG) with interrelated priority objectives for the region.

HLG 5 seeks to develop a ‘County that Supports Enterprise’. It supports collaboration with key stakeholders and employers to increase opportunities for apprenticeships and further education training courses, for existing employees and those seeking to enter the workforce. The purpose is to achieve the specific desired outcome for ‘Increased skill Development, apprenticeships and further education opportunities.’

LECP has the scope to develop specific actions to pilot support for new apprenticeship curriculum modules. This is in line with the recognition that apprenticeships will play a pivotal role in delivery and retention of a skills talent pipeline in the Cork region and in delivery of enterprise priorities.