International Labour Organization report explores global lessons from innovative apprenticeships
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has recently published a series of reports compiled under the project Apprenticeship Development for Universal Lifelong Learning and Training (ADULT). The project aims to modernise and transform apprenticeship systems to promote and enable lifelong learning and decent work for youth, adults, and older workers (both employed and unemployed).
The main report, titled Towards lifelong learning and skills for the future of work: Global lessons from innovative apprenticeships, highlights the new role of apprenticeship training within lifelong learning systems. It explores how apprenticeships can enable people to acquire new skills and update existing skills throughout their working lives to keep pace with the fast-changing labour market demand.
The majority of the report’s chapters are based on six individual thematic reports (see below), but it also covers three additional themes: skills for the green transition, informal apprenticeships, and flexibility and inclusion.
Below are the six thematic reports:
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Theme 1: Adapting apprenticeships for the reskilling and upskilling of adults: The thematic report explores how apprenticeships can enable adults to acquire new skills and update existing skills throughout their working life, thereby addressing the dynamic labour demand.
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Theme 2: Promoting apprenticeships to meet the skills needs of the digital and knowledge economy: This research paper explores the impact of the digital technologies on jobs. One topic explored is platform work and the highly precarious conditions these platforms offer, especially for low-skilled workers.
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Theme 3: The digital transformation of apprenticeships: Emerging opportunities and barriers: This thematic report explores how digital technology can be used to improve the effectiveness, inclusiveness, and efficiency of apprenticeships. One potential advantage highlighted in the report is the use of digital platforms to better connect all the actors involved in an apprenticeship programme
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Theme 4: Unlocking apprenticeship potential in small and medium enterprises: This research paper explores the status of small and medium-sized enterprises that offer apprenticeship opportunities in various countries, as well as the challenges and various factors that affect the participation of enterprises in apprenticeship schemes. The report underlines the importance of apprenticeships infrastructures that support businesses in core functions of the training process (preparation and recruitment, the content and pedagogical supervision, networking between different companies and rotation of apprentices or processes of organisational consultancy, etc.).
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Theme 5: Improving the attractiveness and social perception of apprenticeships: This thematic report explores the image and perception of apprenticeships in different countries and presents possible solutions to improve their attractiveness and social perception. For example, one recommendation is to provide ‘bite-sized’ chunks of apprenticeship (as with pre-apprenticeships) to attract those anxious about the time commitment and those with low self-efficacy or less-developed skills.
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Theme 6: Strengthening work-based learning in VET institutions: This research paper explores the initiatives undertaken by countries across the world to strengthen work-based learning in school-based vocational education and training, including the role of local industry and social partners. One good example is Finland, where the funding system rewards VET providers for the outcomes, efficiency and effectiveness of their activities.
In addition to these publication, ILO has also published three country-level reports:
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Good practices in apprenticeships in India: Challenges and opportunities: This report provides an overview of the apprenticeship system in India and discusses in detail the various reforms undertaken to promote apprenticeships in the country.
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Good practices in Apprenticeships in South-Africa: Challenges and opportunities: This publication provides an overview of the South African apprenticeship system and looks at the national factors that affect it, all with the goal to modernise apprenticeships.
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Apprenticeships for adults and older workers in Finland: This report provides an overview of the VET system in Finland and highlights elements relating to the development of adult apprenticeships.