VEPA – VET Planner for Work Based Learning – is a project realized in the framework of ERASMUS + programme, Key Action Cooperation for innovation and exchange of good practice.
The European Council established that Member States should rise “substantially the number of apprenticeships and traineeships to ensure that they represent real opportunities for young people, in cooperation with social partners and where possible integrated into education programmes” (European Council January 2012).
It is well known that, this form of education, can both improve people’s employability and increase economic competitiveness. For this reason, Member States and social partners, committed themselves to the objective of including work-based learning in all initial VET courses.
In February 2013, the European Council confirmed that the highest priority should be given to promoting youth employment. Notwithstanding these commitments, the amount of apprenticeship and traineeship places in the EU is still very low. A solution to this problem can be found in high quality vocational education and training (VET) systems, in which the active participation of employers and a strong element of work-based learning (WBL) facilitate young people’s transition to work by providing the knowledge, skills and competences which they need for a successful first step into the labor market (http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/vocational-policy/doc/alliance/work-based-learning-in-europe_en.pdf).
VEPA project relates to this context, with its goal to improve efficacy of VET courses founded on work based learning by describing the competence profile of the VET PLANNERS (instructors and VET trainers). The project aims to the setting up of a modern training profile and a new professional development model for instructors/ trainers and VET organizations for increased efficacy of VET courses founded on work based learning experiences and enhanced cooperation between VET organizations, learners and companies.