1.1. Definition

The term “apprenticeship” is used to describe the educational system in which the learning period alternates between workplace and educational structure. The trainee holds an apprenticeship agreement with the employer, receives a pay or allowance and has insurance coverage. The apprenticeship is based on a curriculum allocated both to the workplace and the educational structure. The employer undertakes to provide training, according to a defined program, combined with the learning program in the educational structure. The apprenticeship leads to the certification of the knowledge and skills acquired by the apprentice and eventually leads to a particular profession.

1.2 Aims and objectives

Rapid technological advancements occurring around the world are currently transforming the labor market, creating new learning environments in process. In particular, increased focus on digitalization is modifying traditional employment, rendering certain jobs obsolete and creating new ones. Additionally, lack of skilled staff is proven to be a major problem in many industries. Unfortunately, in the process of finding solutions, businesses often underestimate an alternative on which to build a solid foundation for the future; it is a learning process that combines vocational education and workplace training. Therefore, the emphasis of Formal Education has moved from a theoretical basis to working experience in real working place conditions in society. This model of learning, the stage of apprenticeship, was introduced recently in Greece, at an optional fourth year at Vocational Secondary Schools, following the policy of many European Countries.

Although, in Greece the apprenticeship system at secondary education is at a very early stage, a similar institution has been implemented for many years at the post secondary level from Technical Universities or the upper secondary level from Technical Schools, where internship programs are mainly applied to technical education graduate-candidates. Thus, learning in a workplace could take the form of practical training. The difference between practical training and the newly introduced apprenticeship at the fourth year of Vocational Secondary Schools, lies on how they are conducted. During the practical training that takes place before graduation from a technical school or a technical university, the student is away from school and his / her duties. On the other hand, apprenticeship at the fourth year of Vocational Secondary School combines school lessons and workplace training, which take place in parallel and in different days within the same week.

1.3 Historical reference at vocational education and apprenticeship

The learning process takes place not only in buildings called schools or educational institutions, but also beyond the confines of these buildings. In European countries, although the term “vocational training” was not clearly defined, evidence suggests it has been understood in a broader sense that may be thought as the formation of a professional experience, which comprised initial training, skills updating and retraining, and addressed both young adult workers and people in supervisory positions.

Until 2016, Vocational Secondary Education in Greece was provided without the provision of apprenticeship. The only system involving technical training, was implemented from the technical schools of OAED. OAED (Greek Manpower Employment Organization), is a public structure of the Ministry Of Labor and operates technical schools (called EPA.S), working under the Apprenticeship system in our country since 1952. Apprenticeship in the EPA.S schools was introduced as an educational system that combines theoretical and laboratory-education with practical training in private and public sector enterprises. Attendance in the EPA.S schools lasts two years (four semesters). The students of the EPA.S schools do their practical training in businesses during the morning hours, while in the afternoon they attend theoretical and laboratory courses in the same specialties. Every year 10.000 – 11.000 students attend the EPA.S schools. Students attending this type of schools acquire professional experience in real working conditions in companies in many technical specialties. The apprentices are trained in small and medium-sized enterprises, freelancers, and the public sector. EPA.S’s job-training system has proven to be effective in practice, as students continue to work at a significant rate in the same businesses where they did their apprenticeship upon completion of their studies. The pay for trainees is 75% of the minimum wage set by the National General Collective Labor Agreement, for the four semesters of practical training, which corresponds to €17.12 per day.

The new institution of the “Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class”

2.1 Introduction

Since 2016, a new law in Greece gives the opportunity to young people to acquire work experience after graduating from the Vocational Secondary School through the introduction of an Apprenticeship Class. The “Apprenticeship Class” is a dual system of theory and training. An apprentice holds an apprenticeship agreement with the employer, receives a pay in accordance with applicable law and has insurance coverage.

The apprenticeship is designed for young people aiming at assimilation of necessary professional knowledge and skills. The apprenticeship is conducted on the basis of a specific curriculum in order to achieve specific learning outcomes and the successful cooperation between educational structure and businesses.

2.2 Legal Framework for Vocational Secondary Education and Apprenticeship

The introduction of the “Apprenticeship Class” from the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs was established by Law 4386/2016. According to this law, the Vocational Secondary School offers two options to students attending its courses:

(a) to graduate after attending three years of a “Secondary Cycle of Studies” and leave school with a Level 4 degree, or

(b) to attend the “Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class”

The latter is a “Postsecondary Cycle of Studies” that lasts one academic year, is optional and belongs to the non-formal education system. Graduates of the “Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class” receive a Level 5 Vocational Education and Training Degree after completing their qualification certification procedures.

The “Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class” was implemented for the first time during the academic year 2016-2017. It has a total duration of 9 months and includes a dual system of both apprenticeship training in businesses and specialty lessons at the school unit. Upon completion of the Post-Graduate Year of Apprenticeship and before taking part in a Certification Exam, each apprentice may attend Pre-Qualification Certification Courses, organized under the responsibility of the Ministry. The responsibility for the implementation of the “Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class”, is given to the Vocational Secondary Schools called EPA.L, where the apprentices enroll, in cooperation with the Laboratory Centers of the Secondary Vocational Education (called E.K.), where the students perform the laboratory exercises of their laboratory course (7 hours a week), according to their specialization.

2.3 Structure of “Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class”

The “Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class” is structured in a dual system as follows:

(a) “Specialty laboratory courses” of a total of two hundred and three (203) hours. These courses are taught one (1) day per week, for seven (7) hours, by the teaching staff of the Vocational Secondary Schools (EPA.L) and of the Laboratory Centers of the Secondary Vocational Education (E.K.)

(b) “Workplace training program” of twenty-eight (28) hours a week, for a period of four (4) days per week for 9 months.

2.4 Specialties & admission criteria of the “Apprenticeship Class”

The Specializations offered at the Postgraduate Apprenticeship Class are the following: