What are the expectations of these groups from apprenticeships?
Before During After
Students ● Information on duration, start and end date, programme (learning objectives & learning activities), working conditions, supervisors (HEI, SME), ways of assessment
● Design of apprenticeship gives opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge and get relevant experience
● Support in identifying suitable placements (incl. the possibility to choose from multiple opportunities) ● Placement in SMEs which lead to
concrete employment opportunities ● Information on quality of placements
from previous students and/or from the HEI
● Convincing value proposition
● Placement is in line with his qualification (course of studies)
● Student performs activities which are outlined in the agreement, and achieves learning outcomes ● Continuous guidance/mentorship from an
identified mentor/guide throughout the apprenticeship period
● Regular feedback on activities throughout the mentorship
● Periodical contacts with identified supervisor HEI to monitor and identify issues
● Relevant Employment Experience
● Some level of flexibility from SMEs to adapt apprenticeship based on feedback
● Financial remuneration for its work ● Structural and pedagogical approach ● Guidance, good cooperative working
atmosphere
● Provided safe environment
● Subject relevant work/tasks, in line with curricula ● Appropriate workload
● Clear definition of time frame, how many hours, daily/weekly etc
● To get fair evaluation (from SME and HEI) - assessment
● Possibility to get a job offer ● To apply gained skill in a future job
positions
● To be able to start own business ● Maybe to continue cooperation with
SME
● Certificate of finished placement with description of acquired skills ● Financial remuneration for its work ● Accreditation (ECTS) for its work,
diploma supplement
● To be able, based on the combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, to access the labour market
successfully
HEIs ● SMEs are able to clearly articulate the placement in terms of quality of supervision and activities, sufficient for translation into ECTS
● Some level of flexibility in adapting the apprenticeship to the requirements ● Placement that corresponds to the
programme
● To get quality supervision (mentoring) ● Some level of initiative on the part of
students to find placement
● SMEs perform activities as agreed & with enthusiasm
● Students perform activities as agreed& with enthusiasm
● Communication between all three parties (receipt of feedback)
● Satisfaction of students and of SMEs ● Some level of flexibility from SMEs to adapt
apprenticeship based on feedback
● Learning to be documented suitably for ECTS award
● From students detailed reporting on the whole placement, including feedback on the satisfaction with possible recommendations
● From students acquired spectrum on theoretical? and practical knowledge ● From student acquired relevant skills,
including transversal skills ● From student gained ability of
integrating into working environment ● From SME an assessment of student’s
themselves ● Regular reporting to the HEI ● Proactive attitude
● Punctuality
● Hard working attitude
● Willingness for integration into the working environment
performance and gained skills and competencies
● From SME report on the whole process of the placement,
recommendations for improvements, as well as how the student was prepared theoretically to deliver quality work during the placement
● Extending cooperation with SME (case studies, projects, research…)
SMEs ● Possibility to select and get well prepared students
● Possibility to negotiate agreement ● Fill the gap of skills that are missing in
SME
● Good contacts with HEI ● Input into the curriculum ● Support from HEI in:
○ Identifying/Creating the placement
○ Creating a management / supervision structure ● Convincing value proposition
● Motivated employees/students ● Support from the HEI:
○ Preparation briefing / mini-course ○ Constantly available point of contact for
resolving issues
● Competent / suitably qualified students ● Students to meet performance targets ● Return on Investment
● New Ideas / Approaches / Inputs
● From SME we expect regular check of student reports
● Regular monitoring of students ● Tasks aligned with curricula ● Safe work environment provided ● Guidance of students
● Integration of student into daily working environment
● To get a good employee ● Certificate of the completed
placement, with explanation of acquired competencies and skills, which is made with support of HEI ● To establish long lasting cooperation
with HEI
● Job done by the trainee gives an added value
● Feedback from HEI ● Positive Impact on Social
Quality Criteria for:
Process Stakeholder Criterion
Setting Learning Objectives of the overall programme
HEIs shall ● Involve stakeholders (SMEs, other companies, mobilisation of stakeholders, community)
● Define learning objectives for the apprenticeship which:
○ Include specific and transversal objectives, students’ expectations
○ Describe knowledge, skills and competences to be acquired during the apprenticeship ○ Are SMART
○ Can be translated into learning activities and assessed
○ Give the student the opportunity to apply the content learned in the course up to that point ○ Are appropriate to the level on the qualifications framework
● Regular communication
● Ensure alignment between trends of learning objectives and occupational skills
● Ensure transparency of the process by publishing the regulations for creation of course programmes SMEs shall ● Ensure openness in communication and flexibility with HEI by having a designated contact person in
regular contact with the HEI (report form)
● Integrate business their business practices and case studies, internship opportunities for teachers, workshops for students and teachers
● Define, initiate and introduce their present and future needs in terms of occupational skills (achievable and measurable)
Identifying / Recruiting Placements
HEIs shall ● Define and publish standards for apprenticeship placements which specify: subject areas and learning activities required, conditions of employment, mentoring and supervision required, financial conditions, reporting requirements, responsibilities and rights for each stakeholder (students/HEIs/SMEs)
● Have a unit/person responsible for identifying apprenticeship placement positions within companies ● Ensure above unit/person maintains a close link with curricula departments
● Have a procedure to allow students to propose placements and check the suitability of placement
● Shall have an information guide/training session for students on how to identify suitable quality placements
● create an interactive platform for SMEs to express interest on recruiting apprentices
● Implement a training programme aimed at recruiting SMEs unfamiliar with apprenticeships
● Maintain a database of all available placements, which includes details of the placement, skills which can be taught and ratings of previous experiences (students & HEIs). This database shall be made available to all students
● have a procedure to match students to specific placements through teaching staff from the world of work
● Provide students with supervisors/ mentors at the HEI and the SME
● A certain percentage (defined by the HEI) of the lectures (part time basis) should be from the current world of work
● Check the company's reliability, reputation and professional relevance
Creating Positions for Apprentices
SMEs shall ● Determine their capacity to host extra-employees in terms of apprentices (do they have enough work for apprentices to do?)
● Explicitly define the professional field of work, with reference to the learning objectives ● Explicitly define the occupational skills which the placements can offer
● Prepare a financial plan for hosting the apprenticeship, identifying all required resources and expected benefits/incomes
● Appoint supervisors/mentors with adequate experience, and who are willing to undergo training as necessary
● Approach HEIs and students with their needs ● Ensure proper working conditions
● Risk management
Negotiating the
Apprenticeship Agreement
SME shall ● Specify (in conjunction with the HEI) requirements to be included in the agreement and be fair, simple and flexible about it:
○ Financial terms, offer reward to students for added value
○ Specific position of student in the company, but be flexible
○ Name and responsibilities of mentor and all stakeholders’ responsibilities and obligation
○ Specific tasks of student in the company, but be flexible
○ Performance targets for the students
○ procedures for recognition of achievements (e.g. ‘ECTS, company certificate, put in on Diploma
○ Supplement...)
/s HEI shall ● Include Information on:
○ duration, start and end date, periodicity
○ programme (learning objectives & learning activities)
○ conditions of employment incl. Remuneration, safety, working hours etc ○ supervisors and mentors with roles and responsibilities (HEI, SME), ○ reporting method for the students
○ modes of communication ○ methods of assessment
○ Recognize the SME effort by promoting their services
● Provide the student with the opportunity to choose their placement from available positions or a placement they found themselves
● Provide a contact-point and mechanism for prompt issue-resolution ● Include the requirements of the SME in the agreement
● Provide a template for student and SME to recognise the achievements and outcomes (document) of the apprenticeship
● Create safe and positive working environment
Monitoring Apprenticeship HEI shall ● Have a procedure for quality assuring ongoing placements, including visits to placements as necessary (note: random checks are adequate, )
● Have a schedule (procedure) whereby the HEI periodically checks with students and SMEs as to the progress of the apprenticeship
● Provide a contact-point and mechanism for prompt issue-resolution
● Point out to pro-activnes and responsibility of students
Managing Apprenticeship
SME shall ● Provide periodic review sessions where students and HEI receive feedback on performance and can evaluate the quality of the mentorship
● Establish appropriate procedures to guarantee fulfilment of its obligations as per the agreement, and any subsequent changes
● Implement an inducting (on-boarding) procedure to introduce the student to the company and her /his role ● Be flexible in adapting apprenticeship based on feedback
● Document the progress of the student in achieving learning objectives, using templates provided by HEI ● Create safe and positive working environment and integrate students to the working environment and
projects,point out to pro-activnes and responsibility of students
● Ensure appropriate resourcing of the mentor (time, remuneration, training) ● Provide a contact-point and mechanism for prompt issue-resolution
Assessing the Apprenticeship HEI shall ● Require written report (oral defence) on apprenticeships from the student and from the SME ● offer a check list for SMEs (template)
● Offer the possibility to share and reflect on the experiences
● In case of contradictory reports from the student and the SME the HEI should invite all parties and ● Cooperative assesment of students
level of achievement of outlined learning objectives
● Certify finished placement with description of acquired skills ● Allocate credits for the apprenticeship
● offer feedback to the SME
● Conduct intermediate and final evaluation
● Refrain from granding apprenticeships according to the “normal” grading scheme and rather favor grad with “passed” or not “passed”
● Track emloyability of students
SME will ● Provide feedback on student and HEI performance to students and HEI which:
○ Follows the format established by the HEI (must be agreed before the start of the apprenticeship)
○ Is sufficiently detailed to grade the progress / achievement against specific learning objectives and against targets set by the SME
○ Is documented
○ Includes a judgement of performance
○ Promote cooperation with HEI inside and outside Seek for feedback from HEI
