At European level:

The Bruges communiqué, the renewed European agenda for adult learning and the recently adopted Riga conclusions, which set medium-term objectives for the VET field in the period 2015-20, are the major references on work-based learning (WBL) for CVET when it comes to European policy. These major EU statutes recommend that (Figure 3): (a) WBL for adults, should be promoted in all its forms ( 8 ); (b) operation and implementation of WBL in CVET should be carried out in combination with other forms of adult training ); (c) the combination should be targeted at reaching two objectives: (i) developing ‘both job-specific skills and broader skills’ (Council of the EU, 2011, p. 5), covering the full range of skills; (ii) enhancing the flexibility of learning provision so as to meet the diversity of needs and situations of learners. The flexibility of learning provision itself should be aimed at supporting the inclusion of the lowskilled and the at-risk groups .

Major ways of conveying these messages to national policies and actors are the provision of funding, inspiration on how effective training can be conducted, and the promotion of voluntary cooperation among Member States and other stakeholders such as the European social partners. The EU can influence the quantity of WBL being demanded/supplied through ensuring that its financial mechanisms support the use of WBL as a method. The European Social Fund is a main funding tool: requiring WBL elements as a condition for accessing EU funds has proved to be a powerful way to promote this form of learning (as highlighted for example in this study for Bulgaria and Italy). Further, the EU conducts research on relevant issues, fosters exchange and provides inspiration by providing information on the advantages and methods of WBL, sharing good practices, etc. . Last but not least, it fosters voluntary cooperation in the framework of the Copenhagen process for European cooperation in VET. The above-mentioned Bruges communiqué and the Riga conclusions set the agenda for VET in Europe, and include recommendations on WBL. In the context of the ET 2020 strategic framework for European cooperation on education and training, the European Commission has also set up two expert groups which deal among others with issues relevant to WBL .

At National/regional level authorities

National/regional authorities do not usually regulate WBL for CVET as such, but they can ensure a right to training and/or funding of training (WBL or not), or promote WBL through awareness-raising campaigns (such as information leaflets, voluntary training on WBL methods for trainers). They can also regulate the providers and/or some general aspects of the training provided. Through this, they are able to influence the share of WBL in CVET, for example by explicitly demanding WBL, but also – more indirectly – by requesting practical aspects with respect to the training, ensuring that training can take place at the premises of the enterprises through certifying in-house training institutions. Generally, training of employed persons seems to be mainly left to the discretion of the employers and employees or is only regulated by safeguarding employers’ and employees’ rights and maybe by securing financial resources for the training, but usually without further specification of subjects and methods. This is different when it comes to national/regional policies and programmes for the unemployed (Cedefop, 2013).