The article showcases Rome’s efforts to support apprentices to access high-quality jobs, how EAfA has contributed to the region’s success and why other organisations should consider joining the Alliance.
Please can you provide a short overview of your pledge?
In 2017, the City of Rome made an EAfA pledge to enhance its apprenticeship programme. Our pledge specifically focuses on strengthening the dual education system in Rome so that it can respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transition, while creating partnerships between businesses, the workforce and education systems.
Dual apprenticeships allow apprentices to divide their time between classes and hands-on work, an approach that ensures that work-based training and theoretical learning fully complement each other. Our comprehensive approach supports apprentices as they embark on their professional journeys. We currently offer apprenticeship opportunities in positions such as Wellness Operator (including hairdresser and aesthetician), Kitchen Technician Motor Vehicle Repair Technician, Electrical Operator, IT Operator, and Thermo-Hydraulic Operator. Each of these roles has been developed to address the distinct needs of the local job market.
How did you first hear about EAfA and why did you decide to submit a pledge?
Our first encounter with EAfA was in 2016, when the first EAfA Awards and the European Vocational Skills Week were launched. From that point, we saw EAfA’s potential to improve regional vocational training by linking local initiatives with wider European policies. We were convinced that joining the Alliance would improve Rome’s apprenticeship ecosystem and help us to modernise and expand, and we were right. Our pledge was accepted in 2017, marking the beginning of our journey and long-term engagement with the Alliance’s mission and objectives.
How has EAfA membership helped your organisation collaborate with regions across Europe?
EAfA has enabled us to engage with a broad network of important stakeholders from different sectors throughout Europe and beyond, such as governments, educational institutions, employers, regional authorities, social partners, and vocational training organisations. It has provided an opportunity to exchange our experiences and effective practices in managing, coordinating, and enhancing the dual system. Thanks to EAfA, we have gained insights into regional innovations and adapted these best practices to our own context, ensuring that students’ training matches the needs of the labour market.
Without EAfA’s activities, communities and resources, the progress in strengthening partnerships across sectors and improving apprenticeship quality would not have reached the level it has today in our region.
How has Metropolitan City of Rome contributed to EAfA activities since joining?
EAfA events, workshops, peer-learning activities and working groups have increased our visibility and opened up opportunities for joint initiatives with other members. We are now better connected to tools and guidance that help us to plan and implement work-based learning strategies.
The Metropolitan City of Rome is a leading organisation in the EAfA Communities, and we will soon organise a Community event in Rome with our partners. The event will be bringing together stakeholders, students and teachers to review the territorial VET ecosystem and improve the apprenticeship system.
How have you promoted EAfA membership to your partners?
During our exchanges with training institutions, employers and other stakeholders in Rome, we highlight the value of EAfA and the opportunities it offers. We share annual workplans, updates and materials (resources from the EAfA online library, toolkits, and newsletters, for example) to ensure our network is informed about the advantages of joining, encouraging them to strengthen their commitments.
What activities has Rome done to us achieve the EAfA objectives in your pledge?
In January 2026, Rome signed a cooperation agreement with ASSTEL, the trade association affiliated with Confindustria representing the Italian telecommunications sector, and with Sielte, a company involved in the design and development of telecommunications and digital tools. These partnerships connect education and the job market by tailoring vocational training to current industry demands, especially for technical roles in digital fields.
Drawing on the ‘Mapping of 70 key skills for the present and the future’ created by ASSTEL, the partnerships also aim to address skills shortages in the digital ecosystem by promoting integrated learning models and job‑oriented training pathways, supporting inclusion, reducing early school leaving, and preparing young people for immediate entry into qualified technical employment. Starting in September 2026, the first group of students will train to become Electrical Operators, working with specialised instructors in six new dual-modality laboratories.
What initiatives has Rome undertaken to promote gender equality and challenge gender stereotypes in apprenticeships?
Over the past two years, we have been developing a new project called “At the School of Equality” to promote a culture of equal opportunities, prevent violence against women, overcome gender stereotypes and combat discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
The main activities involve students meeting psychologists and visiting local anti-violence centres, where they spoke with individuals who support victims of violence. Students also took part in awareness-raising events, attended theatrical performances related to these topics, and conversed with a survivor of domestic violence.
What do your apprentices think about their courses, and are they excited about completing their apprenticeships?
Our students are completing apprenticeships and are eager to gain hands-on experience at leading industry companies. The proportion of apprentices for the 2025/2026 academic year is approximately 1.36%. Many of them are making significant progress, with increased confidence and motivation, willingness to learn new ways of studying and working, and improving their adaptability to new environments.
Why should other organisations join EAfA and submit a pledge?
Joining EAfA shows dedication to improving apprenticeship systems, sharing best practices, and keeping apprenticeships effective and accessible for both learners and employers. It helps boost the quality, availability, and impact of apprenticeships across Europe. Organisations should join to contribute to stronger national coalitions, support SMEs with reliable training, and involve local and regional authorities that mobilise business communities.
Are you inspired by the Metropolitan City of Rome’s pledge? Explore EAfA member pledges and become an Alliance member by submitting a pledge for your organisation.