Before looking ahead to 2026 activities, we recap the key achievements from 2025, which aimed to support all its members in implementing quality apprenticeships across the EU and beyond.
Reflecting on EAfA’s 2025 achievements
New members, more apprenticeships and greater satisfaction with EAfA
2025 marked the highest year for apprenticeships creation since EAfA began, with 77 new pledgers and a total of 5 million apprenticeship places reached, including over 2 million apprenticeship places reported by EAfA members between September 2024 and August 2025.
The arrival of Ukraine and Kosovo* last year brought EAfA to a total of 43 members reinforcing its growing European and regional network. The expansion of the Alliance directly contributes to key political priorities such as the Union of Skills and supports the internationalisation of vocational education and training (VET).
Alliance members also recognised the added value of EAfA, with around 96% of respondents expressing a positive view of the Alliance. Explore additional data and key insights on EAfA’s 2025 through the results of the 2024–2025 EAfA monitoring survey.
Practical factsheets for practitioners
In 2025, EAfA released three factsheets covering innovative technical knowledge and inspiring good practices:
- The attracting and nurturing in-company trainers factsheet, published in April, offers advice and best practices for companies to recruit and support trainers, helping apprentices to build skills and transition into work.
- The basic skills in apprenticeships factsheet, published in September, provides practical information on how apprenticeships contribute to developing basic skills, including assessing learners’ needs, using learner-centred teaching methods and collaborating with VET providers and employers.
- The higher-level apprenticeships (HLAs) factsheet, published in December, shares how HLAs offer a path to high-skilled professions through advanced qualifications, strong involvement from employers, and direct links to sectors where demand for expertise is rising.
A practical toolkit to boost the uptake of adult apprenticeships
In November, EAfA released a toolkit to guide policymakers and relevant stakeholders to build support frameworks for adult apprentices. The toolkit includes practical advice, examples and self-assessment tools tailored for VET providers, companies and public employment services.
This new resource complements the existing toolkits on digital skills in apprenticeships and the mobility of apprentices, all of which are available on the EAfA toolkit webpage.
Informative webinars
EAfA hosted three thematic webinars in 2025 on key issues facing apprentices and stakeholders designing and implementing apprenticeships:
Milestone events for members
On 30 June and 1 July, more than 230 participants attended the EAfA’s High-Level Event, held in Brussels and online, to explore how apprenticeships can drive Europe’s clean transition and create a skilled and resilient workforce for the future. Discussions focused on the transformative potential of apprenticeships in achieving the EU’s net-zero goal, as well as upskilling for the green economy.
Held immediately after the High-Level Event, the 2025 EAfA Get Together Event gathered approximately 70 participants to discuss activities carried out within the five EAfA Communities through five parallel thematic sessions:
- tackling stereotypes for women in STEM and the sustainable energy sector;
- apprenticeship mobility;
- inclusive practices in dual education;
- the role cities and regions have on apprenticeships;
- and higher apprenticeships.
Additionally, October’s 10th joint EAfA and European Training Foundation (ETF) Seminar organised in Podgorica, Montenegro, brought together almost 100 participants from 29 countries.
The event laid the foundation for continued progress in VET and apprenticeships across Europe and beyond. Participants discussed how to improve inclusivity, fairness and female participation in STEM fields.
Montenegro’s recent enhancement of practical training was also highlighted. The country has advanced VET quality and support to dual education students by introducing more scholarships, implementing micro-qualifications and developing sustainable financing models.
The event also explored how financial and non-financial incentives can encourage SMEs to invest in apprenticeships, and how to better match learners with companies by using transparent placement processes.
Looking ahead to 2026
As we turn toward the year ahead, EAfA is excited to present its 2026 Action Plan, detailing the key initiatives the Alliance will implement throughout the year.
EAfA continued support to the Union of Skills
EAfA will continue contributing to the Union of Skills throughout 2026 to make VET and lifelong learning more attractive, inclusive and future-oriented by expanding the number of pledges, aiming for the ambitious target of 700 pledges by 2030.
EAfA will also support the STEM Education Strategic Plan, aiming at training one million girls by 2028. To support this, EAfA will contribute with 50 000 apprenticeship places for women, and promote role models for women in STEM-related apprenticeships.
New learning tools
EAfA will continue to lead work on integrating basic skills into apprenticeships through the launch of a new toolkit on basic skills in late 2026, contributing to the Action Plan on Basic Skills. Building on last year’s factsheet, the new toolkit will explain how to integrate basic skills such as literacy, mathematics, digital and citizenship skills into apprenticeships.
An updated ‘Good for youth, good for business’ brochure, reflecting the progress of the Alliance over the past four years, is also coming soon. The publication will give an overview of EAfA, explain the benefits of joining the Alliance and showcase the support provided by EU agencies like the ETF and Cedefop as well as EAfA members and social partners.
You can also expect key case studies, along with detailed information on funding mechanisms such as ESF+, Erasmus+, and other programmes under the upcoming MFF.
The upcoming EAfA Compendium of Best Practices will also provide examples of over 40 member initiatives advancing the goals of EAfA Communities on topics such as learning mobility, social inclusion and gender equality, and the green and digital transitions.
Other resources, such as factsheets and those collected in the EAfA library, will further support EAfA members in designing and implementing quality apprenticeships. You can keep up to date on the factsheet and all other EAfA news by signing up for our newsletter and joining the EAfA LinkedIn Group.
Webinars
EAfA will host three thematic webinars in 2026 in cooperation with Cedefop, the Pact for Skills, thematic experts and apprenticeship and VET practitioners:
- July: European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships monitoring report.
- November: Launch of the EAfA Toolkit on basic skills in apprenticeships.
- December: VET-business partnerships and funding opportunities, in cooperation with the Pact for Skills.
In-person events
EAfA has four milestone events planned for 2026. Mark your calendars for:
- June’s EAfA Community on Cities and Regions Event, ‘Apprenticeships and Entrepreneurial Learning for Europe’s Union of Skills’.
- November’s 11th regional EAfA seminar co-organised with the ETF.
- November’s EAfA Get-Together Event.
- November’s European Apprentices Network (EAN) annual meeting, in collaboration with EAfA.
Continued collaboration with the EAN
Founded in 2017 under the framework of EAfA, the EAN is a network of apprentices, youth organisations, and other stakeholders across Europe that champions the voices of young people in the design of VET policy. Supported by EAfA, the EAN engages with European institutions, develops policy recommendations, fosters connections between youth organisations and stakeholders, and supports the creation and strengthening of national apprentice representative bodies in Europe and beyond.
The EAN is planning its annual Member Meeting in November 2026, which will follow the EAfA-ETF Annual Seminar. The meeting will enable young apprentices to exchange views, develop joint actions and contribute to EAfA’s work.
New EAfA Community
In 2026, new EAfA Communities will be launched including one on VET-business partnerships covering strategic public-private partnerships linked to the new Competitiveness Fund. We encourage all members and stakeholders to actively participate in EAfA Communities and contribute to shaping the future of apprenticeships across Europe.
Are you interested in learning more about EAfA in 2026? Download the action plan below.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.