Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

There are no main top-level official guidelines concerning traineeships or apprenticeships in Cyprus.

Depending on the traineeship or apprenticeship scheme, the responsibilities of each party involved (providers and participants) are formulated. Few examples of traineeships and apprenticeship are presented below.

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth runs the ‘Apprenticeship System of Vocational Education and Training’ (Σύστημα Μαθητείας Επαγγελματικής Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης (ΣΜΕΕΚ)) which aims to ensure that young people between 14-18 years of age are employed and remain socially active while meeting the needs of the labour market. 

There are two apprenticeship levels, the preparatory and core. The preparatory apprenticeship does not involve employment but constitutes an alternative form of education and training for pupils between the ages of 14-16. The core apprenticeship is of three-year duration course and involves both training at school and practical training in enterprises, where the young people are remunerated for their work. Participation is not compulsory and is free of charge. 

The main objectives of this system are to:

• Offer alternative learning styles to adolescents who leave the formal education system and who need to develop specific skills or professional skills, taking the appropriate skills, either for further education in choices offered by the education system or for employment in the labour market.

• Ensure mobility and flexibility in the choices of young people offered by the education system, apprenticeship and work, without dead ends and exclusions.

• Improve the labour offer with young people who are adequate, qualified and certified professionals, ready to meet the needs of the economy.

During the school year 2023/2024, according to the Ministry’s ‘Annual Report 2024’, 134 young people participated in the apprenticeship system, at core level. No data available for the preparatory level.

Additionally, the Cyprus Bar Association (CBA), under the THALIA 2021-2027 Programme, invites applications for the ‘Subsidy Project for Internship for New Law Graduates’ (Έργο «Πραγματοποίηση Πρακτικής Άσκησης για Νέους Πτυχιούχους Νομικής»). This project aims to facilitate the training required by the Advocates Law for young law graduates up to 29 years old, holding Trainee Advocate Registration Certificates and currently not engaged in employment, education, or training. The co-funded project, started in January 2023 and its open until the exhaustion of the allocated budget. 

Another scheme offered by the CBA, is the ‘Subsidy project for Trainee Advocates 2014-2020 (2017-2023)’ (Έργο Παροχής Ευκαιριών σε Νέους Πτυχιούχους Νομικής, μέχρι 29 ετών, που βρίσκονται εκτός απασχόλησης, εκπαίδευσης ή κατάρτισης). The project is open to law graduates who have obtained a Certificate of Registration for a Practitioner and at the same time, at the beginning of their training they are up to 29 years old and identify as NEETs.

There is no available information on how these projects progress at this point.

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

The traineeships and apprenticeships are usually promoted through the career guidance and counselling services described in section 3.4 Career guidance and counselling.

In addition, the University Liaison Offices (Γραφεία Διασύνδεσης Πανεπιστημίων) support the promotion and placement process of students in businesses and organizations as part of their studies in order to gain professional experience. This action was funded by the European Structural Funds with a total budget of €7.1 million. Three public and five private universities are operating this service in Cyprus, with the University of Cyprus serving as the coordinating institution. Even though the project has been finalised in 2023, all Universities continue to offer their services to date.
 

Recognition of learning outcomes

Regarding the Apprenticeship System of Vocational Education and Training, successful completion leads to the acquisition of the Apprenticeship Certificate which is recognised and allows access to several regulated occupations in Cyprus, like car mechanics, electricians, carpenters, cooks and hairdressers. 

So far, young people cannot validate the knowledge, skills and competences acquired in any other way since such mechanisms are not yet in place.

Funding

The Apprenticeship System of Vocational Education and Training System is co-funded by the European Social Fund and the Republic of Cyprus. The amount of funding is not available.

The total budget for the Subsidy project for Trainee Advocates 2014-2020 (2017-2023) offered by the Cyprus Bar Association, for the period 2017-2023 is €18 million. The scheme is co-funded by the Youth Employment Initiative and the European Social Funds under the THALIA 2021-2027 Programme.

Quality assurance

The Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth prepares annual reports, which include information on the Apprenticeship System of Vocational Education and Training. However, there are more informative rather than related to the quality progress of the activity.

There are no further existing systems or information of quality assurance applied to schemes of traineeships and apprenticeships in the country.