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1. Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

2. Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

3. Recognition of learning outcomes

4. Funding

5. Quality assurance

Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

In 2019 was adopted Resolution on the approval of the description of the procedure for the apprenticeship form for the organization of vocational training (link). 

Three ministries – Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Ministry of Social Security and Labour and Ministry of the Economy and Innovation– are responsible for VET-related issues. With the Ministry of Education Science and Sport having overall responsibility for developing VET policies in the country, the Ministry of Social Security and Labour takes the lead in implementing active labour market policy measures for the unemployed, including the youth guarantee scheme, and The Ministry of the Economy and Innovation takes charge of human resource development and support to enterprises. Within their mandates, the three ministries implement apprenticeship (and apprenticeship-type) schemes to three distinct target groups. The three systems are different in terms of procedures and requirements.

According to the Law on VET adopted in 1997, apprenticeship in Lithuania is one of the forms of organising VET: ‘vocational education shall be organised in school and apprenticeship forms’. An apprentice is contractually linked to the employer and receives remuneration (wage or allowance). According to the Order Regarding VET Contracts and their Registration Procedure adopted in 2021 (link) by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, two types of contracts are to be concluded before the start of the apprenticeship: 1) an employment contract between a company and an apprentice that regulates training at the workplace; 2) a trilateral contract between the training company, a VET institution and the apprentice that defines the school-based part of the training programme. An employer assumes responsibility for the company-based part of the programme leading to a qualification. According to the existing regulations, a company needs to ensure that the workplace has adequate equipment, tools and other technology for learning and that safety measures are observed. Companies also are responsible for nominating a competent person to supervise students.

In July 2014, the amendments for changes to the laws regarding employment support, social and health insurance premiums, aimed at encouraging young people between the age of 16 and 29 to find jobs in their home country, were signed. Following these changes, every young person who finds a traineeship offer has the cost of insurance against accidents in the workplace as well as social and health insurance premiums covered from the national budget. The main aim of these changes is to provide help to find a traineeship offer, since until these amendments only the students of universities with which various enterprises and organizations signed a three-party agreement have been able to participate in  traineeships, gain professional experience and sometimes – find a job.

According to public employment exchange data and mediation, an traineeships is an unpaid period of work practice with an employer, during which you will increase, restore or improve your work skills or professional qualification.

An Traineeships can be organized for individuals who have a relevant professional qualification or competence acquired through non-formal adult education, but have not worked under it for at least 6 consecutive months.

Priority is given to job seekers with average employability opportunities who have two or more signs of additional support in the labor market, specified in Article 25 of the Employment Law. If after this assessment more than one candidate remains, priority is given to a client who has never participated in the measures or has been registered with the Employment Service for a longer period.

An internship can last up to 6 months. This period does not include the period when the internship is suspended due to the emergency situation and quarantine declared by the Government (UZT source).

Traineeships and apprenticeships are a requirement in higher education programmes. The students of vocational schools, colleges and universities have to participate in  traineeships in order to gain professional experience and sometimes – find a job within various enterprises and organizations that have three-party agreements with these vocational schools, colleges and universities. The length of the compulsory traineeship depends on the study program and varies from 2 weeks to 12 months. These traineeships are aimed to develop professional skills and do not focus directly on entrepreneurship skills.

Other apprenticeship-type training in Lithuania is mainly implemented in projects and schemes supported by the European Social Fund and the Youth Guarantee funds. Apart from motivational activities, young people are supported directly to obtain missing skills at the workplace or anchor in the labour market, including through subsidised employment where the state pays their salary.

Other projects help the young unemployed take part in vocational training. These projects are implemented through the labour market training centres rather than VET centres and schools. Some of these measures are actually apprenticeships based on working and training contracts. They are usually short-term, up to six months (linked to funding provisions, learners get a grant) but they take place in the Ministry of Education and Science accredited VET providers and can lead to formal or non-formal qualifications. Within the active labour market policy measures, young and adult unemployed participate in vocational training leading to formal qualifications through bipartite agreements with territorial public employment services, and tripartite agreements with territorial public employment services and companies.

Some individual companies implement their own apprenticeships: most of them have cooperation with, or are branches of international companies from countries with established apprenticeship systems, such as Denmark and Germany.

Article 36 of the Order of the Ministry of Education and Science on Procedure for Formal VET adopted in 2012 outlines how apprenticeship training should be organised: (a) the institution or the person providing apprenticeships should have a licence. This implies: institution providing practical training has to be authorised to carry out training activity (training has to be mentioned in its statute) and registered in the database of formal training providers administered by the Ministry of Education and Science; and relevant persons who will be training apprentice(s) should have competed a course for pedagogical-psychological competences with a duration of 120 hours. This requirement can be waived if a company cooperates with a VET provider; (b) theoretical training of an apprentice can be carried out in the VET school based on trilateral agreement between apprenticeship provider, apprentice and VET school; (c) apprenticeship is organised at the workplace with adequate equipment, tools and other technological as well as safety measures. Article 5 of the Order Regarding VET Contracts and their Registration Procedures adopted by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour in 2021) details the content of the apprenticeship contract and obligations of students, VET provider and company.

Provisions in the new Labour Code 2017

In the new Labour Code which came into force on 1 July 2017 apprenticeship labour contract is a new type of employment contracts which should encourage employers to provide employees with work, in case they are seeking an opportunity to acquire professional skills.  According to the new Labour Code  states that an apprenticeship employment contract may be: 1) an apprenticeship employment contract without concluding a training contract; 2) an apprenticeship employment contract concluded alongside with a training contract on formal or non-formal training governed by legislative acts. The time spent at the place of employment for acquiring theoretical knowledge and allocated for workplace-based training shall be included in the actual duration of working time when it exceeds twenty percent of the actual working time. The time spent in a training institution shall not be included in the working time and the employer shall not be obliged to pay any remuneration for that time. That time shall not account for more than thirty percent of the duration of the validity of the apprenticeship employment contract.

Specific groups among youth and target groups

There is no information in the legislation about specific youth groups that are focused on apprenticeships. There are only individual implemented projects, for example, in 2019-2023 the project "Promotion of Youth Employment" was implemented throughout the country (information about project is provided below), where the age target group is indicated. Other target groups for apprenticeships and traineeships are: the unemployed and students.

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships is widely discussed in Lithuania today. The interest in apprenticeship programmes has increased significantly in recent years. In Lithuania new apprenticeship programmes are planned. However, there are no clear messages and understanding among stakeholders how it differs from existing VET and why the government tries so hard to implement it. In 2014 the signed memorandum of cooperation for the implementation of the youth guarantee (link) foresees promoting apprenticeship by disseminating good practice and initiatives, providing financial support to companies training VET students, and providing recommendations on further development of apprenticeship in Lithuania.

ESF funding also contributes significantly to the promotion of apprenticeships. The joint project "Apprenticeship - a new opportunity for me!" aims to increase the attractiveness of vocational training and its relevance to the labour market by encouraging vocational school students to study in the form of apprenticeships.

The project "Publicity of Apprenticeships in Lithuania" (link) is underway, the goal of which is to create and implement measures to publicize and promote apprenticeships in Lithuania, in order to increase the attractiveness of vocational training in the form of apprenticeships. Project duration - 2024. March 21 - 2026. April 30. ESF funding amount for the project - 1,198,569.55 Eur. : 

Participants of the “Create for Lithuania” (KURKLT) program, together with KPMPC, implemented the education system improvement project “Promotion of vocational training in the form of apprenticeships: analysis of the needs of cooperation between business and vocational training institutions”. The implemented change project contributed to the preparation of a consulting model for employers and vocational education providers on apprenticeship issues, which will allow increasing business involvement in vocational training in the form of apprenticeships. Project results here. The results of the “Create for Lithuania” projects were presented to the Government on September 4, 2020 (link). Project duration: 2020 March 9 - September 4, 2020.

In 2019-2023, the project "Promotion of Youth Employment" (source) was implemented throughout the country. The project was implemented by the Employment Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour (without partners). The target group is persons aged 16-29 who are not in employment, education or training. The project value is EUR 14,555,336.22. Project activities: participants of the project target group participate in vocational training, apprenticeship, traineship, recognition of competences in a non-formal manner, support for the acquisition of work skills, and subsidized employment measures, as established by Articles 37, 38, 39, 39(1), 42 and 43 of the Law on Employment of the Republic of Lithuania.

There are several information websites dedicated to apprenticeships and traineship:

• https://www.pameistryste.lt/

• https://uzt.lt/darbdaviams/pameistryste/66

• https://uzt.lt/mokymai/parama-mokymuisi/stazuote/114

• https://www.urm.lt/sugriztanti-lietuva/diasporos-jaunimui/stazuotes-profesinio-tobulinimo-galimybes-ir-pazintines-programos/874

• other.

Recognition of learning outcomes

The skills young people acquire through participating in traineeships and apprenticeships can be formally recognised if they are part of education institution study program. Another form how skills young people acquire through participating in traineeships and apprenticeships can be recognised as volunteering activity. The Law on Volunteering provides that, taking into consideration the aims and nature of the volunteering activity, it may be recognized as practical work and/or learning experience, or credited as social work under a programme of general education. There is a need expressed by the Department of Youth Affairs to include volunteer activities in the youth pass - a European recognition tool for non-formal and informal learning.

The obligations of the vocational training provider: 1) to register the apprentice in the Register of Pupils, if the apprentice is admitted to study under a formal vocational training programme or its module or, if the recognition of the apprentice's non-formally acquired competences is carried out. 2) to create conditions for the apprentice who has completed the vocational training programme or its module to participate in the assessment, recognizing the competence(s) he/she has acquired.

The obligations of the employer who employs the apprentice are to ensure the conditions for the apprentice who has completed the vocational training programme or its module to participate in the assessment, recognizing the competence(s) he/she has acquired

The qualification acquired through the apprenticeship vocational training organization form does not formally differ from the qualifications acquired through the school vocational training form. In the vocational training system, through the apprenticeship vocational training organization form, it is possible to acquire qualifications of LTKS levels 1-5 that correspond to the professional standard. A qualification of the corresponding level is granted to a person who has completed a vocational training program and/or has received an assessment of his/her acquired competencies in accordance with the established procedure (source).

According to the ERASMUS+ program, short-term mobility activities for study purposes must be awarded at least 3 ECTS credits (source). 

Funding

The costs of apprenticeship training are covered by the Government and employers (the Government covers the costs of training in VET institutions, and employers finance training in companies). Information for employers about apprenticeship payments is published here - pameistryste.lt and here - UZT.lt.

For an employer who has employed a person under an apprenticeship contract for the training period:

1. Apprenticeships allow an employee to be hired immediately.

2. Employers who provide vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship are reimbursed 70% upon their written request. the part of the salary specified in the employment contract of the person employed under the apprenticeship contract, not exceeding 1.5 of the minimum monthly salary approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, and the part of the insured's compulsory state social insurance contributions calculated from this part of the salary.

3. The costs of the organization and coordination of the work activities and practical training of the appointed trade master(s), apprentice, the amount of which is calculated based on the time actually worked by the trade master during the organization and coordination of the work activities and practical training of the apprentice according to the hourly remuneration calculated for the trade master or stipulated in the employment contract, not exceeding 1 the minimum hourly wage, and the part of the insured's compulsory state social insurance contributions calculated from it, but no more than 20 percent of the salary calculated for the master of the profession (source).

An apprenticeship allows the employee to be hired immediately, and the employer is paid compensation for the work. The Employment Service also compensates part of the salary for the appointed master who will train the hired employee.

The Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) encourages students studying in various programs to participate in competitions for local and international internships and develop skills to conduct scientific research. Travel, living and other expenses are paid. An intern who is studying at a foreign research and study institution at the time of signing the contract is not funded for these expenses - only the internship participant fee is paid (source).

Funfing of traineships

The unemployed are paid a scholarship once a month throughout the internship period, taking into account the hours of traineships. The amount of the scholarship, at the choice of the unemployed person, is 0.39 of the minimum monthly salary approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or the unemployment social insurance benefit due to the unemployed person, the amount of which is calculated and the payment term is determined in accordance with the Law on Unemployment Social Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania, except for the case when, during the emergency situation and quarantine declared by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the unemployed person is paid a training scholarship of 0.39 of the minimum monthly salary approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The amount of the scholarship is reduced in proportion to the number of hours planned but not completed, except for cases when the internship is suspended due to the emergency situation and quarantine declared by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. After the expiry of the unemployment social insurance benefit payment period, if it cannot be extended in accordance with the procedure established by the Law on Unemployment Social Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania, a scholarship in the amount of 0.39 minimum monthly wages approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall be paid for the remaining period of the internship.

ES funding

The aim of the joint project “Apprenticeship – a new opportunity for me!” is to increase the attractiveness of vocational training and its compliance with the needs of the labour market by encouraging vocational school students to study in the form of apprenticeship.

The joint project aims to ensure that during vocational training, students acquire not only basic competences, but also higher competences and skills that are formed by the market and meet the needs. To achieve this goal, it is planned to implement 3866 apprenticeships. At least 70 percent of students who have chosen vocational training in the form of apprenticeship will study in medium-sized, small and very small enterprises.

During the implementation of the joint project, it is planned to announce calls for applications for financing joint project projects, inviting them to participate in the joint project as the project executor of the joint project.

The duration of the joint project is from 27 January 2023 to 30 April 2026. The total amount of funding for the joint project is more than EUR 19 million. The project is financed by the Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan "New Generation Lithuania".

ERASMUS+ Funding for higher education students

Students may be awarded an Erasmus+ scholarship, which partially covers their travel and living expenses incurred during their Erasmus+ study/traineeship (internship) period abroad.
During their Erasmus+ study/traineeship (internship) period abroad, both Erasmus+ students with and without a scholarship are exempt from tuition fees at the receiving institution, but pay the normal fees at their sending institution.
For outgoing students, payment of all national grants or loans cannot be interrupted during their Erasmus+ study period abroad.

ERASMUS+ VET mobility projects

Short-term mobility projects for students and staff of VET institutions
Nature of activity
Short-term mobility projects are a simple and easy way to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ programme. Mobility projects lasting 6-18 months enable applicant organisations to carry out a range of mobility activities aimed at the development of staff and learners.

The grant is awarded to cover the following costs:

• travel costs of mobility participants (calculated using a distance calculator);
• subsistence costs of mobility participants (the amounts of subsistence allowances are specified in the call for applications for the relevant year);
• costs directly linked to the implementation of the mobility activity (to be allocated to the institution, taking into account the number of participants planned in the project and the type of mobility activity);
• costs of supporting the inclusion of organisations (to be allocated to the institution, taking into account the number of participants with fewer opportunities planned in the project);
• costs of supporting the inclusion of participants (to be allocated to participants, upon demonstration of need in the application);
  costs of preparatory visits (a fixed amount per participant);
• course fees (per participant, per day);
• costs of linguistic training of mobility participants (conditions and amounts of funds are specified in the call for applications for the relevant year);
• exceptional costs (costs related to the provision of a financial guarantee, costs of expensive travel, visa and related costs, costs of residence permits, vaccinations, medical certificates).

Countries where mobility activities may take place

Mobility activities must take place abroad: in an EU Member State (27 EU countries) or in a third country associated to the Programme, such as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Serbia.

Quality assurance

The description of the procedure for organizing vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship (hereinafter referred to as the description) also regulates the quality assurance of vocational training (source Chapter VI, Description):

• -The provider or employer is responsible for the quality of vocational training organized in the form of an apprenticeship, if it carries out vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship without a provider. The quality of vocational training organized in the form of an apprenticeship is ensured by applying general measures for the quality assurance of vocational training, based on the provisions of the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for Vocational Training: internal quality assurance systems for vocational training, external evaluation and/or accreditation. The employer, when organizing vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship together with the provider, cooperates with it in ensuring the quality of vocational training organized in the form of an apprenticeship.

• - The provider or employer, if it carries out vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship without a provider, when implementing the self-assessment of activities provided for in the internal quality assurance system for vocational training, shall also include information about vocational training organised in the form of an apprenticeship.

• - The qualifications management institution, when organising an external assessment of the provider or employer carrying out vocational training in the form of an apprenticeship without a provider, shall analyse and assess the implementation of the vocational training programme or its module in the form of an apprenticeship, and shall provide the provider, employer and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports with recommendations on the improvement of vocational training organised in the form of an apprenticeship.

There are statements: (1) in the procedures for formal VET organisations it is required that apprentice’s workplace, technological equipment, etc. would be in line with the requirements of VET programme; (2) Law on Education defines that teachers implementing VET programme should have participated in a course on pedagogy and psychology. The current system of quality assurance of schemes of traineeships and apprenticeships in Lithuania covers school-based VET and is carried out by the Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre KPMPC. The  KPMPC implements VET quality assurance shemes  with the support of a contracted and trained experts from various VET fields. However, the capacity of the KPMPC is not sufficient to go beyond minimum requirements. In case of the active labour market policies territorial employment services can inspect VET providers to check compliance with legal requirements, but they have limited resources and capacity to perform such checks systematically and on a broader scale. Some private business organizations that run traineeships and apprenticeships have their own standards of quality regulations. There are also issues related to the competence of the employees dealing with trainees or aprentices. Organizations involved in traineeships and apprenticeships express the need to train competent coordinators/managers in order to solve problems related to the management of traineeships and apprenticeships.