Official Guidelines

• Regulatory Framework: The Act on Vocational Education and Training (2015) provides a framework for VET, which includes work-based learning components. However, it does not specifically define traineeships or apprenticeships.

• Social Security Coverage: There is no specific mention of social security coverage for traineeships in Slovak legislation. However, students in VET programs may receive stipends and remuneration for productive work.

• Requirement in Education Programs: Traineeships are not mandatory but are part of gaining practical experience in VET programs.

• Cooperation Among Social Partners: VET programs involve cooperation between schools and employers for practical training, but there is no specific framework for traineeships and apprenticeships.

• Target Groups: Programs are generally aimed at students in VET, but there is no specific focus on long-term unemployed or NEETs in the context of traineeships and apprenticeships.

• Link with National Youth Guarantee: There is no specific mention in the available documentation about how traineeships and apprenticeships are directly linked to the Youth Guarantee scheme in Slovakia. However, general insights can be drawn: Slovakia's Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, launched in 2014, aims to provide young people under 30 with employment, continued education, traineeships, or apprenticeships within four months of registering in the scheme. Traineeships and apprenticeships are listed as possible offers under the Youth Guarantee but are not elaborated upon in detail regarding their integration into the scheme.

Promoting Traineeships and Apprenticeships

Key Promoters

• Youth work organizations, such as the Slovak Youth Council, regional youth initiatives, and ZIPCEM – The Association of Youth Information Centers, actively promote traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities through their networks, events, and outreach efforts.
• The National Institute of Education and Youth (NIVAM) also plays a role in promoting these opportunities, ensuring that young people are informed about available programs.
• Existing platforms, including Eurodesk, SALTO, and Growni, serve as information hubs, sharing details about traineeships and apprenticeships both in Slovakia and abroad.

These organizations and platforms help raise awareness among young people, making information about traineeships and apprenticeships more accessible.

Recognition of Learning Outcomes

Formal Recognition

• European Credit Systems: Skills acquired through apprenticeships in Slovakia can be validated using the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). These systems align with Slovakia’s National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to ensure compatibility with EU standards.
• Partial or Full Qualifications: Apprentices and trainees can achieve partial or full qualifications within the formal education system. This enables them to apply validated skills towards diplomas, certificates, or other recognized credentials within vocational and higher education.

Validation Mechanisms

• While portfolios, record books, or competence folders are not systematically implemented, certificates issued by training providers serve as primary proof of acquired competencies.
• Some sectors, particularly technical and vocational fields, provide competency-based certification schemes to validate workplace-acquired skills.
• Recognition of prior learning (RPL) allows individuals to convert informal learning experiences into formal qualifications, but its application in Slovakia remains limited.

Use of European Credit Systems

• Slovakia’s vocational education system partially incorporates ECTS and ECVET credits.
• Some apprenticeship programs within dual education allow students to accumulate ECVET credits, which can be transferred towards formal vocational qualifications.
• Higher education institutions accept ECTS credits earned through structured apprenticeships, but the integration process varies across institutions.

Funding

State Support

• The Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education co-fund apprenticeship programs.
• Employers receive financial contributions of up to €1,000 per trainee.
• Additional tax deductions are available for training-related expenses.

EU Funding

• Programs like the European Social Fund (ESF) and Erasmus+ provide supplementary funding for vocational education and training (VET), including Slovakia’s dual education system.
• Some pilot initiatives funded by the EU aim to enhance the integration of apprenticeships into formal education pathways.

Quality Assurance

The State Institute of Vocational Education (ŠIOV) and the Slovak Centre of Scientific and Technical Information (CVTI SR) monitor apprenticeship programs to ensure adherence to national standards.

Quality assurance mechanisms include:

• Regular evaluations of training providers
• Student feedback surveys
• Audits of employer training practices

Assessment Criteria

• Clear contracts between employers and apprentices
• Relevance of training to the apprentice’s field of study
• Evaluation of learning outcomes based on practical and theoretical skills
• Compliance with workplace safety and labor regulations

Consequences for Non-Compliance

• Employers failing to meet quality benchmarks risk losing public funding, tax benefits, or grants allocated for apprenticeship programs.
• Companies with repeated non-compliance may be excluded from participation in future apprenticeship initiatives.