Overcoming cross-border obstacles: apprenticeships and recognition of qualifications

On 10 October, a session on cross-border obstacles to learning and recognition of qualifications was organized during the European Week of Regions and Cities.
Moderated by Martín Guillermo Ramírez, Secretary General of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), the debate was opened by Isabelle Boudineau, Regional Councillor for Nouvelle-Aquitaine with responsibility for Europe and European cooperation.
In her introduction, Isabelle Boudineau pointed out that Europe had 25 million cross-border citizens and that the action of Euroregions such as Nouvelle-Aquitaine Euskadi Navarre and Galicia Norte de Portugal (which was co-organizing the event) illustrated the added value of cooperation.
The regional politician also underlined the commitment of the European Committee of the Regions - of which she has been a member for several years - to European territorial cooperation, through two recently adopted opinions. One on the future of cohesion policy, which calls for an increase in the EU budget devoted to cooperation, and the other on the European cross-border mechanism 2.0.
At this workshop, the GECT Euroregion Nouvelle-Aquitaine-Euskadi Navarre Euroregion described a pilot action it has carried out to create a mobility experience leading to certification in the automotive sector. This action was part of the project FORMA NAEN co-financed by the Interreg France-Spain-Andorra programme (POCTEFA) with a view to developing a range of vocational training adapted to the cross-border context. Five student bodywork painters from the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce went to Pamplona for a fortnight, and five Spanish students came to Bayonne for the same period to carry out a certifying mobility.
The project required a great deal of preparation, with the involvement of training centers and bodies responsible for certifying prior learning. Prior to the mobility, four existing certificates were analysed to identify their similarities and complementarities, then reference frameworks were established (number of hours of training, teaching team, content, materials required, etc.). Criteria for assessing learning outcomes and recognition procedures were then defined. Mobility also required logistical organisation and language training for technical vocabulary.
At the end of these placements, the learning acquired abroad was included in the students's diplomas. Their experience was highlighted during a feedback day and a satisfaction survey, the results of which were positive.
In turn, the Galicia Norte of Portugal EGTC presented several initiatives in the field of worker mobility and the recognition of vocational training and education qualifications with the aim of implementing a pilot project on dual cross-border vocational training. A study has been carried out and a working group set up to facilitate this mutual recognition between Spain and Portugal, and to ensure that it no longer takes place on a case-by-case basis and in the context of lengthy and costly administrative procedures. A b-solution case study was presented concerning social security costs and coverage for students to implement cross-border dual formation.
A debate followed with the audience about obstacles regarding dual training and recognition of diplomas. Regarding the slido poll that was launched to the audience the three most popular words in the poll “what comes to your mind when you think of cross border vocational training?” were: Multilingualism – Opportunity and Furture.