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INTRODUCTION

This methodologic framework is developed as part of a strategic partnership for
vocational education and training (VET) project entitled “BRIDGES – Improving
work-based learning through employers links”. Funded by the Erasmus+

programme, this project aims at providing a bespoke framework, a blended
continuing professional development programme, and digital resources to
support VET providers in improving work-based learning (WBL) through
effective employer engagement, and thus promoting the excellence and
attractiveness of VET and WBL paths among employers, young people, their
families, and society.

To design this framework, all the participating organisations – Belfast
Metropolitan College (Northern Ireland), the City Of Dublin Education And

Training Board (Ireland), Internationaler Bund (Germany), Mindshift Talent
Advisory (Portugal), Evolve Global Solutions (England), Instituto para el Fomento
del Desarrollo y la Formacion (Spain), Center for Social Innovation (Cyprus), and
Stowarzyszenie Centrum Wspierania Edukacji i Przedsiebiorczosci (Poland) –
worked closely with their Local Experts Groups (i.e., VET managers and
professionals, employers, associated partners, relevant stakeholders, and

partners’ staff) to conduct a mapping of existing practices.

We looked for best examples of employer engagement aiming at identifying
models and practices, challenges, opportunities, success factors, and national
trends and contributing to the definition of what qualities should be considered
in engaged relationships with employers. There are several useful practices
available in all the eight targeted countries – the BRIDGES Employer Engagement
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Framework specifically benchmarks a set of local practices , and draws on and
synthesises them to provide a compact framework to help VET providers fully
realise the value of strategic, long-term, and sustainable cooperation with
employers. This is done through a 4-level pathway.

1 Northern Ireland Work Based Learning Strategic Working Group (North Ireland); Further Education & Training
in Health Care in the Dublin region (Ireland); Pre-Vocational Training (Germany); ATEC – Training Academy
(Portugal); Hertford Regional College – Modern Construction (England); NH Hotels (Spain); Human Resource
Development Authority (Cyprus); Danmar Computers (Poland)

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