NetWBL (Net Work-based Learning) is a network of the national agencies of the Erasmus+ Programme – in Hungary represented by the Tempus Public Foundation. Its foundation and its work have been supported by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture. NetWBL aims to strengthen work-based learning (WBL) elements in existing vocational education and training (VET) systems and higher education and to support apprenticeship in particular. NetWBL will make visible the results of Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) projects on work-based learning and will support VET reforms by providing an on-line toolbox for use by policy makers, social partners and VET providers. In accordance with the work of NetWBL, the Budapest conference focused on presenting best practises and the vocational education and training systems of the organising countries of Austria, Romania and Hungary.
On the first day of the conference the focus was on the situation and challenges of work-based learning and dual training in Austria, Romania and Hungary. The network's understanding of work based learning is broader than apprenticeship: WBL includes forms such as dual training, training provided by a VET institution, WBL in higher education and training in the school workshops. Presentations highlighted that although the youth unemployment rate in Europe is 22% on an average, this number can be very different in some countries. In Greece, Spain, Italy or Croatia youth unemployment can be over 40%, while in Germany, Austria or the Netherlands this amount is less than 10%.