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DELTA (2017-1-UK01-KA202-036810) Collaborative Apprenticeships Case Study

Name/Identifier: Industries/Qualifications which Date: May/June 2019
Could Benefit from
Collaborative/Shared
Apprenticeship in Romania

Researcher: Maria Micu Country: Romania

Case Study

Collaborative apprenticeships aren’t yet widespread in Romania, and both the
legal framework and definitions of “apprentice/apprenticeship” are quite rigid. In
this document we will focus on possible industries and existing professional
qualifications which, in our view, can significantly benefit from applying
collaborative apprenticeship principle. Of course, this is not meant to be an
exhaustive list, but only an illustrative one.

The Romanian legislation makes a clear delimitation between VET students
being trained in companies and apprentices. The former can be a person, not
necessarily enrolled in a formal initial VET school, completing a professional
qualification at the workplace. There is a specific legal framework for this
category of people – with a specific work contract having training and qualifying
the person as main aim.

The duration and requirements that are to be met by the company qualifying
people at the workplace depend on the level of qualification aimed. The
‘apprentice’ has to be employed full time (8h/day-40h/week for <18 and 6h/day –
30h/week for 16-18 y.o.), and the minimum period is 6 months for a level 1
qualification, 12 months for level 2, 24 for level 3 and 36 for level 4. Also, the
employer is obliged to pay the equivalent of at least the minimum wage to the
apprentice – however, as a result of some recent legislative updates, in some
situations the companies might benefit from an allowance equal to this amount,
paid to them monthly by the Employment Agency.

On the other hand, the employer is obliged to ensure theoretical training in
partnership with an authorized training provider when the qualification requires
it. It is also responsible for making sure that the apprentice is acquiring all the
competences foreseen into the Professional Preparation Standard for that
specific qualification. A qualified ‘apprenticeship coordinator’ is to be mobilized
within the company –which will guide and evaluate the apprentice.

The difficulty of carrying out such a qualification program increases
proportionally with the level of qualification, as many of them are rather
extensive (covering a wider range of skills, diversifying rather that
overspecializing in a few skills). They are meant to be so as the person getting
this qualification within school could have greater chances of
employment/openness towards further qualification routes – however, this is not

DELTA (2017-1-UK01-KA202-036810) IO3