Education, Science and Technology

This action is all about providing opportunities for individuals to improve their skills, enhance their employability and gain cultural awareness.

Under Key Action 1 organisations can apply for funding to run mobility projects to enable organisations to offer structured study, work experience, job shadowing, training and teaching opportunities to staff and learners.

Beneficiaries are able to spend a period of time in another participating country gaining valuable experience of life, study and work with the aim of increasing the opportunities available to them in the future.

Key Action 1 covers the five fields of higher education, vocational education and training, schools, adult education and youth. It is important to note that target groups and activities for Key Action 1 vary by field.

Key Action 1 is the largest action in Erasmus+ with 63% of programme budget supporting its focus on increasing mobility and skills.

What is an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship is a fantastic combination of both college-based learning and industry-based training in preparation for your career choice, giving you the chance to develop your technical competences through real work experience which will help to give you an edge over other people looking for employment.

As an apprentice you will gain the opportunity to experience learning within local and/or international industries, providing you with the opportunity to develop your creativity and problem-solving skills. MCAST offers over 50 courses at both MQF Level 3 and MQF Level 4 on apprenticeships across different sectors, giving you an extensive choice of industries and employers, where you can train and learn.

Why opt for an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship allows for vital authentic industry-based training within an authentic workplace environment. It allows you to engage with employers and achieve opportunities to become part of the active labour force while developing your competences. In addition, as apprentice you will “earn while you learn” while you develop the skills you need to become a professional in your career of choice. MCAST is currently working with over 1.000 local business companies to provide high quality apprenticeship opportunities. Businesses know that to become an apprentice you are serious about your chosen career - and that makes a difference. They know that apprentices are invariably enthusiastic and eager to learn and work. Apprenticeships facilitate the transition into the labour market and give apprentices the opportunity to acquire competences that are better acquired through a work setting.

What is the duration?

Apprenticeships typically take between one to three years to complete, depending on their framework, so it is important that you are committed enough to see it through. An apprenticeship consists of both on-the-job and off-the-job training for a specific period of time. The programmes begin at one of the MCAST Institutes, where the apprentice acquires the underpinning knowledge and skills needed in the chosen occupation. This will be followed by the actual work training at an employer’s establishment for the acquisition of hands-on practice.

Apprenticeship sponsors and/or apprentices requiring to transfer/terminate an apprenticeship in the event of a justifiable reason.

Youth.inc is an inclusive education programme based on applied learning for young people between the age of 16 and 21. The aim of the programme is to help young people to improve their standard of education and gain more knowledge, values and skills to enter the labour market or gain qualifications to continue in further education and/or training.