Eureka! Institutional Repository

The post-lyceum year of apprenticeship of EPAL in Greece was enacted in 2013. It was piloted in two phases during the school years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. Enlarged across the country, it was first implemented in the school year 2017-2018. The aim of the research and the main research question is the exploration and mapping of the views, attitudes and experiences of a sample of the three distinct groups (apprentices, teachers and representatives of employment agencies) who participated in the implementation of the post-graduate apprenticeship year at the 1st Laboratory Center of Alexandroupolis, with a view to feedback on future improvements. The qualitative method was used to conduct the survey. n particular, 19 interviews were held. The survey shows that EPAL specialists have the knowledge and skills required by their new role. There is a willingness on their part to help the institution in its first steps. They agree that their training needs are high while they state the factors that make their participation difficult and their work in EPAL apprenticeship. Satisfaction and positive perception were expressed by the apprentices. An enrichment of their knowledge and skills was found through their participation in the apprenticeship institution. They now find it easier to access the labor market and upgrading their degree to a higher level. A serious attempt to strengthen the school's working relationship with the labor market is the more general view of the institution of the representatives of the employers. They are positive in their future involvement and more cooperation between employers and the school is proposed to develop more specialized knowledge and skills. The present work adds elements that can be utilized by all the participants in the apprenticeship of EPAL. The conclusions of the research can be taken into account by educators, education executives and educational policy makers with the aim of shaping and strengthening the institution.