It is proven that young people find learning more attractive dependent on the competences of the teaching/training-counseling staff. In the next years, VET practitioners and counselors will be required to help shape quick and flexible responses to emerging needs(Cedefop June 2016). Providing these professionals with access to quality professional development and support is essential to ensure that both their technical competences and pedagogical skills are up to the highest standards.

In WBL programmes, availability of a qualified staff member to supervise the learner is usually one of the quality assurance requirements. A critical success factor for WBL initiatives (both apprenticeship and traineeship programmes) is the provision of adequate support, guidance and mentoring to the young participants, both at the workplace and at the sending organisation (VET/Employment services providers, PES, etc). It has been experienced with Youth Guarantee (ERIFO),in Spain’s On-the-Job Training scheme “Contrato en practices”, in Cyprus the “New Modern Apprenticeship, NMA” and in Poland’s “Szkołapolicealna” and “StażedlaBezrobotnych” ALMP-programme. Thus, job counselors/professionals need to be both adequately trained and supported in their tasks (overseeing/guiding  practical training and acquisition of work experience and enable learners to successfully complete the journey).

Based on the results of IO1 a common curriculum programme for the professional development of job counselors working with and aspiring to work with WBL programmes in private and public organisations, will be designed, developed and tested.

It will aim to provide the job counselors/practictioners (sending organisation) with the right skills/competences for managing and delivering high-quality WBL programmes  and developing new knowledge. The programme will abide by the EQF (probably EQF 5) and the ECVET standards.

The Curriculum will incorporate “train the trainers” sessions with a series of practical-action learning sessions along with supporting Resource Pack/Tool Kit for delivering and evaluating. It will be designed to recruit, train and support successful job counselors, across the participating partner countries, investing in their CVET and Lifelong Guidance approaches. This IO is central to the project  implementation, as it will deliver key project’s activities and results to be validated and transferred into ordinary system.

As for the previous IO, the Curriculum will include:
- an Initial Needs Assessment to be completed by all participants to ensure that the teaching adapts to the needs of the participating job counselors,  
- the Course Plan, divided in a)General educational objectives; b)Specific educational objectives; c)Expected measurable learning outcomes; d)The content topics; f)Assessment criteria (self and summative).
-the Resource Pack/Tool Kit containing the course methodology,  the training materials of all modules ( topic and learning sheets with presentations and guidelines for the train the trainers session, action and peer learning activities and assignments through the Working Groups for WBL Alliance) and an exhaustive bibliography as a reference for other professionals.

Although the content of the programme will be dependent on the results of IO1, it is envisaged that the Curriculum Programme is likely to include:

i) A General Module focused on the current EU/National WBL schemes and how the job counselors/professionals’ role needs to be adapted. It also explore the benefits of using existing EU resources for “sending organization”, such as "Eures", “EYE” programme, "Skills Panorama", “Youth Guarantee”, “ESF” and “WBL Toolkit initiative”.

ii)Working Effectively with Learners (trainees/apprentices): This module might include skills and methods to be able to provide a learner-centred approach tailoring goals, curricula, pedagogical approaches, intercultural skills and materials with assessment methods to individual needs and focus on the learners’ capabilities; how to provide an impartial career guidance; the ability help young people to make choices which are both realistic and fulfilling and the competences to help individuals to manage their own careers; how to ensure follow-up support activities for employers and youth.

iii)Working with Employers (Hosting): This module might cover the management aspects and negotiation skills to ensure a successful cooperation between sending&hosting organisations; using employer’s feedback to improve service, advising employers on financial and 'in work/non-financial support' for new WBL programme; how to establish and maintain good relationships with employers & achieve employer satisfaction and public funding incentives for employers.

iv)Effective Project Management: mechanisms to ensure WBL quality; how to promote the service to employers and learners, dealing with conflict, effective networking with stakeholders  and the importance of information management.