Apprentissage transfrontalier

In the Greater Region, the intensity of cross-border mobility and sectoral tensions in the labour market place professional training at the heart of skills issues. Cross-border professional training is a strategic lever for the integration of young people and regional competitiveness, but it remains organised by heterogeneous national frameworks. A comparative analysis of the systems highlights areas of convergence (stronger labour-market orientation of higher education, expansion of work-study programmes, and the development of skills-based approaches) but also persistent differences (contracts, governance, remuneration, recognition of qualifications, mentoring) that lead to fragile local adjustments. The Longwy case study, enriched by testimonials from the UniGR-CBS Forum Greater Region (April 2025), shows that these pathways generate hybrid skills that are particularly valued by businesses. This working paper highlights the need to strengthen regional coordination, improve support structures, professionalise mentoring practices, and enhance the recognition of cross-border skills in order to consolidate these pathways in a sustainable way.

This policy paper first demonstrates that cross-border higher education apprenticeships can serve as a lever for strengthening territorial cohesion despite the asymmetries between labour market areas on either side of national borders. It then identifies commonalities and differences between national and cross-border arrangements in order to better understand the conditions for effective cooperation and to identify the persistent obstacles that still need to be overcome. Finally, it outlines a number of operational recommendations aimed at advancing a genuine model of cross-border higher education apprenticeships tailored to the specific context of the Greater Region.