dualTRAIN main objective was to build a sustainable approach to the dual vocational training System in Portugal, Spain and Germany. The goal was to create a first approach to the implementation of the dual system in the shoe sector of Portugal and Spain and to develop and improve the cooperation of the actors of the different learning venues in Germany. Other objectives of the project are: to characterize the German dual vocational training model; to identify the factors of failure and/or success of the dual system in other contexts than the original one; to assess the feasibility of incorporating a dual VET system in Portugal and Spain in the footwear industry; to learn about the opinion of a set of economic and social actors with responsibility and interest in VET, about this incorporation; and to make policy recommendations aimed at Portuguese, Spanish and German policy makers concerning the potential adoption and adaptation of the German dual system to Portuguese and Spanish reality, considering the focus in the footwear industry.By setting the basis for a future implementation of the dual training model in the partners’ countries, the partnership initially intended to fulfil the following objectives: Boost skills and employability; Modernize education, training and youth work; Increase the job opportunities for young people.According to a study prepared for DG Enterprises & Industry in 2012, the 2nd most challenge mentioned by companies, when asked the challenges they will face in the next 5 years, were the availability of skilled staff. Moreover, considering the serious situation of youth unemployment in Europe, national governments need to change the way of integrating young people into the labour market and ensure their permanence in the medium term. These policies must improve the match between supply and demand for labour, reducing youth exclusion in the market and also meeting the needs of businesses in terms of job profile. The dualTRAIN project work plan created a new training curricula based on the dual training model and it was implemented a pilot to evaluate the reaction of the target groups. During this phase we have also invited relevant stakeholders and national authorities to examine the benefits and impact of the application of dual system in Portugal and in Spain, in an attempt to have a formal recognition.The partnership of the project is composed by 6 partners, with a balanced mix of skills and expertise: 3 Footwear Technological Centres which are representatives from SME from the Footwear Industry; 2 Higher Education Institutions with large expertise in the development and implementation of pedagogical studies; and 1 consultancy company with background in daily business activities bringing important competences in terms of project management.The partnership considers that the work that was successfully developed in the dualTRAIN will contributed to the long term fulfilment of the following objectives:- Boost skills and employability: through the design of methodology and mechanisms and a supporting pilot test that reduces recruitment costs, improves the quality of formal and job training and the share of knowledge and experience between trainer and trainees.- Modernize education, training and youth work: the dualTRAIN project allows for the transfer of knowledge for the application of dual system to other sectors and countries;- Increase the job opportunities for young people: frameworks allow for better recruitment (which contributes to long term employment) and provide a better skills and jobs matching.The impact of the project on a local, regional and national level is directly related to the structure of the footwear industry in Portugal and Spain. Shoe production has a high degree of geographic specialization both in Spain and Portugal. The project’s activities were organized in these areas to ensure target groups and stakeholders have direct contact with the results. It is also important to emphasize that the long term goals of the project are to raise awareness about the dual training model as a tool to increase footwear industrial competitiveness, and facilitate the future implementation of the dual training model in the target countries. Even so, the methodology used in the dualTRAIN can be replicated to other countries and even to other business activities. Finally, the dualTRAIN identified some challenges which need to be overcome in the near future. The successful implementation of the dual training model in Portugal and Spain is also dependent on the ability of the two countries overcome them: HOW to organise the work-based training in the running production without losing productivity? HOW to select and train company’s tutors? HOW the shoe industry and the VET schools can have a deeper collaboration in terms of training contents and practical experience? HOW to make the shoe industry and other traditional industries more attractive to young people?