Modernization of VET, small and medium enterprises (SME)
Several interrelated activities have been ongoing in Slovakia within the VET system modernization, from which business involvement in practical training and education is a challenge which requires the cooperation of many stakeholders.
While the government is well equipped with capacities and institutionally and with skilled personnel, private sector possess expertise, which represents an additional value, reflecting the needs of the labor market.
Quality education and knowledge is a prerequisite for long-term sustainability and prosperity and depends on the quality and profile of vocational education and training (VET).
Increasing the chances of young people on a labor market and their integration in companies and SMEs, which constitute the basic pillar of a healthy economy, becomes proportional to how the system is set. It is therefore important to find an appropriate way of management tools for vocational training and for the development of VET policies, streamlining the process of VET modernization so that a wide range of interest groups, stakeholders can benefit from it.
At the same time, it is necessary to know the needs and the private sector demand in relation to the labor market also in the longer term, which is particularly relevant in the field of digital skills. Therefore, SMEs involvement, as implementers of practical training of the students is at the center of attention. Creating and strengthening of the partnerships between the private sector, the academic sector and the government plays a key role, also in the skills assessment.
In this regard, several initiatives have emerged to find flexible pathways for education and involvement of a wide range of stakeholders. Their mission is both to find new tools to support the implementation of the new agenda of skills, with the particular emphasis on the regions of Slovakia, since regional disparities in Slovakia are perhaps most evident in the jobs and education opportunities.
Following the first experience with the introduction of dual learning in VET in Slovakia, several working meetings held during the autumn 2016.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak republic, as the main coordinator of the project INT-VET-DUAL, the section of regional education - vocational secondary vocational schools and conservatories, organized in line with the fulfillment of the tasks of the Government Program of the Slovak Republic working meetings which took place in September and October 2016.
· September 21, 2016 with the representatives of the founders of secondary vocational schools in Slovakia and representatives of Education Departments of the district offices at the county,
· September 27, 2016 with the representatives of secondary vocational schools, engaged in a dual system of education in the school year 2016/2017,
· October 6, 2016 6 with the representatives of professional organizations, SNOPK, WKO and other entities coordinating VET
The project partners- representatives of SNOPK, WKO a ŠIOV also participated at the meetings. The objective of the meetings was:
· assessing the initial experience of the implementation of dual education in Slovakia with the aim of further improvement,
· proposals of a support mechanisms for effective involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises in the dual education in Slovakia,
· discussion on the future training of teachers of vocational subjects and vocational training supervisors in Slovakia,
· identifying professions and activities which will prepare secondary school students in programs of post-secondary vocational education at secondary specialized schools in Slovakia.
The meetings took part as the a workshops, where participants engaged in formulating a SWOT analysis of the first year of implementing the dual system of education in vocational education and training in Slovakia and expressed their suggestions for improving the status of SMEs as implementers of practical training.
Among the most commonly discussed suggestions and comments were the issues of improving the conditions for the involvement of SMEs, in terms of simplification and removal of barriers such as administrative burden within the accreditation of companies, as well as the issue of tax breaks or unification of school training in relation on the year of study.
In cooperation with the relevant professional associations and professional organizations and other entities coordinating vocational education and training, the occupational and professional activities will be identified for which the secondary school students will be prepared within the programs of post-secondary vocational education.
Within the consultation on the prospects for further teacher training, vocational training supervisors and instructors suggested a number of inspiring models feasible at local, regional and national levels which require changes in legislation on teaching staff, in some cases. All ideas, suggestions, models and possible solutions will be incorporated into the INT-VET-DUAL project design.
The is an ongoing processing of documents in the form of a joint SWOT analysis of all the workshops and in the coming weeks will be held a „round table“, where all entities of VET coordination will be invited again and the discussions for the purpose of the resulting SWOT analysis will be undertaken.
Modernizing the education is a process that must be primarily an inclusive, able to engage and to integrate the students with different talents and abilities, able to educate the children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and to prevent the risk of fragmentation and marginalization.
Modernizing education must emphasize not only the technical skills but at the same time the intellectual resilience, which is a prerequisite of coping with the transition between occupations.
By the end of 2016 the government therefore has to submit to the National Program of Education to be targeted precisely also to transitions between occupations.
While the government is well equipped with capacities and institutionally and with skilled personnel, private sector possess expertise, which represents an additional value, reflecting the needs of the labor market.
Quality education and knowledge is a prerequisite for long-term sustainability and prosperity and depends on the quality and profile of vocational education and training (VET).
Increasing the chances of young people on a labor market and their integration in companies and SMEs, which constitute the basic pillar of a healthy economy, becomes proportional to how the system is set. It is therefore important to find an appropriate way of management tools for vocational training and for the development of VET policies, streamlining the process of VET modernization so that a wide range of interest groups, stakeholders can benefit from it.
At the same time, it is necessary to know the needs and the private sector demand in relation to the labor market also in the longer term, which is particularly relevant in the field of digital skills. Therefore, SMEs involvement, as implementers of practical training of the students is at the center of attention. Creating and strengthening of the partnerships between the private sector, the academic sector and the government plays a key role, also in the skills assessment.
In this regard, several initiatives have emerged to find flexible pathways for education and involvement of a wide range of stakeholders. Their mission is both to find new tools to support the implementation of the new agenda of skills, with the particular emphasis on the regions of Slovakia, since regional disparities in Slovakia are perhaps most evident in the jobs and education opportunities.
Following the first experience with the introduction of dual learning in VET in Slovakia, several working meetings held during the autumn 2016.
The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak republic, as the main coordinator of the project INT-VET-DUAL, the section of regional education - vocational secondary vocational schools and conservatories, organized in line with the fulfillment of the tasks of the Government Program of the Slovak Republic working meetings which took place in September and October 2016.
· September 21, 2016 with the representatives of the founders of secondary vocational schools in Slovakia and representatives of Education Departments of the district offices at the county,
· September 27, 2016 with the representatives of secondary vocational schools, engaged in a dual system of education in the school year 2016/2017,
· October 6, 2016 6 with the representatives of professional organizations, SNOPK, WKO and other entities coordinating VET
The project partners- representatives of SNOPK, WKO a ŠIOV also participated at the meetings. The objective of the meetings was:
· assessing the initial experience of the implementation of dual education in Slovakia with the aim of further improvement,
· proposals of a support mechanisms for effective involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises in the dual education in Slovakia,
· discussion on the future training of teachers of vocational subjects and vocational training supervisors in Slovakia,
· identifying professions and activities which will prepare secondary school students in programs of post-secondary vocational education at secondary specialized schools in Slovakia.
The meetings took part as the a workshops, where participants engaged in formulating a SWOT analysis of the first year of implementing the dual system of education in vocational education and training in Slovakia and expressed their suggestions for improving the status of SMEs as implementers of practical training.
Among the most commonly discussed suggestions and comments were the issues of improving the conditions for the involvement of SMEs, in terms of simplification and removal of barriers such as administrative burden within the accreditation of companies, as well as the issue of tax breaks or unification of school training in relation on the year of study.
In cooperation with the relevant professional associations and professional organizations and other entities coordinating vocational education and training, the occupational and professional activities will be identified for which the secondary school students will be prepared within the programs of post-secondary vocational education.
Within the consultation on the prospects for further teacher training, vocational training supervisors and instructors suggested a number of inspiring models feasible at local, regional and national levels which require changes in legislation on teaching staff, in some cases. All ideas, suggestions, models and possible solutions will be incorporated into the INT-VET-DUAL project design.
The is an ongoing processing of documents in the form of a joint SWOT analysis of all the workshops and in the coming weeks will be held a „round table“, where all entities of VET coordination will be invited again and the discussions for the purpose of the resulting SWOT analysis will be undertaken.
Modernizing the education is a process that must be primarily an inclusive, able to engage and to integrate the students with different talents and abilities, able to educate the children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and to prevent the risk of fragmentation and marginalization.
Modernizing education must emphasize not only the technical skills but at the same time the intellectual resilience, which is a prerequisite of coping with the transition between occupations.
By the end of 2016 the government therefore has to submit to the National Program of Education to be targeted precisely also to transitions between occupations.
The Dissemination activities of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and of the State Institute of Vocational Education and Training
- From 9 to 11 October 2016 in Strasbourg, France, held an international conference Erasmus +, „The geographic and personal horizons: Projects to promote social inclusion and citizenship“. The conference was attended by Ing. Monika Rybová representative of WG SR the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic ET 2020 „Promoting Citizenship“.
She informed about the efforts and activities which the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic is making in promoting citizenship, preventing radicalism children and youth and violent extremism, combating racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance.
She also informed about the benefits of international projects under the current Socrates and Erasmus + for students and VET teachers and introduced the ongoing project Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport Erasmus + KA3, „Introduction of dual education in Vocational Education and Training in Slovakia“.
- From 19 to 21 October 2016 in Brussels, Belgium, took part the European Education, Training and Youth Forum 2016: „Connecting Education, the Labor Market and Society“. At the invitation of the European Commission, Ing. Monika Rybová as speaker of the workshop „Work-Based Learning and Business-Education Partnerships“ participated in a forum and introduced the project coordinated by the MŠVVaŠ SR Erasmus + , „Introduction of dual education in Vocational Education and Training in Slovakia“.
- On September 2016, Ladislav Šatka (ŠIOV) attended an International Methodical workshop on the issue of education in craft occupations (painter) carried out in Teplice (Czech Republic) with the participation of representatives from countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary.
- On August 23, Ladislav Šatka (ŠIOV) attended a Vocational preparatory meeting for the organization of competitions for secondary soil ŠIOV with the participation of 15 representatives of secondary vocational schools in Slovakia.
- On August 2016 Katarína Hazuchová (MA) took part in a Climate Reality campaign held within the Sziget Festival in Hungary, where she discussed with young people and professionals the importance of dual education within a sustainability priorities context and its integration in curricula. Campaign reached some 3000 visitors from 86 countries.
- On September 2016 Katarína Hazuchová (MA) moderated a panel discussion entitled „Smart City 3.0 – The City of Smart Citizens“ within the 26the International Economic Forum of Regions in Krynica Poland and highlighted the importance of dual education in a smart cities transition, with the participation of mayors, private sectors representatives as well as academic professionals, participants from Italy, Poland, Russia and Slovakia.
- On 8-9 July 2016, Katarína Hazuchová (MA) attended the 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities, entitled “Invest and Connect” held in Bratislava, Slovakia.
She informed about the efforts and activities which the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic is making in promoting citizenship, preventing radicalism children and youth and violent extremism, combating racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance.
She also informed about the benefits of international projects under the current Socrates and Erasmus + for students and VET teachers and introduced the ongoing project Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport Erasmus + KA3, „Introduction of dual education in Vocational Education and Training in Slovakia“.
- From 19 to 21 October 2016 in Brussels, Belgium, took part the European Education, Training and Youth Forum 2016: „Connecting Education, the Labor Market and Society“. At the invitation of the European Commission, Ing. Monika Rybová as speaker of the workshop „Work-Based Learning and Business-Education Partnerships“ participated in a forum and introduced the project coordinated by the MŠVVaŠ SR Erasmus + , „Introduction of dual education in Vocational Education and Training in Slovakia“.
- On September 2016, Ladislav Šatka (ŠIOV) attended an International Methodical workshop on the issue of education in craft occupations (painter) carried out in Teplice (Czech Republic) with the participation of representatives from countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary.
- On August 23, Ladislav Šatka (ŠIOV) attended a Vocational preparatory meeting for the organization of competitions for secondary soil ŠIOV with the participation of 15 representatives of secondary vocational schools in Slovakia.
- On August 2016 Katarína Hazuchová (MA) took part in a Climate Reality campaign held within the Sziget Festival in Hungary, where she discussed with young people and professionals the importance of dual education within a sustainability priorities context and its integration in curricula. Campaign reached some 3000 visitors from 86 countries.
- On September 2016 Katarína Hazuchová (MA) moderated a panel discussion entitled „Smart City 3.0 – The City of Smart Citizens“ within the 26the International Economic Forum of Regions in Krynica Poland and highlighted the importance of dual education in a smart cities transition, with the participation of mayors, private sectors representatives as well as academic professionals, participants from Italy, Poland, Russia and Slovakia.
- On 8-9 July 2016, Katarína Hazuchová (MA) attended the 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities, entitled “Invest and Connect” held in Bratislava, Slovakia.