Forum on promotion of Vocational Education and Training was held on 26 May 2017 at the Ministry of Science and Education. In his opening speech the minister of science and education, Mr Pavo Barišić, PhD, pointed out that the challenges of vocational education and training (VET) can only be solved by cooperation between all VET stakeholders, many of which attended the Forum. Also, Mr Barišić said that the aim is to develop flexible curricula which are able to respond to the labour market needs and changes and innovations of particular sectors. In his speech, Mr Barišić also pointed out the importance of improving the status of VET by emphasizing the value of practical work.
Director of CEDEFOP, Mr James Calleja also gave a speech, in which he highlighted 6 aims for VET: higher quality of VET in high quality centres and through online learning; increased mobility of students, teachers and mentors; transparency; digitalisation of VET content and pedagogy; setting up standards for VET teachers and mentors to improve the attractiveness of VET and finally, enhancing the image of VET by carrying out a joint road map.
After that, good practices examples from VET schools were presented, as well as the VET Development Programme 2016-2020, after which VET stakeholders had the chance to present their activities with the aim of promoting VET.
Project Get involved in EP4A: European Partnerships for Apprenticeships was presented by Ms Mirela Lekić, MSc, Head of Department for Vocational Education and Human Resources Development at the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts. Ms Lekić announced the first of two workshops, which will be held on 5 July 2017 at the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts and invited all of the stakeholders to attend the workshop.
Besides CEDEFOP representatives, Forum on promotion of VET included key stakeholders in VET, ministries and agencies representatives, employers and schools representatives. Mr Stefan Estermann, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation in the Republic of Croatia, was an honourable guest at the Forum.
