After the successful first open information day on apprenticeship in Split, organised by the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts and the Regional Chamber from Primorje-Gorski kotar County, the second open information day on apprenticeship was organised on 22 November 2017 at Art-cinema Croatia in Rijeka. The event was held as the part of the European Vocational Skills Week and as the activity in Erasmus+ KA3 Get Involved in EP4A: European Partnerships for Apprenticeships project.
Vocational education and training (VET) stakeholders who were present, especially future and present masters-vocational teachers, were greeted by the Vice-President of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts and the President of Regional Chamber from Primorje-Gorski kotar County, Mr Dalibor Kratohvil, and the Deputy County Prefect from Primorje-Gorski kotar County, Mr Marko Boras Mandić, who emphasized the importance of vocational education and training in order to provide the qualified workforce and help the economic prosperity in Croatia.
The presentation on what is apprenticeship and the advantages of taking apprentices was held by Deputy Secretary General of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts and the Head of Department for Vocational Education and Human Resources Development, Ms Mirela Lekić, MSc.
After that, the panel discussion was held in which participants were Ms Mirela Lekić, MSc, Mr Tomislav Pavelić from Directorate for entrepreneurship and crafts at the Ministry for economy, entrepreneurship and crafts, Ms Loredana Grdnići, the prinicipal at Crafts school in Opatija, Ms Aleksandra Oparov, master-vocational teacher and the president of exam commission for master craftsman’s exam for hairdressers and Ms Tamara Dukić, the expert associate for education at the Regional Chamber of Trades and Crafts for Primorje-Gorski kotar County.
Ms Oparov explained her long-time experience in working with apprentices and reasons why she decided to actively participate in the educational process, while Ms Grdinić described how school cooperates with tradesmen and craftsmen with regard to practical classes on the work place. Mr Pavelić presented co-financing measures by the Ministry, especially the project “Apprenticeship for crafts professions”. Ms Lekić and Ms Dukić explained in more detail the role of the Chamber as the VET stakeholder, especially in the area of licensing for conducting practical classes and apprenticeship exercises.
During the panel discussion, students from Commercial and tailor school in Rijeka presented their work, while the practical work of master-vocational teacher with the apprentice was presented by Ms Marina Vranješ.
Specially, during the open information day, the help-desk line for apprenticeship, which is available on the phone number +385 1 4806 656 and e-mail naukovanje@hok.hr, was promoted as well as the Employers’ Guide to Apprenticeship, which was available in printed version during the event, and the leaflet with guidelines for licensing. Also, during the event, a prize winning contest was organised. The prize was the Study Visit to Munich, which will be held during the International craft fair in Munich in 2018 and the chosen winner will have the opportunity to see directly how apprenticeship is conducted in Germany.
