On 11 December 2017, the Ministry of Science and Education organised the kick-off conference for the project „Modernisation of vocational education and training programmes“.
During her welcoming speech, Ms Blaženka Divjak, the minister of science and education, pointed out four key specific elements of vocational education and training system modernisation. Elements were modernisation of vocational curricula in cooperation with employers, equipping vocational education and training schools for conducting work-based learning, enhancing the system of professional training for vocational teachers as the part of quality assurance system in vocational education and training and the promotion of vocational education and training as the desirable future occupation, which includes raising self-confidence of vocational education and training students so they could be proud of their vocational choice.
Also in the panel discussion, Mr Dragutin Ranogajec, the President of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, participated and discussed about challenges in the vocational education and training from employers’ perspective.
Mr Ranogajec emphasised the importance of ensuring the continuous practical classes as the key element for adopting key skills and work habits of future employers. Since the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts puts lots of effort to secure the sufficient number of apprenticeship placements, Mr Ranogajec mentioned the project „Get Involved in EP4A: European Partnerships for Apprenticeships, which aims to involve greater number of craftsmen, tradesmen and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to conduct apprenticeship.
