Human and Social Development
Vocational Training

Employers, professional and guild organisations and their sector councils, secondary VET schools, primary schools and their career counsellors

In 2008 and 2009, several acts were adopted in Slovakia with impact on vocational education. The aim was to allow more flexible profiling of graduates according to school conditions, regional labour market needs, developments in the study field and the interest and abilities of the pupils. However, the gap between the needs of employees and employers and the education programmes of vocational training and technical schools, which had been widening since the early 90ies, has not been overcome. Moreover, students find general education more attractive than vocational education and the number of pupils at vocational schools is rapidly decreasing. The result of these processes is that employers fail to find enough well-qualified workers.

The goal of the project is to increase the employability of young Slovak citizens through a better link between school leavers’ profiles, skills and competencies with labour market needs. The expected outcomes are: enhanced cooperation among key subjects involved in VET, particularly between employers and secondary VET schools. In addition, the attractiveness of the vocational education shall be increased.

1. Development of the cooperation among VET stakeholders (Definition of professional organisations in 5 selected fields who will work on the project; analysis of the employers’ requirements and of the existing vocational education; comparison between both; visits to Swiss VET schools; innovation of training programmes in VET schools and in the employers’ facilities; development of new training programmes for instructors);

2. Change of education content (updated school programmes are introduced; training for teachers and instructors of practical training made operational in pilot trainings; evaluation of the pilot realisation of teaching);

3. Promotion of VET (promotion of VET in the whole of the Slovak Republic and with all players concerned including pupils at the end of primary school; professional workshops, conferences, press conferences, events, advertising campaigns, creation of films/DVD, open days).

The expected results are:

• partnerships between employers and VET schools created, requirements of the entrepreneurs formulated
• updated educational programmes on national and school levels
• capacities of VET teachers and trainers enhanced
• in-company trainings realised
• VET promoted