excell-wbl: networks

“Erasmus+ Project ”Baltic Examples of Excellence in Work-based Learning” (Excell-WBL)”PROJ.NO. 2019-1-LV01-KA202-060413

EXCELL-WBL:NETWORKS

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EXCELL-WBL:NETWORKS

E S T O N I A

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BACKGROUND INFORMATIONFurniture Cluster of South-East Estonia (https://puiduklaster.ee/) is an open organization, uniting wood processing companies and furniture producers from Võru, Põlva, Valga, and Tartu counties. Competence fields are the manufacturing of furniture and related details. The cluster membership includes 24 SMEs. The main objectives of the cluster are to raise the export potential and added value of the companies in the region, to enhance product development, and to promote cooperation between companies and R&D institutions.

EXPERIENCE IN WBLAmong the companies of Furniture Cluster of South-East Estonia are several verified and recognized internship companies and long-term cooperation partners. Students of wood and mechatronics fields of Võru County Vocational Training Centre have completed their internships in member companies of the cluster. The main focus during the internship is on wood processing and manufacturing furniture and furniture components.Employees of the cluster companies have participated in work-based learning curricula in the field of Upholsterer and Wood machine operator.Company managers, who supervise interns and WBL apprentices, have completed the training of internship supervisors to gain professional competence.

WHAT MAKES THIS NETWORK OUTSTANDING FOR WBL? Member companies deal with serial production and mass production which ensures various possibilities for individual and professional development for interns.Not only family-owned companies belong to the cluster, but also small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Managers of the companies have shown great interest in the fact that they have a professional and qualified labor force and also personal development is contributed and encouraged.Entrepreneurs highly value motivated employees who have completed the work-based learning program to gain professional competence and acquire job-related skills. They have completed the training of internship supervisors to gain the necessary competence to work with trainees. The members of the cluster cooperate with each other and exchange experiences and information about the development and training opportunities of employees. As a result, all companies of the cluster will benefit directly from the close cooperation.

FEEDBACKStudents´ feedback to the internship has always been positive because they have gained relevant skills and experience in a particular field. Also, their personal and professional development has been supported during the internship. Besides that, it was indicated that extra motivation was a possibility to obtain a vocational qualification.School´s feedback on the cooperation has also always been very positive, contentment level is high and pointed out aspect was extremely high motivation level among work-based learners.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATIONThe Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund (https://www.tootukassa.ee/) is a legal person in public law that implements labor policy. The aims are to achieve the highest level of employment among the working-age population and prevent long-term unemployment and labor market exclusion, help people with decreased working ability to enter the labor market; support for obtaining qualifications for employed persons who have undergone labor market. Professional job mediation consultants and career specialists work for the organization.

EXPERIENCE IN WBLEmployer´s consultants of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund not only advise working-age people on looking for jobs and their employment choices but also advise employers and help to find suitable employees. In cooperation with Võru County Vocational Training Centre and the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund 8 employees from Hanza Mechanic were able to participate in WBL.

WHAT MAKES THIS NETWORK OUTSTANDING FOR WBL? The Fund started concluding cooperation agreements with companies and supporting employed persons in degree study through work-based learning. Supported are those employed persons, who do not have professional education or those who have professional or vocational education but it was obtained at least 15 years ago or those who cannot find a new suitable job or who are at risk losing their job. In a rapidly evolving world around us, the further continuous training of employees

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are extremely important from employers´ point of view and besides that, raising professional qualifications is needed in order to secure employment and it gives the possibility for the rise of remuneration for employees. The Fund´s activity is defined by a set of three carefully chosen values, which include trust, cooperation, and innovation.

FEEDBACKEntrepreneurs also encourage cooperation between Võru County Vocational Training Centre and the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund because trained professional employees are offered better opportunities in the labor market. Employees also benefit from the training and consider those training extremely useful.Vocational school´s feedback: The Fund distributes information to employers, participates in school information days, and co-operates at job fairs. Some students have had a good opportunity to acquire new skills or even a profession in WBL due to the Fund.


EXCELL-WBL:NETWORKS

L A T V I A

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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING ASSOCIATIONOFFICIAL NAME IN LATVIAN: PROFESIONĀLĀS IZGLĪTĪBAS BIEDRĪBA (PIB)Association „Profesionālās izglītības biedrība” was founded on October 28 of 2009 with an aim to bring together Latvia’s VET institutions, managers and employees of VET, as well as trainees for joint efforts in resolving problems of education sector and youth.PIB unites 31 active members, including:• 21 state VET institutions• 6 state colleges• 3 municipal VET institutions• 1 VET institution of Latvian University of Agriculture

PIB GOALS:• Promote organization of amateur art and

performances, sport events and other activities among VET instituions;

• Address issues related to development of VET and efficient use of education resources;

• Promote design and implementation of new curricula in VET;

• Take part in development of regulatory and financial frameworks;

• Coordinate methodological work in VET;• Cooperate with the Ministry of Education

and Science and other ministries in development of proposals for regulations related to VET system;

• Cooperate with all organizations interested in promoting education.One of the main tasks of PIB is taking part in development of VET policies, including development of work-based learning. The first 6 VET institutions to start implementation of apprenticeship-type of work-based learning in 2013 were members of PIB.

WORKING INTERNATIONALLY:• PIB and individual PIB members implement various EU projects;• PIB and its members take part in international VET events and competitions;• PIB is a member of international network “EUROPEA International” and takes part in organizing

skills competitions in the sectors of forestry, agriculture and food industry;• Cooperation with European Training Foundation.

Conference „Innovations and Challenges in VET“ at parliamentary commission February 14, 2020.

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PIB PRIORITIES IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING:• Investments in infrastructure: so far more than 130 million Euro from different sources (mostly

EU funds) have been invested to fully upgrade and equip 20 VET institutions;• Work-based learning (WBL) – since 2013 VET institutions are implementing apprenticeship-type

of WBL in close cooperation with employers in order to better match labour force demand;• Internationalization of VET – to enhance development of VET and improve skills of young

professionals, VET institutions seek cooperation with foreign employers;• Adult education – in Latvia as elsewhere in Europe, there is much emphasis on lifelong learning,

promoting upgrading of skills and acquiring new skills for better integration in labour market.

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WATER RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY (WREBL) ACTIVITIES• Cooperation with VET institutions to attract new specialists for the needs of labour market; • Working with occupational standards, defining qualifications; • Training for workplace tutors to support work-based learning; • International networks, EU projects:

- “Roadmaps on water technology innovation”- iWatermap https://www.interregeurope.eu/iwatermapa “Platform of Vocational Education”- Pilot PoVE Water” https://www.povewater.eu/

WHY WORK-BASED LEARNING IN WATER SECTOR IS IMPORTANT :Jānis Rubulis, the initiator of the network, Dr.sc.ing., senior researcher, Riga Technical University, Water Research and Biotehnology Laboratory, Water Systems and Biotechnology Institute: “Water supply and sewage industries are „aging fast“ (the highest average age of employees in Latvia) and are in urgent need of new specialists and upgrading of qualifications of existing employees. Unfortunately, there are problems with training new professionals: very few students are trained in existing VET programs, some of the programs related to water sector have been eliminated or are not implemented because of insufficient number of students, there are no programs for upgrading the skills of existing specialists.”

WREBL Cooperation Network for supportingdevelopment of Work-Based Learning

LatvianAssociation of Water Supply and Sewerage

Companies

CLEANTECH Latvia cluster:

45 companies; 5 research and education

institutions

Enterprises RTU BIF

VocationalEducation

Institutions

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Jānis Rubulis addressing the need to develop VET programs and WBL for water sector

Training workshop for WBL tutors: water sector representatives have received certificates and are ready to start WBL

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LATVIAN EMPLOYERS’ CONFEDERATION (LDDK)IMPLEMENTING ESF PROJECT “PARTICIPATION OF VET STUDENTS IN WORK-BASED LEARNING IN COMPANIES“Project manager: Jolanta Vjakse, [email protected] Website: http://www.lddk.lv/

LDDK IS A NETWORK OF: • 114 companies with the number of employees

above 50; • 68 sectoral and regional associations and

federations of entrepreneurs

LDDK ACTIVITIES: 1. Involving and representing companies in

developing framework for apprenticeship-type of WBL system in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and National Centre for Education;

2. Managing ESF project and its finances in cooperation with VET institutions and companies; 3. Organizing information seminars and consultations for company and VET representatives about

WBL system and available support financing.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM AND REGIONAL COORDINATORS OF LDDK: • Coordinate, support and promote cooperation between VET isntitutions and companies; • Develop the data base of companies and VET institutions for offering WBL; • Monitor implementation of WBL and award the best VET institutions and companies implementing

WBL; • Organize training for WBL tutors in cooperation with training centres.

Awarding best VET institutions in WBL, March 2020

LDDK is implementing ESF Project for supporting

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Awarding best companies in WBL, March of 2020

LDDK workshop for VET institutions and WBL tutors

ABOUT ESF PROJECT SUPPORTING WBL:Project manager Jolanta Vjakse: “Our project supports students from VET schools, technical schools and VET competence centres. This is a chance for VET trainees to get to know the reality of working life even in the 1st year of studies, and find out if the right choice has been made, and it may not be too late to change the decision. Many times we’ve heard companies complain that „what they learn at school is not exactly what we need at work“. In apprenticeship-type of work-based learning students can learn theory, practical skills and personal competences at the company, thus making them ready for labour market. This means that companies have opportunity to take part in education process and improve it.“

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EXCELL-WBL:NETWORKS

L I T H U A N I A

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION More and more employers are becoming involved in the training of workers who are in demand on the labour market. On 10 March 2015, Dainius Pavalkis, Minister of Education and Science at the Ministry of Education and Science, and Gintautas Kvietkauskas, President of the Lithuanian Association of Engineering Industries Linpra, signed a cooperation agreement on the training of employees of the targeted engineering profile.

The Minister stressed that it is now crucial for Lithuanian industry to train more qualified employees of engineering profile who do not require higher education. Lithuanian employers lack such specialists, so they undertake to work together to ensure that training is of high quality.

The Ministry and the Association shall agree by this Agreement on the targeted forecasting and preparation of the demand of specialists for regions with a shortage of qualified middle-level engineering workers. For example, in Klaipėda – ship repairers and welders, in Alytus we need metal machiners and welders.

PROMOTING WBLEntrepreneurs, together with vocational training institutions with engineering training programmes, have come together and started working together. Employers also undertake to contribute to the development of vocational training curricula in this direction, to train learners in WBL so that they become familiar with future work in real workplaces, to assess graduate qualifications, and to recruit them in enterprises after graduation of vocational training curricula and qualification. Cooperation has been agreed on the introduction of an apprenticeship training form.

The treaty also commits to promoting engineering professions. In order to encourage young people to choose an engineering-oriented vocational education and career. Since the beginning of 2016, a mobile STEAM laboratory has opened its doors for Lithuanian learners and anyone interested in engineering – INFOMOBILIS. THE vocational guidance tool co-ordinated by LINPRA visits schools, educational establishments, town festivals and other open events in Lithuania.

LITHUANIAN ASSOCIATION OF ENGENEERING INDUSTRIES LINPRA

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The aim of this measure is to attract and encourage young people to opt for engineering vocational training and HE.

As a result of cooperation, engineering specialities have been at the forefront of selected professions for the first year. The best examples of the application of the form of apprenticeship training are from the vocational training institutions of the members of LINPRA – Elektrėnai vocational training centre, Vilnius Jerusales labour market training centre, Alytus vocational training centre implementing the NEET programme, Vilnius technology and business vocational training centre, which train Java (IT) programmers in the form of apprenticeships. Also Visaginas VET Centre, working with medical equipment manufacturer UAB “Intersurgical”.

LINPRA constantly encourages the widest possible use of the form of apprenticeship training in Lithuania, the results of which are evident today – in 2019, the most apprentices in Lithuania were trained according to the vocational training programmes of the metal mills, welders.

Representatives of the LINPRA Association have also become stakeholders in public institutions (all vocational training establishments have become public establishments since 2019). This was justified by the fact that the management does not involve individual small enterprises, but an associated structure that represents the whole sector and contributes objectively to improving the quality of vocational training (development of standards, development of programmes, organisation of on-the-job training and final assessment of competences).

Lithuanian Association of Engineering Industries LINPRA collaborates with educational institutions that prepare students in the following educational periods: Electricity and Energy (Electronics VET Centre); Electronics and Automation (Vilnius Technology and Business VET Centre, Visaginas Technology and Business VET Centre, Alytus VET Centre); Mechanics and metal works (Vilnius Jerusalem Labour Market Training Centre, Alytus VET Centre).

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Lithuanian Construction Association (LSA) is the largest organisation uniting enterprises and training institutions working in sectors of construction, design, construction materials and structures, maintenance and other.

Entrepreneurs, together with vocational training institutions that have training programmes in the construction profile, have come together and started working together. Employers also undertake to contribute to the development of vocational training curricula in this direction, to train pupils in the workplace so that they become familiar with future work in real workplaces, to assess graduate qualifications, and to recruit them in enterprises after graduation of vocational training curricula and qualification. Both sides agreed on the introduction of an apprenticeship training form.

COOPERATION WITH VETLSA brings together the country’s main construction, industry, design, consulting and maintenance companies, educational institutions, both higher education and vocational training. This is Vilnius Construction Training Centre; Alytus VET Centre; Kaunas Construction and Services Training Centre; Klaipeda Ernesto Galvanauskas VET Centre; Kupiskis University of Technology and Business; Marijampolė VET Centre; Panevėžys VET Centre; Šiauliai VET Centre; Vilnius Jerusalem Labor Market Training Centre; Kaunas Technical College; KTU Faculty of Building and Architecture; Panevėžys College; Šiauliai State College of VTUs; Vilnius College of Management.

MAIN VET PARTNERVilnius Construction Training Centre has been chosen as the main partner of vocational training. It is one of the largest vocational training institutions in Lithuania. A practical training centre for the construction sector was opened at the Vilnius Construction Training Centre 2015. It paved the way for improvement of technological competences of VET teachers from all over Lithuania. The benefits of cooperation are significant throughout the construction sector: the competence increase the competitiveness of the entire sector in the region. The practical training base of the construction sector is open to different groups of society. The Training Centre allows employees to improve their qualifications according to non-formal, continuing training and individual needs programmes.

Representatives of the LSA have also become stakeholders in public institutions (all vocational training establishments have become public establishments since 2019). This has worked because it

LITHUANIAN CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION

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does not involve individual small enterprises, but an associated structure that represents the whole sector and contributes objectively to improving the quality of vocational training (development of standards, development of programmes, organisation of on-the-job training and final assessment of competences).

LSA aims to mobilise and strengthen the construction business community, create a competitive and favourable business environment, promote corporate social responsibility, contribute to technological progress and sustainability in the country’s construction sector and create a positive image of the construction profession.

As a result of cooperation, construction professionals are at the forefront of selected professions. In Lithuanian vocational schools, nearly 2 thousand learners chose the profession of construction works last year.

In May 2017, the Lithuanian Construction Association signed an agreement with the European Social Fund Agency on the implementation of the project “Raising the qualification of Lithuanian construction workers”. The project is funded by the European Social Fund under the European Union 2014-2020 implementing Measure No 09.4.3-ESFA-K-814 “Competencies LT” of Priority 9 of THE Fund Investment Action Programme “Public Education and Promotion of Human Resource Potential”.

During the implementation of the project, over 890 workers in the construction sector complete 32 qualification and upgrading programmes: 4 training programmes for staff whose direct duties require competence in digital construction using the static information modelling (BIM) methodology; 28 programmes for staff in need of professional technological expertise in, for example, ensuring energy performance of a and higher classes, solar collector thermal power plants, photovoltaic systems, radiant heating systems, installation of windows and doors, etc.

In July 2017, the Lithuanian Construction Association signed an agreement with the European Social Fund Agency on the implementation of the project “Improvement of Technological Competences of Teachers in the Lithuanian Building Sector.” The project is funded by the European Social Fund under Measure No 09.4.2-esfa-k-714 “Development of Formal and Non-formal Learning Opportunities”, Priority 9 “PUBLIC Education and Promotion of Human Resources POTENTIAL” of the European Union Fund Investment Action Programme 2014-2020.

During the implementation of the project 93 teachers are trained and programmes for the improvement of technological competences of 15 teachers of the profession have been updated or newly accredited.

excell-wbl: networks

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