Podgorica/01.12.2011 - An international conference under the motto Vocational Training- a Pathway to Economic Development” was held in Podgorica, Montenegro between 01- 02.12.2011. The event is organized in the framework of the partnership project between Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and the West Balkans and aims to strengthen the position of the project partner organization as a reliable partner in the process of vocational training and qualification.

Host of the event was the long-term member of the Balkan Middle Class Office and West Balkans project partner, the Chamber of Crafts and Entrepreneurship of Montenegro.Experts in vocational training and chairmen of the project partner organization from 7 Balkan countries took part in the conference. German experts from Koblenz Chamber of Crafts spoke on different topics related to the issue of vocational training, its interrelation with business and the way productive cooperation between education and companies preconditions economic rise. Formal guests of the meeting were representatives of the ministry of education and the ministry of economy of Montenegro, Ministry of labour and social affairs of Montenegro, Ministry of education of the Republic of Macedonia, Ministry of education of the Republic of Moldova, the German Embassy in Montenegro. Attendants of the conference were also representatives of different craft enterprises and vocational schools in Montenegro.

The conference was synchronized with the European union policy of developing knowledge-based economy.  Knowledge is nowadays recognised as the driver of productivity and economic growth. As far as vocational training is concerned the countries in the southeast Europe face lots of problems: lack of well-qualified teachers, lack of facilities in the schools, low- motivated students old curriculums that are not adapted to current development of technologies in the craft professions and the labour market demand, insufficient dialogue and cooperation between the policy makers and the business representatives. Prime objective of the event was to share expert knowledge and practical experience on vocational training issues, present good practices from Germany where vocational training is very well established and regulated. The conference meeting provided the chance to make an overview of the vocational training systems of several Balkan countries, point to their strengths and weaknesses and try to draw the pathways to their improvement. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of high quality vocational training and qualification for the future economic development of the countries. In order to reach and ensure high level and standard in craft production it is crucial that the governments provide qualitative training opportunities at all levels of educations: primary, secondary, tertiary and further education.

The German expert, Mr. Manfred Rube, presented the legal grounds of the Dual System of education which has proven itself to be quite adequate, by providing the opportunity to accumulate sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge and skills. The topic of vocational training was further elaborated by the German experts, Mr. Hans-J?rgen Aberle and Folkmar Kath, who put a great emphasis on the binding and intertwining of the training process and the real economy. In his presentation Mr. Aberle mentioned that it is of crucial importance that the enterprises are an imminent partner in the vocational training process. Companies need to support the practical performance of the future craftsmen by providing fellowships or apprenticeships.  On-the-job training is becoming more and more popular all over the world due to the easier way of accumulating knowledge and skills. The vocational training system has to be the one to produce the needed specialists for the economy, to develop itself in such a way that at every moment it can respond to the labour market demand with proper supply. Vocational education in Southeast Europe has a lot of gaps that need to be overcome. A prerequisite for the economic growth of the countries in this region has to be the quality of education provided, adapting the old curriculums to the contemporary labour demand, developing curriculums for the newly emerging craft professions. Mr. Peter Rechmann shared observations from afar and presented his experience from projects implemented from Koblenz Chamber of Crafts in Asia.

At the end of the conference Dr. Parvanova, coordinator of the West Balkans project, made a brief overview of the results and conclusions that can be derived from the conference. She pointed out the fact the West Balkan countries face similar problems in regard to Vocational training. The master craftsmen exams have to respond to certain level of qualification and be a reflection and proof for this high level of qualification.

Representatives of the Montenegrin media reported the event. It is foreseen that the International Conference will give rise to more active participation of the Montenegrin employers’ organizations and companies in the process of vocational training and education of Montenegro. It is only the first step in establishing work groups who will put joint efforts into improving the vocational training systems and opportunities in the countries from the Balkan region.

More information:

Balkan Middle Class Office

Sofia 1000

Tel.: 00359 2 980 99 16

www.mbb-org.eu

www.westbalkans.net