Strengthening cooperation between the institutions coordinating the work of sectoral expert councils in the Baltic states

The aim is to strengthen and lay the long-term foundations for cooperation between SECs coordinating bodies in the Baltic States. Understand the differences between the functions of SECs in Latvia...

The aim is to strengthen and lay the long-term foundations for cooperation between SECs coordinating bodies in the Baltic States. Understand the differences between the functions of SECs in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Get acquainted with the education system between Baltic States on issues such as development of professional qualification requirements, organization of professional qualification examinations, do comparison between 3 countries. Familiarise direct and indirect target groups - boards of the SECs, SECs members, VET institutions, trade unions and state institutions - with comparative analysis and the differences in the VET systems through exchange visits, workshop and conference to get to know the good practises and adapt VET system to the labour market needs at national level.

4 exchange visits and 2 online events have been organized. 13.-14.09.,2022, in Estonia, the project partners got to know the activities of Kutsekoda, attended the Olustvere School of Services and Rural economy. On 8.-09.11.,2022, the parties involved got to know the practice of KPMPC in coordinating the work SECs etc. During the visit, participants visited the National M.K.Čiurlionis School of Art (MKČ), Kaunas School of applied Art, Kaunas Food Industry and Trade Training Centre. On 20.-21.12.,2022, representatives of the LNKC visited MKČ in order to get closer acquaintance with the principles of school activities. On 28.02. and 01.03.,2023, representatives of Estonia and Lithuania were introduced to the Latvia's experience in coordinating the work of the SECs etc., visited Janis Rosenthal School of Art, Ogre Technical School, Ogre School of music and Arts and Ogre Central Library. On May 23,2023, in the online workshop SEC coordinating bodies shared their experience on the activities of the SEC, development of professional qualification standards, sector involvement in the process of awarding professional qualifications. On June 16,2023, LDDK presented the results of the project and system differences at the final conference

Cooperation has been facilitated, a network of contacts has been established allowing consultations between SEC coordinating bodies on issues of the vocational education and training system for adapting it to the labour market needs. Comparative analysis has been made among the Baltic states on 3 topics – activities of the sectoral expert councils, development of professional qualification requirements and sector involvement in the process of awarding professional qualification on which basis workshop and conference have been organized. Workshop and conference were attended by identified target groups. Members of Sectoral Expert Council of Metalworking, machine building, Mechanical engineering found cooperation partners from Estonia for implementation of small scale partnership project in a machine building sector. The experience gained in introducing the vocational education system and vocational education institutions in the Baltic States will help to see and evaluate the possibilities for improvement of vocational education and training system at national level. The exchange of ideas between representatives of the project on ideas for further cooperation has also benefited greatly.