Countries that foster close cooperation between vocational education and industry will gain a competitive advantage in the near future

How can vocational education keep pace with technological change?
Technological advances and changing labour market needs are placing increasing demands on vocational education. How can it be adapted to remain relevant in the future? And what role should companies play in it? The answers to these questions were offered by Professor Ursula Renold from ETH Zurich, an internationally renowned expert on education systems, who led a workshop with experts on vocational education reform in Slovakia.

According to her, one of the main success factors is close cooperation between educational institutions and employers. “Companies should not just be passive recipients of graduates, but actively participate in curriculum development and student preparation. Only in this way can they ensure a skilled workforce that is able to respond to their current needs,” explains Renold.

Involvement of SMEs is key
One of the challenges facing not only Slovakia, but also many other countries, is the involvement of smaller companies in vocational training. “Large companies can afford their own training programmes, but small companies often do not have the capacity or resources to train apprentices individually. The solution may be associations of companies that divide tasks between them and jointly train future professionals,” Renold suggests.

Flexible learning pathways as a route to success
Another important aspect is the flexibility of the education system. “Students should be able to move between different levels of education – from vocational training to higher education – without being constrained by systemic barriers. This will allow them to better adapt to changing labour market conditions,” Renold stresses.

The Swiss vocational education system is one of the best in the world and its elements could be an inspiration for Slovakia as well. Read more about this topic on the website of State Institute of Vocational Education.