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  • Linking Higher Vocational Education with Universities and Preparing for the Labor Market

    One of the activities within the Second Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Program is the creation of a pathway from higher vocational education to bachelor’s studies. This means that graduates of higher vocational education will be able to continue their university studies in a higher year, thanks to a new system of credit recognition. This change will increase the permeability of the education system and make graduate preparation more attractive for the labor market.

    Since systematic communication between secondary and higher education institutions on better student preparation is lacking, the team of the “Improving the Quality and Attractiveness of Vocational Education” project at the State Institute of Vocational Education (ŠIOV) organized an expert discussion on December 11, 2024. Representatives from the Ministry of Education, Research, Development, and Youth of the Slovak Republic, academia, and employers agreed on the need to strengthen the link between vocational and academic education, especially in IT training. The Ministry expressed readiness to introduce legislative changes to ensure greater flexibility within the education system.

    The project also considers those who do not plan to continue at university but want to enter the workforce immediately after secondary vocational school. In collaboration with the Ministry, schools, and employers, a proposal is being prepared to introduce a vocational maturity exam and a master craftsman exam, which will increase the value of vocational education in the labor market.

    You can read more about the discussions directly on the ŠIOV website.