Vocational education and training (the Świętokrzyskie Region)

In August 2017, on the basis of the results of the first stage of Catching-up Regions Initiative the implementation of the pilot project under the activity 4.1 Social innovations of the operational plan Knowledge-Education-Development (POWER) “Innovative education - new professional possibilities” launched.

The main aim of the project is to increase the quality of the vocational schooling by using at least 5 models of hands-on education in the workplace and the preparation of the implementation model for the concept developed in Poland. The project assumes supporting 500 trainees under 5 grants to enable the comparison of proposed educational models, and the selection and promotion of the best model. Shifting minimally 40% of hands-on education from vocational schools to enterprises to adapt trainees skills to the actual requirements of the labor market will be an innovation implemented within the Project.

Description of the projectThe project is led by the Department of Regional Policy in the Marshal Office of the Świętokrzyskie Region. Its implementation period by December 2020 was envisaged. Co-financing of the project is nearly 18 million PLN.

The project assumes an innovative approach to increase the extent of education in the workplace. It will be achieved by arranging the hands-on training for trainees from secondary vocational schools at least at 40% of practical training in enterprises. Such training is currently held in schools.

The project is based on awarding grants. The Project Leader will select in the contest procedure with minimally 5 grantees that will be awarded by the leader of the project - the Marshal Office of the Śląskie Region - transferred financing for the implementation of activities related with the hands-on education for trainees in enterprises. Grant Recipient procedure is planned for the period November 2017– February 2018.

According the plan, the hands-on education for trainees in entrepreneurs' premises is envisaged from February to September 2018. As a result, hands-on education for at least 500 trainees available throughout two years of education will be organized. The grant is awarded for the organization of the education for minimally 25 and maximally 100 trainees.The grants may be awarded to vocational schools, with local government bodies being the leading units, vocational training centers, NGOs, and institutions acting in the business environment. Such an approach provides the diversity and innovation of the ideas of grantees.

The grant amounts will be reach up to approximately 3 million PLN, which include the following, among others:

• Support for schools includes financing costs related to the implementation of education in the workplace and advisory services (organization of the educational process, preparation of curricula, formulating agreements with employers, the provision of the adequate quality of education in the workplace for vocational teachers, the preparation of model documents, and strengthening co-operation with employers).
• Support for entrepreneurs will include professional education for instructors, advisory services in the organization of education in the workplace, methods for educating trainees and communication with schools, and the preparation of worksites.
• Support for trainees will include the costs of preliminary examinations, insurance, work clothes, travel, accommodation and remuneration ‑ internship for performed work.

The Project is implemented in cooperation with the Vocational Training Institute in Austria (Berufsförderungsinstitut Burgenland (BFI) in Oberwart (Austria)), which holds high-quality vocational training.