Latvia: VET excellence award 2026

The award recognises outstanding achievement in work-based learning, industry partnerships, and the transformation of VET. The ceremony was organised by the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Latvian Employers' Confederation and the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the German-Latvian cooperation project SEC_pLus.

Opening the ceremony, Reinhard Schneider of the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce noted that human capital development has become investors' top priority this year. Ingus Zitmanis of the Latvian education ministry framed VET as a strategic investment in Latvia's economic security and competitiveness, stressing the need for continued collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and the public sector.

Award winners

In the Driving Force in Education category, recognising companies for excellence in long-term cooperation with vocational schools and promoting the sector, the winner was SIA LANOS, a metalworking company nominated by Saldus Technical School.

The Model of Transformation category, honouring vocational institutions for broadening and modernising their educational offerings, was won by Latgale Industrial Technical School in Daugavpils.

The Sectoral Expert Councils category recognised five experts for their contributions to vocational education governance and public representation: Andrejs Vītoliņš (Food Industry and Agriculture), Ieva Bečere (Printing and Media Technology), Ieva Erele (Wood Industry), Inese Berga (ICT and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing), and Ivars Eniņš (Metalworking and Mechanical Engineering).

The Voices of the Future category celebrated 10 young professionals and students under age 30 who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and serve as ambassadors for VET. Winners included a ship's officer who also lectures at RTU Liepāja Maritime College, a tourism consultant whose Erasmus+ experience led directly to employment at a hotel, a mechanical engineering technician hired before graduation, and an agronomist who teaches at Latgale Industrial Technical School while running Erasmus+ projects, among others spanning hospitality, culinary arts, electrical installation, and agriculture.

Importance of the award

The award reflects a shared consensus among the Latvian and German governments, the business community, and international partners that a skilled, well-trained workforce is the foundation of future growth and global competitiveness. By publicly celebrating excellence across companies, institutions, expert councils, and young professionals, the VET excellence award aims to raise the image of VET in Latvia and inspire the next generation to pursue careers in skilled trades and technical fields.