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Vocational education modernization in Małopolska region

Policy Instrument

Vocational education modernization in Małopolska region

Modernizacja kształcenia zawodowego w Małopolsce - two editions of the project financed from two budgetary periods of the EU.
Poland

Description

Timespan

1st edition: 2010-2015 and 2nd edition: 2016-2021

Stage

Fully operational

Focus area

Matching skills for today’s job market

Foundations

Policy area

Initial vocational education and training

The project is focused on (1) support for internships, apprenticeships and study visits to foreign education centres; (2) education sector industry cooperation (internships and traineeships); (3) modernization of the didactic base; (4) acquisition of additional qualifications to enhance the employability (specialist courses and training).

Policy goal

Comprehensive support for vocational education in the Małopolska region, aimed at improving its quality. The Strategy prepared by Małopolska Voivodesip (Malopolska Voivodship is a regional government unit/regional public authority) is aimed at comprehensive support for the vocational education system in the region, with the use of instruments available in the Human Capital OP and in the Regional Operational Programme. The emphasis is especially put on co-operation between schools and enterprises, as well as organising internships.

Mismatch

Part of broad policy measure of which skill mismatch is only a minor part

The main aim includes modernization of the vocational education system and the creation of a positive image of the vocational school.

Aim of policy instrument

Match skills of young graduates
Other

To improve education industry partnership, to create a positive image of vocational training and improve the quality of education.

Legal basis

Other

Project based activity.

Administrative level

Regional

Main responsible body

Marshal's Office of the Malopolska Region

Stakeholders

Government (central & regional)
Training providers (public/private)
Employer federations
Trade unions
Chambers of commerce and industry
Guidance counsellors
Research centres and universities

The project is implemented in partnership and co-operation with the regional VET institutions (about 33 institutions are involved, including private and public entities conducting vocational schools in the Małopolska region, higher institutes and universities), which guarantees a wide range and impact in the region. The Malopolska Region coordinates actions, monitors, controls and evaluates. Governing bodies of vocational schools and universities implement the actions, purchase equipment. Employers organize internships and apprenticeships.

Funding

PLN 154m in the years 2010-2015, coming from the Human Capital Operational Programme. In the years 2016-2021, PLN 54m for the 2nd edition of the project managed regionally and PLN 300m for Vocational Centres of Competences created by authorities conducting vocational schools in the Małopolska region.

Intended beneficiaries

Students gain new skills and qualifications.
Schools are equipped with proper infrastructure and didactic base.
Teachers can improve their competences.
Enterprises have qualified workers that meet the requirements of the job market.

Processes

Use of labour market intelligence

Inform and train career guidance and counsellors
Inform career-making decisions of students
Other

They were used to support internships, apprenticeships and study visits to foreign education centres. The school career guidance points were founded and new career guidance counsellors were trained. Regional professional councils were established, consisting of vocational schools, employers and other educational organisations.

Financial schemes

Additional courses and practical trainings are organised and financed (from the project) by the conducting authorities of schools. Only willingly students can join them without financial contribution.
Paid internships are organised directly in companies, and students receive scholarships financed from the project (about €420 per 150 hours).

Frequency of updates

When the need arises instruments are updated. Each partner can propose a problem and the need for change.

Development

There has been no development.

Barriers

Problems:
- Wide scope partnership structure, which is difficult to govern in terms of monitoring and the project and financial management.
- Not enough students willing to choose vocational schools, due to the public perception of the vocational education, which is perceived as an inferior form of education.
Solutions:
- Promotional actions envisaged for students and their parents to convince them to choose vocational schools.
- Partnership meetings in order to exchange knowledge between partners and be informed about all activities and problems.
- Internal rules of the partnerships were created.

Success factors

Compliance with norms and rules of the partnership.
Various types of actors involved.

Monitoring

Management teams prepare progress reports and evaluate planned indicators 4 times a year: the number of pupils benefited from support for internships, traineeships, vocational courses and study visits to foreign education centres; the number of entrepreneurs involved in organizing internships and traineeships; the number of pupils under career guidance; and the number of pupils benefited from innovative courses.

Innovativeness

Very innovative

Connecting private and public institutions (from different fields) in the process of staff training. Engaging actors from different educational levels ranging from primary to higher education.

Sustainability

Evidence of effectiveness

In the first phase of the project (2010-2015), 77,000 pupils benefited from support for internships, traineeships, vocational courses and study visits to foreign education centres, and over 1,000 entrepreneurs organised internships. The second edition of the project has been operational since 2016.

Engagement of stakeholders

Decision of the Marshal's Office of the Malopolska Region.

Transferability

Easily transferable

Vital for the transferability of the project are: (i) well-tailored scope and structure of planned activities to the needs of specific target groups; (ii) the development of fruitful synergies with the business community and private and public schools/universities for establishing an innovative approach, customised to the particularities of the educational system and model of teaching and learning; (iii) strong support and involvement of regional stakeholders.

Sustainability

The involvement of the regional government can guarantee the sustainability of introduced changes in the VET system in the region.