The ’Pospolu’ project (2012-15) promotes closer cooperation between vocational schools and business enterprises and designs and tests an optimal system of cooperation between these partners.

The project is financed by the European Social Fund and the State budget of the Czech Republic and will run until 30 June, 2015. It was prepared by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in cooperation with employers’ associations and is being implemented by the National Institute for Education.

The project will create models of school-employer cooperation, which will be further specified according to individual education branches. Based on the cooperation models, the project will select at least 25 partnerships of schools and businesses to participate in a model evaluation process. Following evaluation of cooperation and verification of models, proposals for legislative and other systematic measures and amendments, will be elaborated to support future cooperation of vocational schools and businesses in practice.

Schools may also participate in creating methodological and educational materials fostering different forms of teaching in the corporate environment (practical training, internships, vocational training, etc.). School representatives may take part in training seminars organised to support implementation of practical models.

Creation of examples of best cooperation between schools and employers while securing practical training at employers’ premises will be a main benefit of the project. The project will also improve mutual trust between schools and employers. During practical training, students will get familiar with a real work environment while acquiring practical skills and self-confidence improving their ability to find employment and enter the world of work after concluding their studies.

Schools’ involvement in the project will strengthen their position in the region. Use of elements of the European credit system for vocational education and training (ECVET) will create conditions fostering students’ learning mobility also at national level and use of units of learning will improve transparency of collaboration between schools, students and enterprises.