Sectoral practical training centres (SPTCs)

After the completion of the inspection of SPTC development projects in 2018 and the signing of financing agreements, the years 2019-21 are dedicated to the implementation of these projects. There were no significant changes in the SPTC network in 2019, as the procurement procedures for the first investments of the project (acquisition of equipment and inventory or infrastructure development works) took a particularly long time.

In parallel with this project, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania is preparing a draft description of the procedure for assessing the competences acquired by a person. Its latest version in August 2020 was still being discussed and agreed with the social partners. Thus, the new competence assessment mechanism has not yet been approved and no SPTC acts as a competence assessment body for graduates of other VET institutions.

In 2020, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports approved a new procedure for the assessment of acquired competences, according to which a VET diploma is issued. This procedure will come in force from 1 September 2021. Possibilities to participate in the assessment of competences will extend to self-trained candidates who have acquired professional competences through apprenticeships, work experience, self-education, and non-formal learning. The competence assessment will be organised by the KPMPC. Accredited institutions uniting and representing employers' associations will delegate experts (practitioners and professionals of the sector from companies) to the competence assessment commissions, to assist in the preparation of the assessments. Candidates will be required not only to complete practical skills related tasks but also to take a standardised test on the theoretical part of competences to assess basic knowledge. This test will be performed centrally through an electronic testing system administered by the National Education Agency. The practical part of the assessment will take place in the sectoral practical training centres (SPTCs).

In 2020, ESF funding was allocated to increase the relevance of VET and adult education to the labour market and attractiveness by supporting and promoting the acquisition of practical skills in the workplace and sectoral practical training centres. A national mobility scheme has been set up to support the practical skills of VET students at SPTCs. For this action EUR 3.62 million were allocated from ESF funding.

In 2021, the earlier funded projects were implemented consistently and the infrastructure of sectoral practical training centres was strengthened. As from September 2021, the centres provide their facilities and staff for the running of competence assessment examinations organised by the KPMPC in line with the new legislation on competence assessments in VET approved in 2020.

The national mobility initiative was also further developed; it is planned that it would cover travelling within Lithuania, accommodation costs and teachers' working hours. The aim of the initiative is to enable short-term visits of trainees and teachers from vocational training institutions, which do not have a sectoral training centre for relevant training programmes, to sectoral training centres for practical training and introduction to new technologies and equipment.

Since 2022, a new funding initiative for the SPTC with the title 'Acquire practical skills through training in SPTC's' is implemented with the support of NextGeneration EU funding. The call for projects is aimed to help to acquire practical skills in SPTCs and enables short-term visits of trainees and teachers from VET institutions which do not have an SPTC for relevant training programmes. Learners have practical training during this short time mobility and teachers can have seminars introducing new technologies and equipment in related economy sectors.

VET centres not having they own SPTC but providing the training in the same economy sector have a possibility to send trainees and teachers to SPTC in other part of Lithuanian for short term practice mobility and afterwards apply to cover the expenses. Project funding covers:

1. expenses intended for practical training in the SPTCs in line with the fixed unit costs for the mobility of students of VET institutions to SPTCs),
2. expenses resulting from dissemination/provision of information about the projects,
3. indirect costs and other costs according to the fixed rate of project costs.

The calls will be periodically (several times a year) open till 2026. Fundings are based on a study determining fixed unit costs for the mobility of students from VET institutions to SPTCs, which enabled the establishment of fixed cost rates for training in the SPTCs.

New calls for the project applications for national mobility aimed to help acquire practical skills in sectoral practical training centres (SPTCs) and enable short-term training visits of trainees and teachers from VET institutions that do not have an SPTC, were launched in September 2023. 43 VET institutions participated in the call out of 44. These mobilities allow students, teachers, and trainers to use the latest equipment, acquire practical skills, and improve their digital skills. It is planned to include 12 394 students of VET institutions in the project (from which at least 40% will improve digital skills). The project covers the costs of accommodation, transport, catering, the wages of the staff of the host VET institutions and the purchase of the necessary tools for practical training.

The call for project applications for national mobility in sectoral practical training centres (SPTCs) continued in 2024. Results from the previous year showed that 3 414 students from 43 VET centres had the opportunity to undertake practical training in the modern training facilities of other institutions.