- 2016Implementation
- 2017Implementation
- 2018Implementation
- 2019Implementation
- 2020Implementation
- 2021Implementation
- 2022Implementation
- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
Background
Slovenia assigns a high priority to the work related to work-based learning (WBL) and apprenticeship. In 2016, the WBL system already in place was examined and the guidelines for upper secondary VET programmes and higher education programmes were revised.
Objectives
The purpose of the project was to increase the attractiveness of vocational training through promotional activities, presenting professions in school, competition, and advertising in other activities for a greater number of views in the recognition of vocational professionals in vocational education.
Description
The 2016-20 ESF-funded project VET promotion, coordinated by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI), promoted VET as an attractive education option and supported the young and talented in moving forward in their career. The project promoted vocational and technical education through the active participation of young people between the ages of 18 and 25, teachers, employers and other social partners.
The promotion is done mainly through the national and European skills competitions and national VET promotion activities.
In 2016 and 2018, two national skills competitions - SloveniaSkills - were organised. More than 20 000 students and their parents attended the 2018 national skills competition. More than 70 young professionals (aged 18-25) competed in 10 professions (ICT, joinery, cabinet making, floristry, visual merchandising, mechatronics, painting and decorating, cooking, restaurant service, and architectural stonemasonry). The winners of the competition represented Slovenia in the 2016 Euroskills competition in Gothenburg and the 2018 Euroskills competition in Budapest.
95% of the target population (14-15-year-old students and their parents) were reached within the national VET promotion campaigns run in different media such as TV, digital media, radio, printed media and outdoor media spaces. There were student visits to companies, craftsmen workshops and craft fairs. The campaign also focused on...
The 2016-20 ESF-funded project VET promotion, coordinated by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI), promoted VET as an attractive education option and supported the young and talented in moving forward in their career. The project promoted vocational and technical education through the active participation of young people between the ages of 18 and 25, teachers, employers and other social partners.
The promotion is done mainly through the national and European skills competitions and national VET promotion activities.
In 2016 and 2018, two national skills competitions - SloveniaSkills - were organised. More than 20 000 students and their parents attended the 2018 national skills competition. More than 70 young professionals (aged 18-25) competed in 10 professions (ICT, joinery, cabinet making, floristry, visual merchandising, mechatronics, painting and decorating, cooking, restaurant service, and architectural stonemasonry). The winners of the competition represented Slovenia in the 2016 Euroskills competition in Gothenburg and the 2018 Euroskills competition in Budapest.
95% of the target population (14-15-year-old students and their parents) were reached within the national VET promotion campaigns run in different media such as TV, digital media, radio, printed media and outdoor media spaces. There were student visits to companies, craftsmen workshops and craft fairs. The campaign also focused on professions of the future and foresaw an exhibition to present those to schools.
In 2019, the second phase of the national promotional campaign Occupations today for tomorrow was implemented. A promotional activity From rebel to model took place across TV, radio, web, and social networks. The Chamber of Craft and Small Business (OZS) organised Craft street (within the framework of the MOS fair in Celje) and Craft way, organised visits of future students to craft companies. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) organised a traveling exhibition of future professions set up at elementary schools. The exhibition was very successful, changing location every week. It was hosted by 39 schools and reservations were made for the following year. The Open day of the Slovenian Economy aimed at young people and parents, offering future students a glimpse of a real working environment in companies.
Examples of other activities:
- a rap song with an accompanying video about career choices was created (Knowledge is life);
- workshops for future students called MATERIAL + HAND = EXPERIENCE at seven elementary schools. Professions related to wood and stone were presented to future students through experiential learning. A manual on experiential learning was published.
In 2019, 10 pre-selection competitions for the national skills competition - SloveniaSkills were organised.
The planned activities of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS) were postponed due to the COVID pandemic.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) implemented the following:
- two videos to promote apprenticeship, one at the end of the first generation of apprentices (starting in 2017), and the other informative, in which the benefits of apprenticeships were re-emphasised;
- a web recording of the Travelling exhibition of professions, which travelled around schools when the children were in school; the videos were forwarded to all schools;
- a special presentation of apprenticeship was prepared for information days and the GZS staff participated in online classrooms at information days;
- apprenticeship was presented at a virtual career fair MojeDelo in November 2020;
- workshops and information meetings were conducted online with schools, parents and students;
- four special meetings were organised with parents and students just before the information days with invitations to high schools.
In October 2020, the MATERIAL + HAND = EXPERIENCE manual for experiential learning about vocations for primary schools was presented at the event Cultural bazaar, which is organised for different educators.
More than 25 000 students and their parents attended the 2020 national Slovenia skills competition which took place in the Informativa fair. More than 60 young professionals (aged 18 - 25), the best competitors at the pre-selection competitions, competed in 10 professions (ICT, joinery, cabinet making, floristry, visual merchandising, mechatronics, painting and decorating, cooking, restaurant service, and architectural stonemasonry). The winners of the competition should have represented Slovenia in September 2020 at the international Euroskills competition in Graz. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the events in 2020 have been cancelled or postponed, including Euroskills postponed to September 2021.
100% of the target population (13-14-year-old students and their parents) have been reached within the promotion of Skills competition with a brochure containing Slovenian grammar tables, which has been sent to all primary schools free of charge.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the ESF and in partnership with the CPI, the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS) organised a Craft Street as part of the International craft and entrepreneurship fair, where they presented interesting craft professions.
The Craft Path is a project that enables primary school children to have a chance of observing the professions they are interested in. The schools are offered time slots for visits to companies, a range of professions on offer and venues participating in the Craft Path in advance. The visiting groups are limited to 5-10 students. Individual students can visit the companies employing their parents, subject to prior arrangement with the responsible regional craft chamber who will contact the company and arrange a visit.
The project is regional: it is planned to expand it to all regions. Due to the pandemic, only one visit took place; further visits were planned for the beginning of 2022.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS) offered online presentations and workshops on apprenticeship; workshops promoting upper secondary VET; the Travelling profession exhibition in 32 primary schools; workshops for apprentice mentors in companies; and a portal for the young prepared to make it easier for them to find an employer for either practice at an employer or apprenticeship. They also prepared YouTube videos promoting professions and apprenticeship (Become an apprentice, Apprenticeship) and promotional videos on professions of the future under the title Top professions: robotics engineer, smart factory architect, sustainable development manager, automatisation specialist, ethical hacker).
Promotion of VET project
In 2021, the project Promotion of VET, funded by the ESF, was extended until the end of 2022. In 2021, three pre-selection competitions for the national skills competition - SloveniaSkills 2022 - were organised. Over 50 young professionals competed in architectural stonemasonry, visual merchandising and floristry.
In September 2021, 11 young professionals presented Slovenia at the EuroSkills competition, covering nine skills between them: ICT, joinery, cabinet-making, floristry, visual merchandising, mechatronics, painting and decorating, restaurant service, and architectural stonemasonry.
In the second half of 2021, a manual, CREATIVITY + RESPONSIBILITY = THE FUTURE, was developed. The manual helps young people to explore their soft skills and competences, and discover how to apply them in the vocations of the future.
100% of the target population (13-14 year-old students and their parents) have been reached by promotion of the website, mojaizbira (My choice); this has over 500 vocation descriptions and VET schools, with the brochure containing all important information about high school registrations.
The Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia organised a Craft street in the scope of the International Craft Fair (5-8 September, Celje) in cooperation with its regional chambers and the strategic partner Institute of the RS for VET. The street presented attractive as well as deficit professions.
There was also the Apprenticeship office set up where visitors of the fair could satisfy their curiosity and receive information regarding apprenticeship. The students were able to actively participate in the making of a product.
The professions presented were: joiner, electrician, cook, restaurant service, confectioner, metal sharper - toolmaker, industrial machinery mechanic, tinsmith-roofer, driver. There were also demonstrations of domestic and artistic craft.
Craft path was also organised, it is an innovative approach to systemic promotion of professions and upper secondary VET. 11 regional craft chambers cooperated to organise visits of primary school students to companies. They had an opportunity to view 12 professions in a real-life working environment: joiner, metal shaper - tool maker, industrial machine mechanic, cooking, restaurant service, car mechatronic, vehicle body repairer, textile designer, painter - signpainter, industrial mechanic, tinsmith - roofer
The representatives of the participating companies were named ambassadors of the professions. An effort has been made beforehand to check the interest of the students and enable them to see the professions they are interested in.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia initiated also several activities. For example, for the promotion of apprenticeship following activities can be mentioned:
- informing and counselling sessions for the employers - Live and online individual and collective;
- booklet with all information about the apprenticeship for employers;
- promotion of apprenticeship at various fairs, presentations in cooperation with primary schools;
- presentations for students deciding for apprenticeship or school type of education;
- distribution of printed materials and presentations for the apprentices
- finally, in June 2022 the Chamber of Commerce prepared the second Apprenticeship festival intended for the apprentices who just concluded their schooling and for their mentors. The event was very successful and the schools and companies involved received recognition for their contribution to the development of the apprenticeship in Slovenia.
Furthermore, following activities can be presented regarding the promotion of on the job training by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia:
- Live and on line presentations of professions in primary schools;
- Participations on fairs;
- Organisation of visits to companies;
- Promotion campaigns on twitter and television;
- Presentations in cooperation with upper secondary schools for the students enrolling in order to inform and counsel (on line and live);
- Counselling to companies and schools.
In addition, the following activities from the VET promotion project (2011-2022), run by CPI, can be presented:
- The SloveniaSkill competition, organised in the scope of the 54 international craft fair, where 70 young professionals competed in 11 professions (floristry, painting and decorating, visual merchandising, architectural stonemasonry, mechatronics, ICT, joinery, cabinetmaking, cooking, restaurant service and hairdressing) trying to earn their spot in the EuroSkills competition.
- Workshops were organised in the primary schools under the slogan of 'creativity+responsibility = future'.
- Professional cards are playing cards with which players learn about different professions in an interactive way. The game pack includes 60 cards with different professions and game instructions. The cards were created with the aim of preparing young people to start thinking about their career path in a more active and interesting way. In 2022, they were updated with 19 new professions.
The Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) continued their efforts to promote vocational education and training (VET) and apprenticeships through various activities.Craft path
In 2023, OZS implemented Craft Path, an initiative allowing primary school students to explore professions in real working environments. The visits, organised in cooperation with regional craft chambers, introduced young people to different professions while emphasising gender diversity in traditionally male-dominated fields. GZS promoted apprenticeships at 13 career fairs and meetings, highlighting the benefits to students, parents, and schools.
Meanwhile, the Promoting Excellence in VET project, managed by CPI and funded by NOO, supported Slovenia's participation in EuroSkills 2023, where Slovenian representatives competed in nine skills categories, winning one medal and four medallions for excellence. Other promotional activities included updating the Mojaizbira career website with digital games and expanding the travelling exhibition on professions to primary schools.
In 2024, Craft Path continued, with 47 visits for 325 primary school students, covering 12 professions such as carpentry, mechanical installation, and mechatronics. Craft Street, part of the International Craft Fair in September, attracted over 2 000 primary school pupils, showcasing 15 professions and five home and artistic crafts demonstrations. The Apprenticeship Office provided guidance on VET pathways and apprenticeship opportunities.
GZS maintained its apprenticeship promotion efforts, helping future apprentices connect with companies and offering career counselling. In May 2024, GZS organised the Apprenticeship Festival, bringing together over 200 participants from companies, apprentices, and stakeholders.
The Promoting Excellence in VET project expanded further with the launch of WorldSkills.si, two pre-competitions in floriculture and CNC milling, and the SloveniaSkills 2024 competition, held in Celje from 18-22 September. Over 80 young professionals competed in 13 skills categories, with"Robot Systems Integration" introduced as a demonstration skill set to become an official competition category in 2026. The event prepared the best talents for EuroSkills 2025 in Denmark, reinforcing Slovenia's commitment to VET excellence and skills development.
Bodies responsible
- Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training (CPI)
- Chamber of Craft and Small Business (OZS)
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS)
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
- Young people (15-29 years old)
- Young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs)
Education professionals
- Teachers
- Guidance practitioners
Entities providing VET
- Companies
Other stakeholders
- Social partners (employer organisations and trade unions)
Thematic categories
Governance of VET and lifelong learning
This thematic category looks at existing legal frameworks providing for strategic, operational – including quality assurance – and financing arrangements for VET and lifelong learning (LLL). It examines how VET and LLL-related policies are placed in broad national socioeconomic contexts and coordinate with other strategies and policies, such as economic, social and employment, growth and innovation, recovery and resilience.
This thematic category covers partnerships and collaboration networks of VET stakeholders – especially the social partners – to shape and implement VET in a country, including looking at how their roles and responsibilities for VET at national, regional and local levels are shared and distributed, ensuring an appropriate degree of autonomy for VET providers to adapt their offer.
The thematic category also includes efforts to create national, regional and sectoral skills intelligence systems (skills anticipation and graduate tracking) and using skills intelligence for making decisions about VET and LLL on quality, inclusiveness and flexibility.
This thematic sub-category refers both to formal mechanisms of stakeholder engagement in VET governance and to informal cooperation among stakeholders, which motivate shared responsibility for quality VET. Formal engagement is usually based on legally established institutional procedures that clearly define the role and responsibilities for relevant stakeholders in designing, implementing and improving VET. It also refers to establishing and increasing the degree of autonomy of VET providers for agile and flexible VET provision.
In terms of informal cooperation, the sub-category covers targeted actions by different stakeholders to promote or implement VET. This cooperation often leads to creating sustainable partnerships and making commitments for targeted actions, in line with the national context and regulation, e.g. national alliances for apprenticeships, pacts for youth or partnerships between schools and employers. It can also include initiatives and projects run by the social partners or sectoral organisations or networks of voluntary experts and executives, retired or on sabbatical, to support their peers in the fields of VET and apprenticeships, as part of the EAfA.
Modernising VET offer and delivery
This thematic category looks at what and how individuals learn, how learning content and learning outcomes in initial and continuing VET are defined, adapted and updated. First and foremost, it examines how VET standards, curricula, programmes and training courses are updated and modernised or new ones created. Updated and renewed VET content ensures that learners acquire a balanced mix of competences that address modern demands, and are more closely aligned with the realities of the labour market, including key competences, digital competences and skills for green transition and sustainability, both sector-specific and across sectors. Using learning outcomes as a basis is important to facilitate this modernisation, including modularisation of VET programmes. Updating and developing teaching and learning materials to support the above is also part of the category.
The thematic category continues to focus on strengthening high-quality and inclusive apprenticeships and work-based learning in real-life work environments and in line with the European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships. It looks at expanding apprenticeship to continuing vocational training and at developing VET programmes at EQF levels 5-8 for better permeability and lifelong learning and to support the need for higher vocational skills.
This thematic category also focuses on VET delivery through a mix of open, digital and participative learning environments, including workplaces conducive to learning, which are flexible, more adaptable to the ways individuals learn, and provide more access and outreach to various groups of learners, diversifying modes of learning and exploiting the potential of digital learning solutions and blended learning to complement face-to-face learning.
Centres of vocational excellence that connect VET to innovation and skill ecosystems and facilitate stronger cooperation with business and research also fall into this category.
This thematic sub-category focuses on developing and updating all kinds of learning resources and materials, both for learners and for teachers and trainers (e.g. teachers handbooks or manuals), to embrace current and evolving content and modes of learning. These activities target all kinds of formats: hard copy and digital publications, learning websites and platforms, tools for learner self-assessment of progress, ICT-based simulators, virtual and augmented reality, etc.
This thematic sub-category covers all developments related to work-based learning (WBL) elements in VET programmes and apprenticeships which continue to be important in the policy agenda. It includes measures to stabilise the offer of apprenticeships, the implementation of the European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships, and using the EU on-demand support services and policy learning initiatives among the Member States. It also covers further expansion of apprenticeships and WBL to continuing VET (CVET), for transition to work and inclusion of vulnerable groups, and for improving citizens’ qualification levels.
Supporting lifelong learning culture and increasing participation
Lifelong learning refers to all learning (formal, non-formal or informal) taking place at all stages in life and resulting in an improvement or update in knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes or in participation in society from a personal, civic, cultural, social or employment-related perspective (Erasmus+, Glossary of terms, https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-d/glossary-common-terms). A systemic approach to CVET is crucial to ensure adaptability to evolving demands.
This broad thematic category looks at ways of creating opportunities and ensuring access to re-skilling and upskilling pathways, allowing individuals to progress smoothly in their learning throughout their lives with better permeability between general and vocational education and training, and better integration and compatibility between initial and continuing VET and with higher education. Individuals should be supported in acquiring and updating their skills and competences and navigating easily through education and training systems. Strategies and campaigns that promote VET and LLL as an attractive and high-quality pathway, providing quality lifelong guidance and tailored support to design learning and career paths, and various incentives (financial and non-financial) to attract and support participation in VET and LLL fall into this thematic category as well.
This thematic category also includes many initiatives on making VET inclusive and ensuring equal education and training opportunities for various groups of learners, regardless of their personal and economic background and place of residence – especially those at risk of disadvantage or exclusion, such as persons with disabilities, the low-skilled and low-qualified, minorities, migrants, refugees and others.
This thematic sub-category refers to initiatives that promote VET and lifelong learning implemented at any level and by any stakeholder. It also covers measures to ensure and broaden access to information about VET to various target groups, including targeted information and promotional campaigns (e.g. for parents, adult learners, vulnerable groups). Among others, it includes national skill competitions and fairs organised to attract learners to VET.
European and international dimensions of VET
This thematic category covers both European and international cooperation in initial and continuing VET, aimed at promoting EU VET systems as a European education and training area and making it a reference for learners in neighbouring countries and across the globe.
Expanding opportunities and increasing participation of VET learners, young and adult, and staff in international mobility for learning and work, including apprenticeship and virtual and blended mobility, account for most initiatives in this thematic category.
Apart from established and financially supported EU cooperation, VET opens up to cooperation and promotion of European values and national practices beyond the EU, which is becoming a trend. This thematic category also encompasses internationalisation strategies, transnational cooperation projects and initiatives – including those where joint VET programmes, examinations and qualifications are developed – and participation in international skills competitions that promote the image of VET. Using international qualifications – awarded by legally established international bodies or by a national body acting on behalf of an international body – in the national VET systems and recognising them towards national qualifications is also in focus.
This thematic sub-category refers to cooperation with other EU countries and beyond in preparing national teams for international competitions such as WorldSkills and EuroSkills and participation in those.
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Promoting VET to learners: Slovenia. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].
https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/28550