On 23 September, the Slovak State Vocational Education Institute (EfVET Member) opened the European Vocational Skills Week 2019 with the conference “The future of vocational education and training for the labour market. 

Slovak State Vocational Education Institute (Slovakia)

The Slovak State Vocational Education Institute opened the European Vocational Skills Week 2019 with the conference “The future of vocational education and training for the labour market” on 23 September 2019 in Bratislava. The conference provided strategic insight into the VET developments in Slovakia and Europe. The event counted with the participation of Shaymala Majumdar, Director of the International Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training UNESCO-UNEVOC, Olga Nachtmannová, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Slovak Republic, Braňa Ondruš, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic and other VET experts. Besides, it included exhibitions and presentations of VET schools from all regions of Slovakia.

The keynote speaker, Mr Shyamal Majumdar, Director of the UNESCO-UNEVOC delivered the presentation Major trends influencing future of jobs, in which he highlighted the challenges related to the arrival of new jobs accompanying the fast onset and development of technologies and the society.

Mr Raimo Sivonen (Kainuu Vocational College, Finland), presented his view on a successful VET system, based on his long-term-experience in VET as the Director of Kainuu Vocational College in Finland, as well as an acknowledged expert on the national, European and international scene. Sivonen, also stressed the importance of being members of a network such as EfVET to increase the international opportunities of the colleges and institutions.

Besides inspirational presentation from the international and domestic experts, 135 participants could see presentations of the activities and products of VET schools from all parts of Slovakia, meet students and staff and discuss all aspects of VET.