EUROPEAN CONFERENCE Pico Island – Azores – Portugal May 28th 2015 Project Nº TR1-LEO Leonardo Da Vinci Multilateral Partnership Ensuring modern vocational schools to educate well trained employees

PARTNERS ENVOLVED  ESREF BITLIS VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS – ISTANBUL, TURKEY  ZESPOL SZKOL TECHNICZNYCH – PLOCK, POLAND  LICEUL TECHNOLOGIC “AUREL RAINU” – FIENI, ROMANIA  RIGA BUILDING COLLEGE – RIGA, LATVIA  INSTITUTO DE EDUCACIÓN SECUNDARIA SIERRA DE GUARA- HUESCA, SPAIN  ESCOLA PROFISSIONAL DO PICO – MADALENA DO PICO, AZORES, PORTUGAL

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - MOTIVATION  In modern society there is a prevailing need to establish vocational teaching to a European standard;  Vocational schools educate young people, providing them with certain knowledge and skills;  However, they do not prepare them to make quick decisions, change professions or move freely around the labor market;  Our project aims to identify our vocational schools´ needs, and to prepare young people to be qualified as professionals who think quickly, rationally and are willing to change jobs as the economy dictates;

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - MOTIVATION Educating for the right workforce demands cooperation between different intitutions, such as schools, universities, local enterprises, vocational training centres, career counseling institutions, employment agencies, etc. However, many of these institutions are not connected to the teaching process, and merely expect fully qualifed and well educated young people who are very mobile and flexible to change professions;

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - OBJECTIVES  Identifying and learning about vocational education systems in each country involved in the partnership;  Developing the cooperation with companies within each partner school;  Linking theory with practice in vocational training;  Testing teaching & training methods in vocational schools;  Increasing the use of educational materials based on ever developing modern technologies;

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - OBJECTIVES  Identifying problems of graduates of vocational schools;  Enhancing language & ICT skills;  Enriching intercultural dialogue;

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - ISSUES  Getting to know similarities and differences in VET;  Comparing curricula, types of classes & practical education in school workshops;  Tightening the cooperation between schools & companies organizing students’ trainings;  Analysing teaching methods & techniques used by teachers in different countries;  Correlation between teaching practical & theoretical subjects;  Exchanging information, ideas & experience connected with VET;  Communicating in English, using ICT skills;  Learning about partner countries, their cultures & traditions

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - ACTIVITIES  Internet research;  Presenting systems of education & vocational training through PPT;  Designing project website;  Discussing steps and procedures related to getting professional accreditation;  Lesson & workshop observations & active participation;  Applying the same questionnaires in each institution (among students, teachers, headmasters) comparing their results;  Visiting companies which organize students’ trainings in each country;  Interviewing employers & managers in companies;  Designing teaching materials based on modern technologies;

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - ACTIVITIES  Exchanging didactic materials & website addresses with useful teaching ideas;  Discussing difficulties in cooperation with companies & Suggesting solutions;  Making SWOT analysis;  Producing short educational films;  Interviewing the graduates of vocational schools;  Making 5 brochures and a final booklet;  Organizing a final conference on VET in Europe.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - IMPACT TEACHERS & TRAINERS  Improve their ICT, foreign language skills & teaching methods;  Opportunity to observe colleagues from other countries & gain some insight on ideas or teaching methods;  Learn to use modern technologies within the classroom & workplace;  Make the lessons more interesting and bring them closer to real life;  Compare professional educational systems at European level;  Learn about new tools, machines & techniques;  Compare their students´practical skills with the students from other countries;  Use the opportunity to know their students better

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - IMPACT HEADMASTERS/SCHOOL DIRECTORS  Establish new networking contacts with other institutions;  Identify how vocational education & training is organized elsewhere;  Observe how the schools are run in different countries to improve their own management;  Be able to compare the way the workshops & students’ trainings are organized & what benefits they give to students & companies.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT - IMPACT STUDENTS  Learn new skills or develope their existing abilities in the use of new tools & modern inventions;  Observe what students from other countries do in students’ trainings within the companies;  Actively engage in contact with foreign students;  Deeper insight into cultural awareness about their partners’ customs & traditions;  Gain skills in researching information & problem solving;  Develop language and ICT skills;  Developing constructive critical thinking, social & interpersonal skills;  Making friends with students from other European countries.

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT OFFICIAL WEBSITE

“This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This presentation (communication) reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein”