1. KAUNAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND CRAFTS

2. The Chamber’s structure Business environment Innovations Membership BOARD Health care Social partnership COMMITTEES ENTERPRISES President Vice-Presidents (5)

3. INSTRUMENTS OF ACTIVITY Legal background Networks Instruments CCIC, VET, Public administration laws. Governmental decisions BCCA, LCCIC, Eurochambres, EIC, Ministries, associations and universities. CRM, internet, intranet, emails, events, forums, business clubs, etc.

4. Representation Information International support Business interests EIC Documents Training of businessmen Club activity Vocational training and Social partnership Regional development

5. A BUDGET STRUCTURE

6. Main tasks of VET department since 2001 Organizing of qualification examinations in VET schools (Kaunas and Marijampolė regions); Project activities; Short-term seminars. Social partnership committee

7. Employers functions represented by CCIC: Vet policy (national and regional level) Delegating experts for Experts Group of Economic branches (VET standards) Evaluation of new training programmes content Practical training of VET students in companies VET qualification examination.

8. LEGAL BASE FOR VET DEPARTMENT VET LAW IN 1997 CCI Chamber – competent institution; CCI Chamber participates in organization of final examinations in VET schools; CCI Chamber registers and supervises tripartite contracts between enterprise, school and student; National VET board formed in tripartite principle; Member of Regional VET Council.

9. Organising final qualification examinations in VET schools CCIC sets time and place of examinations; Nominates members of evaluation board (employee and employer); Prepare tasks of examination; Supervises examinations; Organises evaluation of VET curriculum.

10. VET law will be changed Changes of VET concept in Lithuania. Changes in other related laws (Law of education, Labor Code) and documents; Creation of National qualification system (8 levels) Assure recognition of acquired competences (in the context of Life long learning).

11. What will be changed with new VET law? More functions to Social partners; VET will be treated as LLL process; Formalizing of non-formal learning; Quality assurance;

12. What’s waiting for the Chamber? Role of competence assessing and recognition institution; Accreditation of VET programmes; Analysis of Labor market qualification needs; More functions as a regional coordinator; Supervision of practical training.

13. EU ESF “Development of competences assessment and recognition system in VET” Project period: 2005-2008

14. Project partnership: Project coordinator – LR Ministry of Education and Science Project partners – Kaunas CCIC, Vilnius CCIC, Klaipėda CCIC, Panevėžys CCIC, Šiauliai CCIC, The Chamber of Agriculture.

15. Main tasks: Training of specialists from VET departments (14) Prepared unified/standard final qualification examinations tasks for theoretical and practical examination for 34 VET programmes in the whole of Lithuania. First time in Lithuania we have started with electronic examination. Supervising of practical training basis in companies (with certification from chamber).

16. Social partnership committee (16 VET schools, 2 colleges, 10 leading companies from different sectors) Solving regional problems of VET (quality assurance, innovative curriculum development) Awards of best VET school in the region Seminars with legal representatives from local and national authorities – ministries, labor offices, companies)

17. Short-term seminars Projects management Changes in law Finances Marketing, marketing strategies Management, negotiation skills Export skills development Business etiquete

18. Activities of The Chamber in Higher education Participates in the evaluation and accreditation process of colleges. Participates in the development of the National Qualification System. Active co-operation with colleges and universities in the developmemt of the training programmes and methodological guidebooks for SMEs. Co-operation in providing training seminars for SMEs. Joint efforts in the research of skills needs, etc.