Erasmus+ Strategic partnership project VET for Employment Erasmus+ Strategic partnership project Project partner: Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia 07.10.2015

Context In Latvia, VET reforms have started in 2009. Major components of the reform so far included: optimisation of the network of VET institutions and learning programmes, differentiation of the VET institutions by creating competence centres, improving infrastructure, facilitating social partner involvement through 12 tripartite sectoral expert councils (developing national qualification framework for VET, elaboration of new professional standarts, implementation of the newly developed system of recognition of prior learning, quality assurance procedures of VET programmes and learning outcomes, as well as career guidance activities especially when it comes to informing young people about employment opportunities in different sectors). In 2013, several VET institutions developed work based learning pilot projects in cooperation with their partners from business sector. Although good progress has been achieved in terms of employer involvement, VET system in Latvia is still largely based in VET institutions. New tools have to be developed on the national level which would allow social partners to support VET-business cooperation in very practical way. Latvia was among the six EU countries that signed a memorandum with Germany on 11 December 2012, committing to cooperate in reforming their systems of vocational training and education. Further transfer of experience from countries with dual VET traditions would be useful to develop and implement elements of work based learning into Latvian VET system.

Project duration: 1 September 2014 31 August 2017 Project budget: 339 260 EUR Project goals: To improve availability of qualified workforce and to strengthen the involvement of the social partners, especially the employer organisations, in professional education. To promote availability of quality traineeships and work based learning. To develop e-tools for the use by the employers and schools to promote work based learning in VET system.

Partners Project coordinator The Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) Latvian partners Youth career portal prakse.lv Metalworking industry: MASOC (employers) RTK (VETI) Chemical industry: LAKIFA (employers) OMTK (VETI) LBAS (Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia) International partners IBW (Austria) ABB Training Centre ATC (Germany) Lithuanian Business Employers' Confederation (Lietuvos verslo darbdavių konfederacija) Associate/ strategic partners Riga City Council Ministry of Education and Science (TBC) National Centre for Education

Activities Research, preparation Internship availability and quality; Cost benefit analysis; Needed improvements Researching traineeships in Latvia: Learning from international experience: Study visit in Austria and Germany Develping new tools to support traineeships and WBL Testing and implementation 1) The Metalworking industry & 2) the Chemical industry WBL Pilot projects in sectors: Intersectorial initiatives (case studies , events, mini-pilotprojects) organised by the Sectorial Expert Councils Valorisation, dissemination, incl. International Conference

Project’s added value from the MASOC perspective Research on internship availability and quality in the sector; Promotion of discussions on cost-benefit analysis of work based learning among the companies Regarding involvement of the social partners - practical knowledge from existing systems in Austria and Germany Together with Rīgas Tehniskā koledža – series of smaller as well as more in-depth pilot projects with a number of companies during next 2 years Youth attraction to the sector, industry promotion Succesful cooperation with all involved entities and foreign partners, especially Employer’s Confederation of Latvia. As a result – minimum administrative burden

Association of Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia Ezermalas 6 k - 109 Rīga, LV-1006 67554825 www.masoc.lv Andris Sekacis Advisor International Cooperation masoc@masoc.lv