1. HQVET High Quality of Vocational Education and Training - European best methods for improving VET system This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. Kick-off meeting Dunajská Streda, Slovakia 14.01.2015 – 15.01.2015

2. Programme: Erasmus+ Key Action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices Action type: Strategic Partnerships Field: Strategic partnerships for vocational education and training Project Start Date:01.09.2014 Project End Date:31.08.2016 Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training HQVET High Quality of Vocational Education and Training - European best methods for improving VET system This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

3. Participating organisation(s): Coordinator: Central Office of Labour Social Affairs and Family, OLSAF Dunajská Streda, Slovakia Partners:  Napra Forgó Rehabilitációs Nonprofit Közhasznú Kft., Érd, Hungary  Istituto Formazione Operatori Aziendali, I.F.O.A., Reggio nell´Emilia, Italy Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

4. Project Coordinator OLSAF DS, Slovakia Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family Dunajská Streda  state social benefits  social assistance  registration of unemployed people seeking employment  registration of vacancies  suitable employment mediation  information and advisory services  education and training for the labour market  increased care for work application of special groups of citizens  preparation and implementation of projects financed by the European Social Fund and international projects This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

5. Priorities of OLSAF DS are the followings:  Modernization and increase of scope of quality of employment services,  Increase employment opportunities for young people,  Facilitating access and return of job-seekers into the labor market,  Improving the employability of groups threatened by social exclusion,  Improving the quality and effectiveness of cooperation with employers,  Cooperation with municipalities and potential investors in the region,  Support and development of cross-border and international cooperation in the field of employment services. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

6.  Problems of Young people: - school-to-work transition, - satisfaction with education, - future plans, - improving skills and competences.  Expansion and professional development of services and trainings  Cooperation with Educational Institutions  Career guidance  Improving the employability of young job-seekers Project background Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

7. Project Description  This project is aimed to emphasize the need of European economic cooperation in order to deal with the causes of the crisis with improving Vocational Education and Training System.  This project allows us to explore the situation in partners´ regions in the field of Vocational Education and Training of young people by exchange of information. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

8.  Cooperation with educational institutions  Addressing the target group by research  Improving Vocational Education and Training System - high quality education that addresses labour market needs  The development of job-related skills  Applying the innovative training methods on international level  To support the right direction of young school leaver’s professional orientation  Basis of Pedagogical Framework at educational institutions Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. Project Description

9.  The development of innovative practices in the field of vocational education and training,  To improve skills and competencies of young people,  To support the development of quality relevant technical vocation and educational training programmes which prepare learners for the world of work,  To improve the quality of cooperation between educational institutions and enterprises. The project is innovative because it is aimed: Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

10. 1. Kick - off meeting: (September 2014) - January 2015 Slovakia Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT - Destination country: Slovakia Introduction of partners´ institutions Presentation of the project (aims and objectives, activities, distribution of the tasks) Presentation of the current situation in regional labour markets focusing on vocational school students Creation of the project LOGO DISSEMINATION plan: media, press, article about the project (+web page) 2. Elaboration of the questionnaires for the target group (November 2014) – March 2015 Hungary Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT - Destination country: Hungary Suggestions and recommendations about the content of the questionnaires and the implementation of the regional research DISSEMINATION activities: flyer and web page design in 5 languages Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training Project meetings and activities This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

11. 3. Finalization of the questionnaires – content, graphic design (February 2015) April 2015 Austria Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT - Destination country: Austria Finalization of the flyer Discussion about the web-page 4. Open day (February 2015) May 2015 Involved partners: SK (National activity in Slovakia) To visit the employer´ s company in order to present manufacturing processes for vocational school students therefor prepare them for school-to work transition. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

12. 5. Realization of the Regional research (February 2015 – May 2015) Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT (National activity in all the countries) Addressing the target group – 40 students (before last year at vocational training school) in order to find out their satisfaction with education, their perspectives and motivation. 6. Presentation of Regional results (May 2015) (Jun 2015) Italy Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT - Destination country: Italy Creation of Regional Research and Needs Analysis Report Interim report about the project achievements Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

13. 7. Suggestions for the summary research work at international level (September 2015) Hungary Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT - Destination country: Hungary Elaboration of the Educational module Actualization of the web-page Proposal for the brochure (content, size, graphic design) 8. Presentation and Finalization of the summary research work (January 2016) Austria Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT - Destination country: Austria Creation of International Research and Needs Analysis Report Actualization of the brochure Finalization of the Educational Module - Proposal for improving skills and competencies of young people Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

14. 9. Educational Module (studies, analyses) (March 2016) Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT (National event in all the countries) Presentation in vocational school – providing feedback for vocational school students after evaluation of the international research, according to International Research and Needs Analysis Report - feedback - 5h Lesson 10. Conclusions and recommendations (April 2016) Italy Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT - Destination country: Italy Evaluation of the Lesson at vocational school Finalization of the products (information brochure and DVD about the project) Preparation for the final conference 11. Final conference (Jun 2016) Involved partners: SK, HU, IT, AT Slovakia Destination country: Slovakia Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

15. Responsibilities of partners: 1. Partner no. 1 (SK) - coordinator - organization of the kick-off meeting, and the final conference - organization of the Open Day at employer´s company - web page creation and responsibility for its further maintenance and updating - monitoring and controlling of the tasks 2. Partner no. 2 (HU) - work out the final version of the questionnaire for vocational school students for implementation of regional research in all partners´ regions - work out the final version of the brochure 3. Partner no. 3 (IT) - creation of the final version of the project Logo - elaboration of the final version of the leaflet Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

16. 4. Partner no. 4 (AT) - elaboration of the International Research and Needs Analysis Report according to regional results of partners’ institution, finalization of conclusions and recommendations for the target group - quality assurance - based on an internal feedback process within the partnership. All the partners are responsible:  Preparation of the presentations for the kick-off meeting and for the final conference - presentation of the labour market situation with focus on vocational school students, introduction of the institution, project aims, results, achievements.  Dissemination of the project  Realization of the Regional research  Preparation of the Regional Research and Needs Analysis Report in English and in National languages  Presentation in vocational school (5h Lesson) – feedback for students after evaluation of the questionnaires, according to International results.  Budget control Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

17. 1.Presentation of the current situation in regional labour markets of partner institutions, focusing on young people at vocational schools. 2.Dissemination plan – article about the project and project activities in the press, contact with media, webpage creation in 5 languages (SK, EN, HU, IT, AT), distribution of brochures, leaflets, DVD. 3.Institutional exchange of experiences at national and international level in the field of vocational education (cooperation with educational institutions, employers, young people). 4.Questionnaire for young learners about their satisfaction with education in 5 languages (SK, EN, HU, IT, AT). 5.Open Day - Presentation of manufacturing processes at the employer´s company. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training Expected results This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

18. 6.Regional Research and Needs Analysis Report - Presentation of the regional results. 7.International Research and Needs Analysis Report - Summary testing report, International results. 8.Presentation in vocational school (Educational Module) – providing feedback for vocational school students after evaluation of the international research, according to International Research and Needs Analysis Report. 9.Conclusions and recommendations, Elaboration of innovative methods for improving Vocational Education and Training System. 10.Promotional materials: flyer, media, press, conference materials, dissemination events, brochure, DVD, web-page. 11.Interim and final narrative and financial reports. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

19. Partnership activities will have positive impact on: 1. Primary target groups: vocational school students (young people):  More attractive education and training programmes according to the needs and expectations of individuals,  Increased opportunities for professional development; improving skills and competences,  Increased motivation and satisfaction in their studies, encouragement of individuals,  Conscious Thinking, Self-reflection, Personality Development. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

20. 2. Secondary target groups: educational institutions, counsellors and advisers at labour offices, employers:  Improvement of Vocational Education and Training System – (Open day, Regional research on satisfaction of vocational school students, Conclusions and recommendations as a basis for Pedagogical framework)  Strengthen the cooperation between Labour offices and other institutions,  To support the career guidance and preventive counselling services,  Integration of good practices and new methods into daily activities of VET schools (modernize education, innovations),  Increased quality of education and training and youth work. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

21. Discussion  There is a need to specify the objectives and priorities of the project. They should be more concrete and should represent a “value for money”.  Elaboration of the questionnaires for young school leavers is not enough (less heuristic), because it is only a kind of research work, but not an Educational activity. For this reason we should reshape this part according to new methods of personal self- corrections of young people - confront their interests with the current requirements of the labor market and the objectification of their expectations.  Last grade students / before last grade students ? Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.

22. Thank you for your attention! Mgr. Tímea Feledi ÚPSVR Dunajská Streda, Slovakia and the project team. Erasmus+ KA 2 – Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.