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The role of employers in shaping vocational education: two workshops held within the EmployVET project
Organized by the Sarajevo Economic Region Development Agency (SERDA) and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FTC BiH), partners in the project “Engaging Employers in Relevant and Resilient Vocational Education and Training – EmployVET”, funded through the EU ERASMUS+ Programme, two workshops were held focusing on enhancing cooperation between companies and vocational schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The first workshop was held on May 12, 2025, at the premises of VTK/STK BiH in Sarajevo, and the second on May 19, 2025, in Tešanj. Both workshops were exclusively intended for company representatives, those already involved in the vocational education and training system, as well as those considering ways to engage in this process.
The workshops addressed the current functioning of vocational education in BiH and provided insight into practices in EU countries. Participants were introduced to the existing challenges in the national system, particularly regarding work-based learning, which has yet to be fully regulated by law. Special attention was given to the role employers can play in modernizing curricula and organizing practical training, along with concrete steps they can take to get involved and how to establish cooperation with relevant stakeholders. Successful practices from Slovenia and Croatia were presented as models for developing sustainable partnerships between companies and vocational schools in BiH.
The workshops were implemented as part of activity T4.1 – Organization of national workshops with employers, through which project partners are testing methodological approaches while simultaneously creating space for long-term dialogue between the VET sector and companies.
Based on the workshops conducted, the project team will develop a joint report with conclusions and recommendations (T4.2), consolidating the experiences and feedback from employers. These findings will serve as a basis for further development of project activities, including the establishment of the EmployVET Desk (T4.3) – an advisory point intended for both employers and VET institutions. The Desk will provide access to information, concrete advice and support in connecting stakeholders from both sectors, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and ensuring long-term sustainability of project results.
More information about the project is available via email addresses: ajla@serda.ba and mirza.konjo@komorabih.ba.
