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Technical assistance to the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education in developing 108 occupational standards

Current projects

The Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education is implementing a project aiming at developing 108 occupational standards, with the purpose of harmonizing formal vocational programs and labor market needs. In this process, MAP is providing technical assistance in conducting the Occupational Standards Survey, as well as processing the collected data.

With the passing of the Croatian Qualifications Framework Act in 2013 began the process of harmonizing the education system with the labor world, providing Croatian society an opportunity for a development of an education system which is in line with the contemporary social needs. Through this reform process, the qualification system will be regulated, thus assisting youth which completed formal education to truly possess knowledge and skills necessary for a specific occupation. As a part of this process, the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (AVETAE) is implementing the project Modernization of Vocational Education and Training System, financed from the ESF OP Efficient Human Resources 2014-2020 with the aim to develop 108 occupational standards i.e. to determine jobs, knowledge and skills which are connected to each occupation. Mentioned standards are going to be proposed as a product of experts’ work and research based on relevant sample of employers and employees.

The Occupational Standards Survey is developed according to the new Methodology for Development of Occupational Standards prepared by professor Josip Burušić, Ph.D., with a team from the Institute Ivo Pilar. The survey combines quantitative data collection with elements of structured discussion as a qualitative component. MAP is engaged on providing technical assistance in the process of developing these occupational standards. In November 2019, as the first set of activities, MAP held two two-day trainings for future implementers of guided surveys and structured discussions as a part of conducting Occupational Standards Survey. Training with practical group exercises provided 70 future survey implementers with a skill set to facilitate structured discussions, including both AVETAE’s consultants and coordinators of working groups for a development of occupational standards. MAP’s assistance is continuing through field and deskhelp support during the data collection, and finishes with data processing and preparation of individual reports for members of working groups of all 108 occupational standards, being an important source of information for the finalization of the Requests for inclusion of an occupational standard in the Croatian Qualifications Framework Register.

Image 1: Workshop for developing skills in conducting the Occupational Standards Survey