The dual system in Germany and Austria is a factor for solving the European problems with youth unemployment. The parallel training in a company and in a vocational school has established itself and it became a winner of “the big hope” for the improvement of the quality of the vocational qualification.The project aims to support the actual political development and supporting reforms in the vocational training in Bulgaria, through a transfer of the good practices of these countries. In particular the issue is about strengthening the cooperation between vocational training and business and preparing the companies and training institutions for implementing the dual vocational training for persons over 16 years. The dual vocational training will react adequately to the labour market requirements.The dual vocational training is regulated by article 17a of the Vocational Education and Training Act from July 2014 and Regulation 1 from 8th of September 2015. But the key actors in this process are not active when using this regulation because they are not well prepared for it: there is no information, capacity, trained staff, and ext.The project covers the following activities and their results, which will remove the existing uncertainty:Activity 1. TtT Competencies strengthen Training of trainers from the training institutions like TtT – as trainers of mentors. Supported by the partners the project will: - develop a curriculum/ learning programme for training of trainers (O1)- test the programme when training a group of vocational trainers (mentors) C1 and C2- distribute the tested learning programme Activity 2. Preparation/Training of mentors Training of trainers/ mentors/ masters/ instructors in the companies to undertake complex tasks in the frame of the dual vocational training. It is:- developing of training programme for preparation of trainers in companies (O2)- implementing in Bulgaria a training of 40 learning hours with 8 trainers, in order to test the applicability of the learning programme. Activity 3. Trainer Competencies strengthenEstablishing guidelines/ instruction/ for training of trainers staff in the dual education (O3) – a valuable tool (supporting tool) for the entire target groups: mentors, trainers, employers, experts, and administrative staff. The guidelines/ instructions/ for training are definitely innovative for the Bulgarian educational reality. They will reflect the educational processes in the different phases; they contain valuable didactical methodological guidelines for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the dual system, they offer help in the development and application of teaching and learning materials. Easily understandable language and practical orientation contribute to the motivation of consumers.The guidelines/ instructions/ for training is a product in development – it may be supplemented in the working process, it can be changed, updated and refined.The instructions for the training will also contain managerial directive for the training companies and instructions for the administrative staff how to organize and finance the dual training.Activity 4. Supporting the dual VET Process. Developing a training programme for dual training in 5 companies in the aria of construction, wooden materials/ furniture, metal processing, tourism, ICT (O4), as an example and model for restructuring of the learning programme for other professions. The professions will be selected for exactly this moment, directly before the beginning of these project activities together with the chambers of commerce and according to the needs of every industry. The relevant chambers of commerce gave already their approval. When developing the learning programme the advisory support of the partners will be used. The learning programme will be presented to the German-Bulgarian training centers for testing and later development.This activity will also contribute for the innovative elements, because so far in Bulgaria there hasn’t been a learning programme for dual training for persons at the age of 16+.Activity 5. Communication an Networking: It will an open and transparent Communication encourage during:- Developing of interactive internet based platform (O5) for all the parties that are interested in the dual education: experts, trainers, mentors in the companies, employers, administrative staff, publicity – this is something new for Bulgaria. It will serve for distribution of the project results, common information, consultancy, exchange of experience and opinions. - Futureconference “Dual vocational training – new chance for the companies and youth”.Activity 6. Management and Coordination.The duration of the project will be 3 years.
The project is trouble-free and for all partners’ satisfaction with the results accomplishment and their impact and sustainability. BGCPO SE works actively with the dual form of training to train the target group of adults – according to the law for people above 16 years. This is something new for the Bulgarian educational system, thus there is need of good preparation: curriculum, guidelines, experience and so on. This way the project adds to the transfer to dual training as “extremely reliable” for improvement the quality of professional qualification and reducing the unemployment of youth. FokusDual supported and gave push to the dual system in Bulgaria, as well as in Romania and Slovakia. Project uses the long experience of the German and Austrian partners – it explores, analyzes and adapts, it worked out valuable intellectual products which structure and strengthen dual system. On the project, together with BGCPO SE work four training institutions: IHK Projektgesellschaft, Frankfurt / Oder, DE; BFI OÖ Linz, Austria; German-Romanian foundation Timishoara, Romania, Deutsch-Slowakische Akademien, Bratislava, Slowakei. Partners from Germany and Austria have rich and long term experience in applying the dual system, partners from Romania and Slovakia made their first steps in implementing the dual training in their countries and have valuable experience on difficulties, problems and successes. Description of undertaken main activities: Activity 1 (A1): competences of training the trainers were strengthened: trainers from the educational institutions are trained as trainers of mentors, (O1), groups of trainers from BGCPO SE were trained as adult trainers at the partners in Germany and Austria C1 и C2, Activity 2 (A2): the training of train the trainer was prepared: a curriculum for training mentors was developed, (O2), and it was tested with 8 mentors. Activity 3 (A3): the competences of training staff are strengthened: a “Guidebook for dual training participants” has been developed. Activity A 4 (A4): the dual training process was encouraged and the companies were motivated: five curriculums for dual training in five professions in the area of: buildings, furniture making, metal processing, tourism, Information and communication technologies – (O4) Activity 5. Communication and networking: in the team was applied open, with trustworthy atmosphere, ongoing, purpose-oriented and technically supported communication, interactive internet based platform was installed for all that are interested in dual professional training, Conference for the future – E1, on the subject “Vocational/ dual training – new chance for business, youth and jibs for the future, held as a workshop in the framework of the international EVBB and EVTA conference under the high patronage of the Bulgarian presidency of the council of the European union. Activity 6 (A6): Project management, coordination and implementations. Results and impact attained: The results of the project are 5 intellectual products which strengthen dual system and more specific dual training for adults. The project accomplishments facilitate communication and motivation for the employers to take part of dual training. They prepare the organization for dual training in the companies and educational institutions. These are curriculum for training the trainers of mentors, curriculum for mentors, guidebook for participants in the dual training, five training programmes for five professions which have been modified for dual training, information and discussions platform for dual training. Longer-term benefits: All these products are very interesting for the educational system in Bulgaria, they will be developed and will be used in projects as useful products. The first dual course was held in September in Pleven – according to the dual curriculum for wood processing. Other courses will be implemented. The mentor's curriculum was presented to the Minister of Education as a template for a framework program that should allow the legislation for dual training to be approved as unified for the whole country.