SMEs represent 99% of all entrepreneurs, provide approximately 70% of all jobs and create around 80% of all new jobs. The further development of SMEs is severely limited by a large, growing shortage of entrepreneurs, managers and skilled workforce. By 2030, the number of younger workers will decrease by as much as 25% in most member states. In addition to the quantitative problems, there are increasingly qualitative bottlenecks due to increasing, dynamically changing qualification requirements. In Germany the dual vocational training proved itself to be of high value. In the participating countries Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, vocational training takes mostly place with complementary internships in companies. The participation in vocational training is very low, the qualifications achieved are insufficient and the unemployment rate is very high. Particularly in these countries with a predominantly school-based vocational training, the relevant skills and competencies must be significantly improved and high-quality quality must be achieved. According to a survey 96% of companies in Lithuania demand better practical and 74% better theoretical skills and abilities. In all the countries participating project countries, the participation in further training as well as the skills and competences conveyed therewith must strongly improve. According to EU's objectives, at least 15% of adults should participate in lifelong learning each year. This ratio was significantly exceeded by up to 29% in Scandinavian countries in 2016, compared with only 3.7% (PL) to 8.4% (DE) in the project countries. While there are solid vocational and inter-company training capacities in Germany, there is inadequate capacity in vocational education and training in the other participating countries. Vocational schools and companies have no or little experience with dual vocational training, as well as with inter-company training or work-based learning. Against this backdrop, the project pursues the ambitious objectives of further developing future vocational training systems, improving qualifications, enhancing the attractiveness of vocational education and training, and reducing the growing deficits of qualified skilled workers. The project is carried out by 7 partners from Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The internationally active lead partner is particularly experienced in the training and support of SMEs as well as in the implementation of complex educational projects. Partners are three experienced vocational training centers and three chambers, which are responsible for vocational training and operate own inter-company training centers. The project is structured by 7 work packages with the following main activities: 1. Project management and implementation of 6 workshops and 2 international multipler Events. 2. Development, establishment and operation of a sector competence center with the realization of a dual vocational training in a country with previously school education and preparation for implementations in two other countries. 3. Development and implementation of further training for vocational school teachers, for the implementation of dual training as well as training of instructors for a technician training. 4. Adaptation and implementation of training for trainers in SMEs in countries with mainly vocational training to create supervisors for the training on the spot 5. Development and implementation of a further training as a technician within the framework of a dual training of two years with the possibility to allow for a following study course at vocational colleges/polytechnics. 6. Development and coordination of concepts for the realization of dual bachelor courses, combining a dual vocational training with a Bologna-compliant study course, as well as realization plans for the expansion of the two-level sector competence centers into a three-level system of vocational education (training, further education, study). 7. Transfer of the project results to 68 chambers and universities from 13 countries, which are involved as associated project partners in the project implementation and receive sustainable implementation advice, as well as implementation of further dissemination activities. For the six products of the project • blueprints for the implementation of two-level sector competence centers and of dual vocational training with curricula, • two curricula for the training of teachers, • Curriculum for the training of trainers/supervisors in SMEs, • Blueprints and curricula for a two-year continuing education as a technician, • Blueprints for the implementation of dual Bachelor's degree programs through three-level sector competence centers, • printed, comprehensive manual with wide high sustainable use is ensured by a process-oriented expansion of the implementation regions, including a sustainable financing.
SMEs account for 99% of all entrepreneurs, nearly 70% of all jobs and create around 80% of all new jobs. The further development of SMEs is most limited by a large and growing shortage of entrepreneurs, managers and skilled workers. By 2030, the number of younger workers will decrease by up to 25% in most Baltic Sea countries. In addition to quantitative problems, qualitative bottlenecks are increasingly emerging due to rising, dynamically changing qualification requirements. In Germany, dual VET has proved very successful. In the participating countries Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, training is provided in vocational schools, partly with supplementary work placements in companies. Here participation in vocational training is very low, the qualifications achieved are inadequate and youth unemployment is very high. Particularly in the countries with school-based vocational training, the relevant skills and competences must be significantly improved and high quality achieved. For example, according to a survey in Lithuania, 96% of enterprises would like to see better practical skills and 74% better theoretical skills and abilities. In all the countries participating in the project, there is also a need for a strong improvement in participation in continuing training and the skills and competences acquired in it. According to the EU's objectives, at least 15% of adults should participate in lifelong learning every year. In 2016, this rate was significantly exceeded in Scandinavian countries with up to 29%, whereas in the project countries it was only around 4% (PL) to around 9% (DE). While good company and inter-company training capacities exist in Germany, there are insufficient capacities in vocational training in the other participating countries. Vocational schools and companies have hardly any experience with dual VET and also with company and inter-company further vocational training. Against this background, the project pursued the ambitious goals of further developing the VET systems in the participating countries in a future-oriented way, improving qualifications, making VET more attractive in the long term and reducing the growing shortage of qualified skilled workers. The project was implemented by 7 partners from Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The internationally active lead partner is particularly experienced in the training and promotion of SMEs and in the implementation of complex training projects. The partners were three experienced vocational training centers and three chambers of commerce, industry and crafts which are responsible for vocational training and operate inter-company training centers themselves. The project comprised 7 work packages with the following main activities. 1. project management and implementation of 6 workshops and 2 international multiplier events. 2. development, establishment and operation of a sector competence center with realization of dual VET in Slupsk, Poland, on the basis of the Polish reform law, and preparation of implementations in two other countries. 3. development and implementation of further training for vocational school teachers, namely for the implementation of dual training and training of lecturers for a technician training 4. adaptation and implementation of two different trainings for trainers in SMEs in countries with school-based vocational training so far. 5. development and implementation of a two-year further training course for technicians and obtaining the right to study at a University of Applied Sciences. 6. development and coordination of concepts for the implementation of dual Bachelor's programs combining dual VET with a Bologna-compliant degree course, and concept for the expansion of the two-stage sectoral competence centers into a three-stage system (VET, CET, higher education) of VET and innovation promotion. 7. transfer of the project results to 70 chambers and higher education institutions/universities from 13 countries, which are involved in the project implementation as associated partners and received implementation advice, and implementation of further dissemination measures. For the six products of the project - Blueprints for the implementation of two-tier sector competence centers and dual vocational training courses with curricula - Two curricula for the in-service training of teachers, - Two curricula for the training of trainers in SMEs, - Blueprints and curricula for a two-year further training course to become a technician, - Blueprints for the implementation of dual Bachelor's programs by three-tiered sector competence centers, - Manual with distribution via bookstores high sustainable uses were secured with a process-oriented expansion of the implementation regions including financing.