The vocational education system in Lower Silesia has been transformed by establishing high tech training centres.
Vocational training for 25 000 students in Lower Silesia
- 30 November 2015
The project is a great example of taking a comprehensive approach to the modernisation of the vocational education in the region. It has helped students adapt to regional and local labour market conditions, while supporting the shift towards the knowledge economy. Students from across Lower Silesia have access to a modern teaching base, which has encouraged a smooth transition to employment, even in the most technologically advanced companies.
The “Modernisation of vocational training centres in Lower Silesia” project established a network of modern industry training centres in seven sectors including: mechanics, automotive, electro-energy, mechatronic-electronics, IT, construction, hotel and catering and travel. The various centres, located in nine counties across Lower Silesia, were fitted with the latest teaching equipment and technology, helping students learn the necessary skills to meet the needs of their future employers.
The project helped educate some 25 000 students and provided participating schools with more than 20 000 items of equipment such as computer servers, laptops, projectors and multi-purpose printers. The professional workshops held as part of the project helped increase the attractiveness of vocational training, while raising the quality of school teaching.
Winning competition
As part of the project, many participants entered various regional and international vocational training competitions. For example, a team from the Lower Silesian high school won a bronze medal in the internationally renowned “INFO Matrix” competition held in Bucharest, Romania in 2013. The team was rewarded for its talent in designing systems for computers and robotics.
Some other students won a regional prize and then competed at national level in the so-called Festival of Young Scientists E(X)PLORY.
The project educated young people in the following regions: Bolesławiec, Jelenia Góra, Głogów, Legnica, Polanica Zdrój, Świdnica, Wałbrzych, Oleśnica, Wrocław, Biedrzychowice, Bożków, Nowa Ruda, Strzegom, Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Stronie Śląskie, Syców, Kudowa-Zdrój, Kłodzko, Żarów, Świebodzice.
This ERDF-funded initiative complements other projects on the modernisation of vocational education in Lower Silesia, which are financed by the European Social Fund.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the “Modernisation of vocational training centres in Lower Silesia” project is EUR 16 100 516, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 11 202 693 from the Operational Programme “Lower Silesia” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.