Due to distance learning and changes in the epidemiological situation (it is possible to work in the presence and then again only distantly), there is an increasing need to work in the process of diversifying training. It also creates new habits and demands for adults learning. The demand for work at the same time both in the presence and distantly is getting also a pressing need. It will require the teacher’s specific organisational and methodological skills.
That’s the reason why we, four vocational educational institutions from Latvia, Sweden, Estonia, and Lithuania, have prepared the development project with the title “Blended learning organisation and methods in adult vocational education” in order to achieve the following aims and results:
Profesionālās izglītības kompetences centrs "Rīgas Valsts tehnikums"/Vocational Education Competence Centre "Riga State Technical School" (RSTS) with approximately 2500 students (including approximately 700 adult students) is the largest vocational secondary education institution in Latvia. RSTS implements programs of secondary vocational education which give a possibility to acquire the third level of vocational education.
RSTS provides also education for adults in its Adult Education Centre. Adult education and its development are one of the priorities in the strategy of RSTS. In the beginning, there was the Further Education department in RSTS which was established in 2009. This department transformed and widened in Adult Education Centre in 2019. The Adult Education Centre implements vocational continuing training, vocational training, and non-formal education programmes, as well as evaluates the knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired outside the formal education system for adult and other target audiences at the level of households, enterprises, and institutions. The Adult Education Centre provides also the acquisition of vocational education in self-education, modular education programmes, as well as non-formal education programmes, courses, and seminars. The Adult Education Centre in cooperation with State Employment Agency, State Education Development Agency, and State Education Quality Service implements training for unemployed persons, job seekers, and other adult audiences. All adults starting from 18 years are able to learn in the Adult Education Centre of RSTS.
RSTS is the most versatile vocational education competence centre in Latvia. There are 9 departments in RSTS: Auto, Computer, Business, Chemistry technology, Energetics, Mechanical engineering, Printing, Woodworking, and Railway. RSTS has also 2 branches in other cities of Latvia: Kraslava and Limbazi.
The international cooperation at RSTS is being developed making vocational education in Latvia competitive at the European level.
Kėdainiai Vocational Educational Training Centre is a governmental vocational education institution. The Mission of the Centre is to provide initial and continuing vocational training services according to the needs of individual students and labor market. The aim is to develop students' basic abilities, value provisions, competencies which are necessary and obligatory for further education and active life in modern society. Kėdainiai VETC is the only vocational education institution in the district training workers in various fields. Students arrive to study from the surrounding areas and can study the salable speciality in the labor market. Kėdainiai VETC cooperates and constantly organizes conferencies and seminars with local and regional employers, labor exchanges, associations, and other educational institutions. The most important aim of cooperation is vocational guidance and counseling, student career planning, continuity of learning, as well as jobseekers' expectations, needs of future professionals, sharing experiences with colleagues. The Center's activities contribute directly to the socio-economic development of the region, carrying out vocational training relevant to the labor market. Kėdainiai VETC provides not only formal education services, but also focuses on improving adult competences or acquiring new ones. Adult education is carried out in 2 areas: Adult Continuing Vocational Training and Non- Formal Adult education.
The Center runs the University of the Third Age. Courses and classes are attended by people over 45 years of age. The aim is to create conditions for a person to study life-long, to meet the knowledge needs, to improve the acquired qualification, to acquire additional competences.
the begining of Kėdainiai VETC establishment ( 2001) the Center community works in partnership, interacts and cooperates with social partners in Lithuania and abroad, employees are creative and open to innovations. Kėdainiai VETC has many years of experience in the implementation of international projects, coordinated and participated as a partner in Lifelong Learning Mobility Program and Partnership, NordPlus Programs and Youth Program projects. Currently, Erasmus + Mobility and Partnership, NordPlus Adult and Horizontal projects are implemented.
Tallinn Polytechnic School is one of the oldest vocational schools in Estonia, established in 1915. Now we have about 1400 students, both in daily studies and correspondent course and about 120 staff members. We have three big departments: Energetics and automatics department (electrician, automatics), Information Technology and Telecommunications Department (IT specialists, software specialist, weak-current specialists, electronics) and Media department (printing technology, multimedia, visual media, TV operators, theatre lighting specialist and photographers). Study time in Tallinn Polytechnic School is from 2 years up to 3 years.
Tallinn Polytechnic School has had many international projects since 1994. Mostly Erasmus+ and NordPlus projects. We have sent the students for practical training to Finland, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Latvia, Portugal; Hungary, Denmark and England. In addition, we have received students for their apprentice period from Norway and France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Latvia, Finland.
YRGO is a higher vocational education in Gothenburg (https://yrgo.se/) and offers one of Sweden’s widest ranges of higher vocational educational within the fields of media, tourism, construction/engineering, accounting/administration, restaurant/bakery, technical, IT, transportation, nursing and health care. The school has over 1800 students and 95 employees with over 40 different educations.
Yrgo is government funded education. The educations contents one third of internship and over 9 out of 10 students are offered work after they graduate.
