An introductory workshop for the regional project “Preparing for Vocational Education through Career Guidance and Counselling” was held in Belgrade on 12 and 13 February. The event brought together representatives of relevant institutions and schools to strengthen support for students in making educational and career-related decisions.
At the opening, participants were addressed by Andjelka Mirkovic, Assistant Minister for Secondary and Adult Education, and Christian Ebner, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to Serbia.
In addition to representatives of the Institute for Education Quality and Evaluation, Srdjan Zrnic and Bojana Markovic, the event was attended by representatives of the Institute for the Improvement of Education, the Ministry of Education, the Qualifications Agency, the Office for Dual Education and the National Qualifications Framework, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, as well as the European network for career guidance, Euroguidance.
The project focuses on improving career guidance and counselling in education, with particular emphasis on the transition from primary to secondary vocational education. Its objectives include strengthening the capacities of institutions in the field of career guidance and counselling, building the competences of teachers, pedagogues, psychologists, professional associates, and students, and enhancing cooperation between primary and vocational secondary schools.
Pilot activities will be implemented in 12 primary and 6 vocational secondary schools in Belgrade, Ruma, Vrsac, Pozarevac, Svilajnac, and Negotin. During the two-day workshop, principals, teachers, and professional associates from these schools had the opportunity to exchange experiences and examples of good practice in career guidance and professional orientation. Sabine Fritz, an expert from the University College of Teacher Education Styria, Graz, presented contemporary models, tools, and practices used in Austria, as well as possibilities for their application within the education system of the Republic of Serbia.
This two-year regional project is implemented under the auspices of the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD), in cooperation with partners from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
