Back On 5 June, a delegation from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO) visited the Practical Training Centre of Riga State Technical School as part of the programme “Stronger VET for the Enhancement of Vocational Education and Training in Latvia”. The meeting and visits were also attended by representatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Swiss Embassy in Riga, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as payment and audit institutions.
Representatives of Riga State Technical School introduced the delegation to the training centre as a modern and advanced training complex that significantly strengthens the quality of programme delivery and promotes the alignment of vocational education with labour market needs. The modern equipment and environment available at the centre enable learners to acquire skills in a motivating and contemporary setting.
Riga State Technical School is actively involved in piloting the programme – teachers and the administration participate in discussions and study visits, provide input for the development of training content, and are ready to implement changes that strengthen the quality of vocational education in Latvia.
So far, within the programme:
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sectors have been working on developing an implementation plan for competence-based learning according to the Swiss model;
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requirements for training companies have been defined within the sectors, including occupational safety requirements and requirements for in-company trainers;
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the industry examination centre approach has been piloted for the professional qualification “Agricultural Mechanisation Technician”, while for the qualification “Heavy Vehicle Mechanic” it will be piloted on 16–17 of June this year.
The programme is being implemented from 2025 to 2029 with Swiss funding totalling EUR 12.3 million. Its aim is to improve the sector-based learning and examination model, purchase digital learning resources, and train new vocational education teachers.
About the project
The project “Stronger VET for the Enhancement of Vocational Education and Training in Latvia” is being implemented within the framework of the Swiss–Latvian Cooperation Programme. The programme is managed by the Ministry of Education and Science, and the project is implemented by the State Education Development Agency. The programme is carried out with the support of the Government of Switzerland.
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