Under the slogan “The doer wins!” SkillsLatvia 2017, the first national skills competition for young professionals has successfully started tradition of the VET skills competition in Latvia. During the competition 96 competitors from 30 vocational education schools (VET schools) of Latvia representing 16 professions demonstrated their skill.
In the competition everybody had the opportunity to evaluate the quality of vocational education in Latvia and to master professions required on the labour market and necessary skills offered by study programs.
Competition SkillsLatvia – the benchmark of the vocational education
The competition is organised by the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) and this was the first event of this scale in Latvia focused on vocational education and emphasising the importance of acquired skills and excellence on the labour market. During three days from 20 April to 22 April the event was the meeting place for students of VET schools, their teachers, employers and also future students who are considering their eventual profession.
“SkillsLatvia 2017 confirm that bright mind, talent, an acquired trade and “golden hands” have always been appreciated in Latvia. If the results per capita are considered, Latvia has more medals in international skills competitions than any other country in the world. Students of VET schools are messengers attesting that the level of vocational education in Latvia is high and we can be proud of it. Work-based learning is yet another step towards improving the quality of education,” Kārlis Šadurskis, the Minister of Education and Science, emphasised during the launching of the event.
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“The competition SkillsLatvia 2017 is an excellent way for assuring how modern and competitive vocational education in Latvia is and how closely it is cooperating with the labour market in order to meet its needs. For VET schools this is an opportunity to evaluate the content and attractiveness of their study programs among young people, but for future students this is a platform from where they can make their career choice and get acquainted with various professions. I am sure that the competition will become a long-term benchmark of vocational education in Latvia, the same ad Worldskills competition is in the counties all over the world,” Dita Traidās, Director of the VIAA, said.
The competitors completed practical assignments on the spot
Competitors participating in SkillsLatvia 2017 completed practical assignments equal to the standards of international skills competitions in one of the 16 professions during three days. The competitors’ performance was evaluated by industry professionals – the competition jury in which took part representatives of both employers and VET teachers. The competitors of SkillsLatvia 2017 weren’t only competing for medals, but also for the opportunity to represent Latvia at international skills competitions EuroSkills and WorldSkills.
The event was open to everybody
During the competition SkillsLatvia 2017 visitor’s hours everybody had an opportunity to get acquainted with various professions, to participate at the career think tank event, to test skills at profession demonstration parade, as well as to receive information about VET schools and higher education institutions in Latvia.
Vocational education in Latvia benefits from investments of the EU funds
During this academic year 28,950 students study at vocational education programs in 65 VET schools in Latvia. Similar to all other education fields, also vocational education faces the risks caused by low demographic indices. However, in spite of this, the number of students has been stable and even increased a little during recent years. Moreover, the proportional share of students in vocational education is gradually increasing in relation to the number of students at general education establishments and has reached 38.20%.
Investments in development of vocational education are among the reasons behind this trend.
During the period from 2007 to 2013 248.6 million Euros from the resources of the European structural funds were invested in development of vocational education by upgrading 27 vocational education establishments and creating modern vocational education competence centres. Additional 104.7 million Euros will be invested in modernisation of vocational education establishments during the new planning period until year 2020.
The competition SkillsLatvia 2017 is organised within the project “Career support for general and vocational education institution” financed by the European Social Fund and the Latvian state.
More photo: VIAA FLICKR