Meeting of the Inter-Cantonal Focus Group for Improving Vocational Education: How to Motivate Businesses to Become Organizers of Practical Training and Active Partners in Education?

Challenges and Solutions for Strengthening Practical Training

Meeting participants analyzed the current challenges faced by the vocational education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as possible solutions to improve the involvement of the business sector in the educational process. Research findings on the views of business entities in FBiH regarding incentives for participation in practical training were presented, along with best practices from the Una-Sana Canton, Zenica-Doboj Canton, and the Republic of Srpska. Dual vocational education, which combines theoretical learning in schools with practical training in businesses, is recognized as key to preparing young people for the labor market.

Incentives for Businesses: Support for Practical Training Organizers

One of the key objectives of the meeting was to develop an incentive model for businesses to encourage them to become more active in organizing practical training. Although the concept of dual vocational education is already present, many businesses express concerns about costs and organizational challenges. In this context, proposed incentives include financial incentives, tax relief, and non-financial professional support for businesses taking on the role of practical training organizers.

Particular attention was given to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and craft businesses, which are the most numerous organizers of practical training. The proposed support model includes both financial and non-financial forms of assistance, aimed at facilitating their engagement in the educational process.

Next Steps: Focused on Expanding Dual Vocational Education

The conclusions of the meeting provide a solid foundation for further work on aligning policies and support mechanisms to enable the expansion and improvement of the dual vocational education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Next steps include harmonizing incentive measures and developing an implementation plan, including drafting and submitting initiatives to the relevant federal and cantonal authorities and institutions.

Through continued dialogue and collaboration between the education and business sectors, conditions will be created for more effective development of secondary vocational education, contributing to youth employment and strengthening the competitiveness of the domestic economy.

The meeting was held within the framework of the “Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion” (SEDEP) project. The project aims to improve employability in Bosnia and Herzegovina by supporting the digital and green transformation of the economy. It is co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Government of Switzerland and is implemented by GIZ. The project component “Strengthening Secondary Vocational Education and Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (SVET) aims to strengthen the system of secondary vocational education and training to ensure a qualified workforce essential for the country’s sustainable economic development.