Milivoje Đorđević, headmaster of Technical School Vlasotince
Success stories
Investing in Education as a Business Strategy
For decades now, Vlasotince Technical School has been collaborating with the local economy in educating their students, and the success stories stemming from those decades of experience have encouraged it to try and raise that cooperation to a higher level. With that in mind, in May of 2016 the public-private partnership was established between the school, Vlasotince municipality, GIZ and local companies that have recognised the importance of active participation in educating the workforce they need. The result of that partnership was introduction of a new educational profile of industrial mechanic and a renovated, up-to-date and fully equipped school workshop for practical training. The total investment on behalf of parties in the public-private partnership reached EUR 100,000, with some significant savings generated by having the school’s headmaster, teachers and students personally engage and work on renovating the workshop.
The public-private partnership is the driving force behind the development of the Vlasotince Technical School, and it would not have been possible had the companies “Gruner”, “Elrad”, “Elrad Wire Systems”, “Falke”, IGM “Mladost” and SLR “Vitko” not recognised their interest in becoming actively involved in educating their future workforce. Mentioned companies very seriously regard the investment in education because they are aware that work-based learning, implemented in their plants, can shape the students in line with their business processes and needs. Municipality of Vlasotince has also recognised the significance of investment in education, and for years has been supporting school’s participation in many projects and investing in bettering the conditions for conducting teaching. Municipal leaders see investment in education not as an expense, but as an investment in the future of the town and the region. The common goal of all is to provide the youth with good solid base for education and career development in Vlasotince and to prevent them from leaving for bigger cities.
The public-private partnership is the driving force behind the development of the Vlasotince Technical School, and it would not have been possible had the companies “Gruner”, “Elrad”, “Elrad Wire Systems”, “Falke”, IGM “Mladost” and SLR “Vitko” not recognised their interest in becoming actively involved in educating their future workforce. Mentioned companies very seriously regard the investment in education because they are aware that work-based learning, implemented in their plants, can shape the students in line with their business processes and needs. Municipality of Vlasotince has also recognised the significance of investment in education, and for years has been supporting school’s participation in many projects and investing in bettering the conditions for conducting teaching. Municipal leaders see investment in education not as an expense, but as an investment in the future of the town and the region. The common goal of all is to provide the youth with good solid base for education and career development in Vlasotince and to prevent them from leaving for bigger cities.
Owing to joint partners’ efforts to improve the education and youth employment opportunities, the interest for Technical School remains high and the classes are packed every year. In addition to the industrial mechanic, the school has 6 more dual education profiles – locksmith-welder, mechanic for motor vehicles, basic construction works operator, construction machinery operator, mechatronics technician and fashion tailor. Students who attend classes following this model during their first year of education complete practical classes in new workshops using modern machines and equipment donated by companies. In their second year, students start with work-based learning in companies, operating state-of-the-art machinery under supervision of instructors trained to work with the youth, and if they do well, they are offered a job after graduation. Companies also provide students with financial compensation for work-based learning in line with the law, which, for most young people is an additional incentive and motivation.
Nowadays, the Technical School actively cooperates with 30 companies from Vlasotince, Leskovac and Grdelica. Regardless of the successes so far, the school principal Milivoje Đorđević still believes his work is not finished. As he says, the school must always listen to the pulse of the economy and keep abreast of labor market trends in order to fulfil its purpose. That is why he still regularly visits companies in Vlasotince and its surroundings and asks about professions they need. Based on his findings, the school makes an enrolment plan for the future generations of students.
