http://www.innove.ee en http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/%84young-master-2011%94_0 „Young Master 2011” „Noor Meister 2011” (Young Master) skills competition took place on December 1-2 as part of the Information Seminar „Teeviit“ (Road Sign). Young professionals competed in 12 specialties: electronics, mechatronics, IT technology, landscape gardening and design, cleaning service, ladies`/mens` hairdressing, tiling, painting and decorating, graphical design, electrical installation, fashion design and floristry. The objective of the two day competition is to offer young VET students an opportunity to compare their knowledge and skills with other students studying the same specialty and to find out the best in Estonia who could compete on the international arena. The young masters give a hands-on demonstration on what can be studied in different VET schools all over Estonia, thus study opportunities in VET are also promoted. In parallel with the competitions a programme is running on the stage, several performers entertain the audience with music, beauty care, fashion created by VET students, etc. The third annual competition “Young Master” was organized by Foundation for Lifelong Learning Development Innove together with the Ministry of Education and Research. The competition was financed by the ESF. More information at: www.estoskills.ee http://www.innove.ee/35098 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/cooperation-between-estonia-and-georgia-continues_0 Co-operation between Estonia and Georgia continues The fruitful co-operation between Estonia and Georgia continues with the project “Support to the Development of Georgian Vocational Education and Training II.” The aim of the project is to support the Georgian pilot schools and the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science in enhancing the quality of vocational education in the framework of the Georgian education strategy and the objectives of vocational education in the EU. The following activities will be undertaken: enhancement of quality assurance system in vocational schools, curriculum development in priority economic sectors and popularization of vocational education. Project partners in Estonia are the National Examinations and Qualifications Centre and 8 vocational schools. Co-operation partners in Georgia are the Georgian Ministry of Education and Science and the Georgian National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement. Project beneficiaries are Georgian pilot schools (8 VET colleges/centres), who also participate in the development activity. Project opening activities took place in Georgia on 24th -28th October 2011. Project Opening seminar was held in Tbilisi on 24th of October. The overall period of the project is October 2011 - October 2013. Project is funded by the Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid of the Estonian Foreign Ministry. Additional information: Aili Kõiv +372 699 8518 aili.koiv@innove.ee  http://www.innove.ee/arendusprojektid/rahvusvahelised/gruusia http://www.innove.ee/34400 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/new-opportunities-for-vet-dropouts--changes-in-the_0 New opportunities for VET dropouts - changes in the program The program, which started last year, called “KUTSE” (a pun on words, meaning profession/calling/call) has again some changes this year. As earlier, students who have discontinued their studies during 2000-2010 in institutions of vocational education and institutions of professional higher education that provide vocational training, can continue their studies. In addition, new target group for this program is adults. According to changes in the program, study groups for adult learners who doesn’t have any professional education or who wish to acquire new profession, are composed. The purpose of this program is to create opportunities for vocational education students and adults whose studies have been disrupted, to finish up their studies and/or acquire a new qualification. The program is funded by the European Social Fund and the state. Additional information: Aivi Virma +372 735 0382 aivi.virma@hm.ee www.hm.ee/kutse http://www.innove.ee/34399 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/estonian-vet-promotion-organizations-annual-autumn_0 Estonian VET promotion organization`s annual autumn seminar On September 14-15, EKEÜ (Association for Advancement of Vocational Education) held its annual autumn seminar in Tallinn. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Research spoke about further developments in VET. Main themes under discussion were: draft version of Vocational Education Institutions Act; general education in VET; adult continuing education; good examples of cooperation between employer-Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund-VET institutions; accreditation in VET; professional examinations and practical training in VET. Association for Advancement of Vocational Education, which unites VET school directors, staff and officials working in VET related governmental and non-governmental organizations, is the main partner of the Ministry of Education and Research in VET policy making in Estonia. Additional information: www.ekey.ee http://www.innove.ee/32781 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0300 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/workrelated-training-and-development-activities-fo_2 Work-related training and development activities for adults in the autumn semester In autumn semester 2011, 3187 people can participate in different courses which are state funded study places for work-related continuing vocational education training and retraining. These courses allow adults to acquire and improve their professional knowledge, skills and competencies as well as to retrain themselves. This semester, free work-related training courses are held at 34 institutions of vocational education and institutions of professional higher education that provide vocational training in all counties. In 18 different curriculum programs are 224 courses. This program started in 2007 when the Ministry of Education and Research carried out a pilot project of adult vocational education and used funding from the ESF and the state budget. This program will continue until 2013. Courses are updated every semester. Additional information: Inna Laanmets +372 735 0242 inna.laanmets@hm.ee http://www.innove.ee/31404 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0300 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/lifelong-learning-for-my-life_0 Lifelong learning for my life! The one-year-long project Elu5x (a pun on words, meaning lifelong learning - way of life), launched in the spring of 2011, is aimed at raising awareness of options for lifelong learning in Estonia and at the creation of motivation for self-education. Among others, it is targeted to those who, compared to other groups, struggle the most to enter and stay in the labour market. In the framework of Elu5x, Strategy of Education is introduced and lifelong learning is presented at conferences and roundtables at regional and county levels. All this will result in proposals on how to implement the Strategy of Education and materials on “learning to learn”. The purpose is to make lifelong learning choices and possibilities accessible through various communication activities. In this way the project stands for an active way of life, valuing education throughout one’s entire life cycle and saying it’s never too late to acquire knowledge and skills. Lifelong learning is considered to be a part of the European way of life and thinking, and one of the key issues for the development of Estonia. Estonia’s next step towards lifelong learning is implementing the newly-completed Strategy of Education. This is supported by the project Elu5x (Estonian Strategy of Education - Lifelong Learning), co-ordinated by the Estonian Cooperation Assembly and financed by the European Union. The other partners of this project are: Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Foundation for Lifelong Learning Development Innove, Estonian Newspapers Ltd., Powerhouse (Communication Bureau). Additional information: http://www.elu5x.ee/?lang=en http://www.innove.ee/31010 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0300 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/worldskills-europe-assembly-in-estonia_0 WorldSkills Europe assembly in Estonia On May 26-28, the skills competitions organisers from Europe got together in Tallinn, Estonia. EuroSkills development committee meeting focused on EuroSkills 2012 preparation work and joint assembly centered on electing new members to the WorldSkills Europe leader committee and organizations` strategic goals for the period 2012-2014. WorldSkills Europe is an association which promotes excellence in the field of skills and competence development. It focuses on organizing and developing skills competitions which act as a tool for further developing skills structures in Europe. Additional information: http://www.euroskills.org/cms/index.php/about http://www.innove.ee/31009 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0300 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/10-vet-projects-for-helping-young-enter-the-labour 10 VET projects for helping young enter the labour market With the help of ESF measure “Increasing the availability of qualified labour force”, 10 projects from institutions of vocational education and institutions of professional higher education that provide vocational training got funded. Projects are aimed at supporting young unemployed people with basic education or less than that to acquire knowledge and skills in VET institutions and if needed, offer different supporting services (babysitting, counseling, transport subsidy) and scholarship. Additional information: http://www.innove.ee/struktuuritoetused/huvilisele/projektide-andmebaas http://www.innove.ee/30128 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0300 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/%93estonian-qualifications--understandable-and-trust_0 “Estonian qualifications - understandable and trustworthy!” On 17th March, Estonian Qualifications Authority organized a conference “Estonian qualifications - understandable and trustworthy!” The main theme was the objective of European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the aspects which should be under attention while building up Estonian Qualifications Framework. In addition, an overview of the situation with qualifications in Latvia and Finland were presented. Panel discussion - “For what and how to use Estonian Qualifications Framework” - approached qualifications from different standpoints.   Additional information: http://www.kutsekoda.ee/et/uudised/view/10387047 http://www.innove.ee/29790 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0300 http://www.innove.ee/refernet/workspace/workspace/refernet-news/refernet-estonia-information-seminar_0 ReferNet Estonia information seminar On 3rd March, Foundation Innove and ReferNet Estonia held an information seminar “Labour and training needs”. At the beginning Pille Rebane gave an overview of new VET Development Unit in Innove. After that, Andres Pung from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research spoke about the Copenhagen Declaration and the Bruges Communique. Jaanika Meriküll (Bank of Estonia and University of Tartu) introduced the study “Manpower requirement and the knowledge-based economy“. Katrin Kaskpeit from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications presented her master`s thesis “Expert opinions as a method to forecast demand in vocational education and training”. The study “Labour market demand and workforce competencies and level of qualifications in the agricultural-, food- and forestry sectors” were introduced by Kristel Jalak from DevelopDesign. The day ended with panel discussion “Prognosis and real life - an everlasting contradiction?” moderated by Maris Lauri from Swedbank. Participants were people who made presentations during the day and Mario Lambing from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications who is editing the ministries employment prognosis. Additional information: http://www.innove.ee/infopank/infopaev/infopaev-3-marts-2011 http://www.innove.ee/29237 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0200