Project: Skill4Work (Work-Based Learning)

City of visit: Berlin, Germany

Date of visit: 12 – 16 January 2015

Name: Damjan Poljanec, dipl. inž. el.

Organization: ŠC Kranj, Srednja tehniška šola

Summary:

During the visit of various institutions in Berlin, I tried to take the perspective as a teacher of practical part of the training at school in the field of electro science. I would like to point out a few things that were memorable because they were different or act differently than in Slovenia.

1. Dual system is very well appreciated (those who successfully complete this training have better chance of getting the employment because the students gain wide knowledge – in Slovenia it is just vice versa) and well-functioning (at least in the organizations they have presented to us). Currently, to me it seems impossible to transfer the dual system to the Slovenian school system
2. The companies are interested in cooperation with the school.Probably it isdifficult tocompare theeconomic situationin the GermanandSlovenianfirmscouldbut I think itwill be necessaryforusto continueto worktowards better
3. The strong link between economy and education – teachers prepare learning situations much easier. Teachers of practical content at school are consulting with mentors in the companies about learning situations, ..
4. A very important and significant role of the Chamber of Commerce (Chamber of Industry and Commerce). They also provide social care: helping the unsuccessful students, promoting the vocations in the kindergartens, evaluating the final examinations…
5. A larger number of teachers at the school cooperate with the companies (in our case mainly a coordinator WBL).
6. The motivation of students at work in the learning situations. We also try to implement more of this in the pedagogical process. We also realize that well preparedlearning situationcouldnotarise
7. The importance of other competences – not only the professional and technical skills (social, personal…). In some companies (Deutsche Telekom and the German parliament) pay more attention to personality traits (punctuality, neatness, diligence, communication…) rather than technical knowledge.
8. The relationship – trust between students and teachers. In all presented educational institutions we got the impression of respect between students and teachers, regardless of age (by the way, in the same class are together students of various ages from 16 years to 26).
9. Evaluation of the Another thing that seems good and necessary. The school (teachers in collaboration with mentors in companies) presents the set of competencies to the company before the start of practical training in the company. After finishing the WBL the school would carry out the evaluation of these competencies.
10. Ona visit toBerlinthey have probably shown usonly the institutionswherethe systemis workingwell, but we have notseenany exampleofa small company or WBL at the craftsmen.

The fact is that in Slovenia we do not have as many large companies to send our students on practical training. I see the possibility of an even greater role for Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Craft and Small Business and Inter-company training centers.