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EN spotlight on VET CROATIA 2020 spotlight on VET VET in Croatia Vocational education and training (VET) plays a Only a few learners take part in two-year prominent role in Croatia. Overall responsibility VET programmes leading to qualifications for VET lies with the Ministry of Science and without completing upper secondary education. Education supported by the Agency for VET Graduates of two- and three-year programmes and Adult Education (ASOO). The agency can continue their education as regular students is responsible for developing VET curricula, to attain a qualification one level higher, at the continuous professional development of discretion of their schools. VET teachers, skills competitions and quality VET specialist development programmes (EQF assurance. Stakeholders are involved in 5) are foreseen but not introduced yet at post- curriculum development, sector skills councils secondary level. and in the VET Council, which proposes Professional education and training is offered measures for the development of VET in Croatia. in different forms at tertiary level. Short-cycle Initial VET is publicly financed and free professional undergraduate programmes last two of charge. All VET programmes combine to two-and-a-half years (120-150 ECTS points) professional and general competences, to varying and lead to qualifications at CROQF/EQF level 5. degrees; all include work-based learning (WBL), Three- to four-year professional undergraduate with duration and type varying. programmes lead to a professional bachelor VET is provided at upper secondary and diploma at CROQF/EQF level 6. Professional postsecondary levels; the entry point is completion bachelors may continue their studies in university of compulsory education at age 14 or 15. programmes subject to successful completion At upper secondary level, about 70% of additional exams and other requirements of learners participate in initial vocational established by individual higher education education and training (IVET). Around two thirds institutions. Specialist graduate professional of VET learners are in four-year school-based studies last one to two years and lead to a programmes, with under one third in three- professional specialist diploma at CROQF/EQF year programmes. Only one upper secondary level 7. programme lasts five years, leading to a general Adult education and training in Croatia lead nursing qualification. This programme has a to educational attainment at EQF levels 1 to 5 unique structure of two years of general followed for learners older than 15. Most programmes by three years of vocational education. are VET-related, ranging from short training and The four-year, mostly school-based, VET professional development to programmes leading programmes, with a WBL share of around 10%, to qualifications equivalent to those in IVET. The lead to qualifications at CROQF level 4.2/ EQF education ministry’s approval of programmes level 4 and allow progression to tertiary education; leading to formal certificates is necessary, with this follows completing external matura exams, prior positive opinion from ASOO. Adult learning administered by the National Centre for External is typically financed by learners. Evaluation of Education (NCVVO). In 2019, around 80% of four-year and five-year programme graduates took matura exams and 45% enrolled in higher education immediately on completion of secondary education. Three-year VET programmes give access to the labour market and lead to qualifications at CROQF level 4.1/ EQF level 4; WBL share ranges from 5% and more in school-based programmes to up to 60% in apprenticeships (programmes for crafts, nationally referred to as unified model of education, JMO). On completion of the three-year JMO programme, graduates take the journeyman exam. Around 10% of all IVET learners are in apprenticeships. VET in Croatia’s education and training system ADULT LEARNING/CONTINUING TRAINING TERTIARY LEVEL (outside the school system) EQF 5 Professional Short training development programmes Master programmes craftsperson EQF 8 qualification exam PhD programmes EQF 7 ISCED 451 ISCED 351 Post-master ISCED ISCED 844 specialist studies748 EQF 7 EQF 7 EQF 7 POST-SECONDARY Master programmes, Specialists graduate professional Integrated 1-2 years ISCED 747 programmes, 1-2 years ISCED 757 LEVEL bachelor and master EQF 6 EQF 6 pro5g ryaemarmses, pr3Bo-ga4rc ahymeealmorrses, stuuPndrdieoesfre,g s3rsa-i4do unyaaetla er s Supnrhodogerrtra-gmcryamcdlEueeQa spt,F er2 o 5-f2e.s5s iyoenaarls VET speciaEliQsFt d5evelopment 18+ 12+ ISCED 746 ISCED 645 ISCED 655 ISCED 554 programmes (**) ISCED 453 SECONDARY LEVEL EQF 4 Bridging programme, 2 years 18 12 EQF 4 Geqnuearlaifil cnautriosinn g EQF 4 17 11 proGgernaemramles pro5g yraemarmse, Spcrohgoroal-mbmaseesd, EQF 4 16 10 (gym4 nyeaasirusm), (2 eydeuacrsa toiof ng eannedr al 4 years, WBL 10%, (*) apSpcrheonotilc-ebsahsiepd p arnodgr., EQF 3 3 years VET) 3 years, WBL 5-60% (*) 2-year progr. 15 9 ISCED 344 ISCED 354 ISCED 354 ISCED 353 ISCED 351 14 8 EQF 1 13 7 Primary education, 12 6 8 years AGE YEARS in E&T ISCED 244 General education programmes Possible progression routes VET programmes Possible progression route, where prior VET knowledge may Programmes combining VET and general education End of compulsory education Also available to adults (full-, part-time or distance education) State matura exams which give access to tertiary education are optional for VET students (*) Qualifications allowing access to the next education level programmes since 2018/19 (**) Programmes legally foreseen and not yet implemented NB: ISCED-P 2011. NB: ISCED-P 2011. Source: Cedefop and ReferNet Croatia, 2019. Source: Cedefop and ReferNet Croatia, 2020. CROATIA Distinctive features Challenges and policy of VET responses VET in Croatia has two main roles. Alongside Current priorities for VET development focus on preparation for labour market entry, it enables increasing its labour market relevance, quality, progression to tertiary education; this is primarily attractiveness and internationalisation. Determined through four-year VET programmes, where reform efforts are under way to address outdated learners spend half of their time acquiring curricula, skills mismatch, the quality of work- general competences. In 2019, around 80% of based learning and apprenticeship, as well as four-year VET graduates took matura exams the public image of VET. As the flagship initiative, and around 45% enrolled in tertiary education. VET curriculum reform is oriented towards Work-based learning is present in all forms of comprehensive redesign in line with labour market VET, while work placements are found mostly in needs, focus on learning outcomes, work-based apprenticeship programmes. learning, contemporary teaching and close Participation in VET at upper secondary level support to VET providers. New VET curricula are is one of the highest in the EU (69.6% compared expected to be implemented in 2022/23. to the EU average of 47.8% in 2017). Croatia Youth unemployment has been gradually has the lowest rate of early school leaving in the falling (23.8% in 2018 among 15 to 24 year- EU (3.3% in 2018, compared to the EU average olds), as has the share of young people (aged of 10.6%) and has already met its Europe 2020 15 to 24) neither in employment nor in education national target of 4%. and training (NEETs), to 13.6% in 2018. Youth Self-assessment at VET schools is part of the guarantee schemes are in place to help young quality assurance system. Support measures people get into employment, apprenticeship, are in place to advance self-assessment, traineeship or get the chance to continue their including school visits, upgrades to the education or training within four months of online tool e-Kvaliteta and feedback reports leaving school or becoming unemployed. with recommendations. National demographics are reducing the To promote excellence in VET, Croatia is number of learners, particularly in three-year establishing a network of 25 regional centres IVET programmes. Those most affected are of competence. These will offer state-of-the-art the apprenticeship programmes (JMO), losing technologies, teaching excellence and work- half of their learners in the past six years. An based learning, training for professionals, VET experimental programme based on the new teachers and workplace mentors, as well as model of dual education has been piloted since close cooperation with local businesses. 2018 to improve the quality of work-based In 2019, the first WorldSkills Croatia learning and apprenticeships in Croatia. competition launched a reformed model of VET Participation in adult learning in 2018 was student competitions with over 580 competitors only 2.9%, positioning Croatia at the lower end in 46 disciplines and fairs. With 10 000 visitors, of EU range despite the tax incentives available high visibility and stakeholder endorsement, for entrepreneurs for education and training this became the leading national event for the costs, and VAT exemptions for adult education promotion of VET. The event will take place providers offering programmes approved by the again in 2020. education ministry. The main activities aim at promotion of lifelong learning in Croatia through awareness-raising efforts by ASOO, largely funded through ESIF. Further systemic measures are needed to combat these low figures and support adult learning. Developing a system for validation of informal and non-formal learning would also support adults in achieving new skills and qualifications. CROATIA Education and training in figures VOCATIONAL GENERAL Upper secondary 100 students (ISCED 2011 80 27.6 29.1 30.4 31.1 31.4 level 3) enrolled in 52.2 vocational and general 60 77.0 83.3 programmes % of all students 40 72.4 70.9 69.6 68.9 68.6 47.8 in upper secondary 20 education, 2017 23.0 16.7 0 CZ SI HR SK AT EU-28 HU CY Source: Cedefop calculations, based on Eurostat, UOE data collection on education systems, date of extraction 15.11.2019. Lifelong learning 35 % of population aged 30 25 to 64 participating in 25 education and training 20 29.2 E&T 2020=15 over the four weeks prior 15 to the survey, 2018 10 15.1 5 11.4 11.1 6.0 4.0 2.9 0.9 0 SE AT SI EU-28 HU SK HR RO Source: Eurostat, EU Labour Force Survey, date of extraction 15.11.2019. 2018 2020 NATIONAL TARGET 20 Early leavers from education and training 15.0 15 % of the population EUROPE 2020=10 10.0 aged 18 to 24 with at 9.5 10.0 10 most lower secondary 6.0 5.0 education and who were 4.0 5 not in further education or training during the last 3.3 4.2 7.3 8.6 10.6 12.5 17.9 0 four weeks prior to the HR SI AT SK EU-28 HU ES survey, 2018 Source: Eurostat, EU labour force survey, date of extraction 15.11.2019. Employment rates of 100 young graduates 80 % of 20 to 34 year-olds 76.2 no longer in education 60 60.1 63.0 57.3 and training, 2018 53.8 53.0 40 43.0 34.3 20 6 6 6 9 2 1 1 2 1 3 6 0 7 5 1 9 2. 8. 8. 9. 6. 8. 4. 0. 2. 8. 0. 4. 7. 3. 3. 3. 9 8 8 7 8 7 8 8 8 7 8 7 7 6 6 6 0 MT AT SI HU SK EU-28 HR EL Upper vocational secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education (levels 3 and 4) Upper general secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education (levels 3 and 4) Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels 0-2) Source: Eurostat, EU labour force survey, date of extraction 15.11.2019. CROATIA spotlight on VET EN Further information Cedefop (2020). Vocational education and training in Croatia: short description. http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications-and-resources/publications/4181 Cedefop (2019). Apprenticeship review: Croatia. Improving apprenticeships through stronger support and care. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/files/4173_en.pdf Eurydice (2019). Croatia: overview. In: European Commission (ed.). National descriptions. https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/content/croatia_en https://www.mzo.hr Ministry of Science and Education 81 3 https://www.asoo.hr Agency for VET and Adult Education 6 E N https://www.azoo.hr Education and Teacher Training Agency – http://www.mobilnost.hr/hr/ Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes TI‐0 https://www.ncvvo.hr National Centre for External Evaluation of Education 3 ‐1 https://mrms.gov.hr Ministry of Labour and Pension System 9‐9 https://www.mingo.hr Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurships and Crafts 51 ‐E https://www.hup.hr Croatian Employers Association N https://www.hgk.hr Chamber of Economy ‐C – https://www.hok.hr Chamber of Trades and Crafts d o http://www.hzz.hr/ Croatian Employment Service i: 1 0 .2 8 0 This Spotlight is based on input from the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult 1/4 Education (ReferNet Croatia 2019). 30 3 7 0 This publication contains UK data and analysis based on research conducted before the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union on 31 January 2020. EU averages or other statistical parameters including the UK reflect the situation in the European Union before 31 January 2020 and should not be considered as representative of the situation in the EU thereafter. In this context ‘EU-28’ and ‘EU’ refer to the 28 EU Member States prior to 31 January 2020. Europe 123, 570 01 Thessaloniki (Pylea), GREECE Postal: Cedefop service post, 570 01 Thermi, GREECE Tel. +30 2310490111, Fax +30 2310490020, Email: [email protected] © Cedefop, 2020. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International. visit our portal www.cedefop.europa.eu