A discussion forum called "In Search of Quality Internships - Promotion, Challenges of Implementation and Perspective" was held in the premises of the Regional Center for Professional Development of Employees in Education Sector in Uzice, on November 15.
The two-hour discussion was dedicated to the issue of youth involvement in the labour market, and promoting internships as a good opportunity for young people, educational institutions and employers.
It was also emphasized that there is a lack of a common understanding of the quality of internships as part of VET programs, which is cited as one of the important challenges for the introduction of the dual education. Namely, by discussing quality internships and incorporating information on the implementation of internship programs within the plans for the promotion of certain (prospective) educational profiles, it is possible to create a complete and adequate picture of how job positions within certain occupations look like. In this way, it can affect the elimination of prejudices about educational profiles for which there is no great interest of the students (that some professions are related to work in inadequate conditions, inability to improve, etc.), and at the same time it improves the image of an internship as the most effective mechanism for improvement of employability.
In this context, the "Handbook for the Promotion of Educational Profiles of Secondary Schools", which was created by the Belgrade Open School, was also presented, which can be an additional instrument for schools to improve plans and ways of promotion, especially in terms of using the Internet for these purposes.
The Union of Employers of Serbia gave its significant contribution to the event. Their representatives presented the main findings of their research aimed at recognizing all the key challenges in organizing internships (from the perspective of young people and employers), as well as the "Guide to internship" which was developed in cooperation with the National Employment Service.
The director of the Technical School of Uzice, Dragan Tucakovic, also presented the presentation on the innovative model of organizing and conducting student internships. Tracking students on internships in different companies and at different positions is presented through the "hodogram" methodology, which implies the way of work currently being piloted in this secondary school.
The event brought together representatives of secondary and higher schools, city administration, local economic development offices, National employment service, regional chambers of commerce and development agency Zlatibor, representatives of employers, local associations, information and professional counselling centres and local media.
The discussion forum was held as part of the MUSTRA IV project, which is supported by Solidar Suisse - Office in Serbia.
