Vocational education in Serbia includes a significant number of young people. According to the data from the school year 2009/10 the proportion of pupils attending vocational secondary schools was 74% (211 618 pupils). Vocational schools are attractive because they provide both opportunities - further education and employment.

However, the main problem is the disconnection between the system of education and the labour market - mostly pupils are educated for profiles that have low demand and are in surplus in the labour market. The enrolment plan in high schools does not follow the requirements of the labour market.

This is just one of the challenges of non-compliance of the education system and labour market. With the project "with dialogue to the model of harmonization of the educational system and the labour market" BOS will endeavour to contribute to overcoming these and other challenges associated with the non-compliance of the education system and the labour market in order to provide young people in Serbia with opportunities to find their first job after completion of formal education.

The plan of project activities was based on specially adapted methodology of dialogue between stakeholders in the area of harmonization of the labour market and the education system, particularly vocational education. The methodology of the dialogue was developed based on two approaches represented in other European countries and supported by the EU and the Council of Europe: a structured dialogue and consultation process.

The project developed a Policy brief - a document with conclusions and recommendations to improve the dialogue of stakeholders in the process of harmonization of the educational system and labour market needs in the City of Belgrade, in the areas of finance / economics and commerce / services. The purpose of this Policy brief is to promote practical political framework in the area of vocational education in Serbia.

The project was implemented in the period from July 1 - December 31, 2013, and the implementation of activities is supported by Solidar Suisse / Swiss Labour Assistance (SLA) - Office in Serbia.