Warmia and Mazury Vocational Training Centre in Olsztyn

Warmia and Mazury Vocational Training Centre in Olsztyn

• educational association – mission: to provide education, training and vocational development of adults and youth in terms of personal skills, professional qualifications and practical abilities • non-profit NGO • established in 1992 (roots back to 1946) • DIN EN ISO 9001: 2000

• provides training services for: – SMEs – employees – unemployed – handicapped – branch associations – adults and youth • initiates and supports implementation of innovations in the region

• regional network of 12 local Centres of Education • member of the national Association of VTCs

• over 70 employees • didactic staff of about 500 instructors, trainers and teachers • over 11. 000 trainees per year

• offer including over 600 training courses

• building sector training facility

• computer laboratories - local CISCO Academy

• driving school

• secondary schools • high schools • language school

transnational cooperation partners all over Europe

transnational cooperation • several realised projects: – PHARE partnership – Socrates Grundtvig („Wizard toolbox”, „Namal 2”) – Leonardo da Vinci („Ex. So. Res”) – Halland model for conservation of buildings – CI EQUAL

national projects • Training projects addressed to: – unemployed – inhabitants of rural areas – handicapped – social workers – SMEs – employees – prisoners –. . . • Research projects

Warmia and Mazury region

Forests and lakes. . .

Demographics • 1, 4 mln inhabitants; • low density: 59 persons/km 2 (rural areas: 11 persons/km 2); • high birth-rate (2 nd best in Poland); • young population (36% below 25 years, 11, 4% above 65 years); • poor education (nearly 5% with no education, 41% with basic education and just 8% with higher education); • low income

Geography • 24. 200 km 2; • 55% - agricultural areas, 32% - woods, 6% - water, 3. 5% housing; • rural area: 97, 5% (biggest rate in Poland); • 60% - urban population; dominance of small towns; • Green Lungs of Poland; • few and poor natural resources; • rich environmental resources.

Economy • • • 108 000 companies (mostly SMEs) low competitiveness of companies; low productivity; rather poor internal demand (due to low income); low industrialization level („Green Lungs”); poor communication (lack of airports, under-developed roads and railway).

Industry • tourist region; • main branches: – food production – wood and furniture production – tourism – tyres production (Michelin in Olsztyn) • domination of small, private companies

VET in Warmia and Mazury • several vocational schools; • W-M ZDZ being the regional leader of vocational education and trainings; • e-learning and blended learning systems still being developped and rather unknown (save for big international companies)

W-M ZDZ ul. Mickiewicza 5 10 -548 Olsztyn, Poland r. szutowicz@wmzdz. pl www. wmzdz. pl