EEA Funds
Dissemination conferencec
EEA FUNDS DISSEMINATION CONFERENCES
In connection with the implementation of the project "High quality of education as a chance for professional development", the Complex of Technical and Vocational Schools in Żuromin prepared a conference promoting the EEA Funds. For two days - November 23-24, 2023 - the current and future benefits of implementing the project in our school were discussed.
The aim of the project implemented at ZST-Z is to increase the quality and adaptation of education and vocational training (VET) to the needs of the labor market in Poland by conducting research on employers and the labor market (NUB sector), study visits, creation of Practical Education Centers, pilot training for teachers and students. The implementation of the project is a response to the diagnosed problem regarding the lack of effective cooperation of the VET sector with employers and the maladjustment of vocational education in Poland to the needs of employers. The project is intended to strengthen cooperation between education and entrepreneurs - the effect will be to adapt the educational offer to the needs of the labor market through the implementation of a number of project activities, which will contribute to improving the school's educational offer.
At the invitation of director Mr. Wojciech Smoliński and deputy director Ewa Janulewska, the conference on November 23 was attended by: staroste Jerzy Rzymowski with deputy staroste Ireneusz Rejmus, member of the district board Tomasz Makuszewski and director of the Department of Health and Education of the district office Joanna Jucewicz Morawska, as well as: prof. Ph.D. engineer Piotr Przybyłowicz - Dean of the Faculty of Automotive and Construction Machinery of the Warsaw University of Technology with the Head of the Rail Vehicles Department, Dr. hab. engineer Jarosław Seńko and Dr. Eng. Krzysztof Szczurowski from the Tractor and Hydraulic Drives Plant. Artur Kubik, the Norwegian partner in the project and chairman of the Norwegian trade union SolidaritetNorge, also arrived.
The conference was also attended by: Iwona Szwejkowska, head of the Development Department of the National Academy of Applied Sciences. Ignacy Mościcki in Ciechanów together with Wiesław Wernik - senior specialist for promotion and cooperation of PANS in Ciechanów, Łukasz Zieliński from MS Mechatronic Solutions Group from Warsaw, Jarosław Paluszewski and Dorota Jończak from PUP in Żuromin, Jarosław Kamieniecki - Regional Sales Manager of Kołton, Sławomir Lewandowski and Krzysztof Lewandowski - owners of Energeco Sp. z o. o., Jacek Zybert – Energeco installer.
The invitees also included: director of ZS in Zielona Czarek Ossowski and deputy director Bożena Grzybicka, management of CKZiU in Żuromin - Zbigniew Jakowski and Sławomir Fijałkowski, as well as representatives of diagnostic stations and car services from the Żuromin commune. The Head of Vocational Education of ZST-Z in Żuromin, Jacek Gowin, and the project manager, Kamil Watkowski, were also present.
On the first day, at the beginning of the conference, Director Wojciech Smoliński presented some important information about the Norwegian Funds, also known as the European Economic Area (EEA). He noted that the Norwegian Funds provide many benefits to the school. These include: modern technologies (educational training for teachers in the use of new teaching tools), educational programs and training for teachers (training supporting the professional development of teachers - teaching methods, techniques, the use of new technologies, innovative pedagogical practices), development of students' competences (emphasis on developing students' competences in various areas, such as digital competences, interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills), promoting innovation in teaching (financing can support innovative approaches to teaching, encouraging teachers to experiment with new teaching methods).
The guests spoke very warmly about the project implemented at our school. Starosta Jerzy Rzymowski congratulated the completion of the task and praised the project, assuming that the conference would also bring further good solutions that would contribute to the development of schools in the district. Mr. Vice-Starosta Ireneusz Rejmus noted that the benefits will be in many sectors - from schools to employers, where qualified employees in currently desired professions will be placed. Mr. Ireneusz Rejmus mentioned the good idea of the ZST-Z management in Żuromin to introduce a new field of study - renewable energy equipment techniques, which involved training teachers and implementing the idea for several years before it was implemented and the recruitment of students was announced.
Project manager Kamil Watkowski familiarized everyone with the details of the project. He emphasized that as part of the project, 10 teachers from ZST-Z in Żuromin went to Norway and took part in, among others, participation in an expert lecture entitled "Historical outline and the educational system-training in Norway" (prepared by SolidaritetNorge, a trade union founded by Poles for Poles working in Norway) and in the panel on education and training, and then in the panel: "Fagbrev - a document aimed at recognizing professional qualifications in Norway" (also prepared by SolidaritetNorge), after which our teachers had the opportunity to take part in the discussion and ask questions to the experts. The subsequent group discussion regarding the analysis of current practices in the field of vocational education, diagnosis and mapping of priority problems, needs and challenges in this area was very valuable. During the training, there were panels on work robotization and artificial intelligence, separate professions according to vocational and secondary schools in Norway, as well as professional master's titles in Norway divided by profession.
One of the effects of cooperation is the creation of a sketch of pedagogical innovation entitled: "Motor vehicles using renewable energy sources" and the creation of an entire innovation based on the direction developing the existing field of study at our school: automotive vehicle technician, creating a curriculum and launching the field of study: technician of renewable energy systems devices.
During the first day, all invited guests spoke one after another, including the chairman of the Norwegian trade union Solidaritet, Artur Kubik, who discussed in detail what vocational education in Norway looks like and, at the same time, congratulated the establishment of cooperation between ZST-Z in Żuromin and the Solidaritet union in Norway, because it will certainly bring tangible benefits.
One of the stages of the conference was the presentation of the results of research that our school carried out among employers on the local market and residents of the Żuromin commune. The aim of the surveys was, among others, diagnosing the needs of the environment in the field of renewable energy sources and the demand for qualified employees, obtaining information about the expectations towards them. Parents, children and teachers were also surveyed regarding vocational education.
On the second day of our conference, November 24, our school employees and other teachers were introduced to the issues and effects of the project. These issues were discussed in detail by Ewa Janulewska, deputy director of ZST-Z in Żuromin. Conference participants received promotional materials and had the opportunity to exchange experiences with invited guests.
In addition to the presentation of the project, the benefits of training for teachers and the diagnosis of the demand of the local labor market, as well as interesting speeches by invited guests, the conference also brought an unexpected gift for our school - the owners of the Energeco company together with Kołton decided to donate a heat pump to ZST-Z in Żuromin for teaching purposes so that our students can also learn practically during classes.
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