More than 80 people (partners from Greece, Austria and Poland, members of Lithuanian vocational training institutions and social partners) participated in the project final conference in Kaunas, 11-09-2014.

The president of Kaunas CICC Benjaminas Žemaitis said that vocational training is very important for main companies of the country, especially in manufacturing sector.

Kaunas CICC VET department chief specialist and project manager Aušra Giedrienė presented results of the project and gave a short introduction to EQAVET system.

Main project product is website www.bequal.info (translated into 12 languages), which is dedicated to practical issues on quality assurance in VET. Important part of this portal is benchmarking tool, which gives an advantage for every VET institution to see their weakness and strengths at organizational, national and European level.

Nijole Deksnienė the president of Association of Lithuania Innovative Vocational Training Institutions presented testing of benchmarking tool process in Lithuania, Poland, Austria and UK. 125 VET institutions in Austria, Lithuania, Poland and UK tested benchmarking tool. After the testing the tool was improved and updated.

EFVET secretary, Head of International Studies and Relations at Marijampole College, Rasa Zygmantaite stressed out that it is very important to analyze quality process, especially in relation with human resources.

Dorina Stamou, repr. of BEST gave an presentation on  quality assurance  in VET in Austria. She pointed, that 80% of students in Austria are choosing vocational training. It helps them to reach successful career. Besides, unemployment of this country is the lowest in Europe.

Natassa Kazantzidou (Greece) explained the idea why this project was necessary and its successful implementation in 12 countries. At this moment BEQUAL.INFO is used in Greece, Spain, France, Germany, Romania, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Lithuania, Poland, Austria and UK. In this portal are registered 450 VET institutions.  Good news for project sustainability, that in 2014 the project will be transferred to Latvia, Finland and Czech.

The head of vocational training quality department at Lithuanian Qualifications and VET Development center,  Rūta Karvelyte presented important project’s „External evaluation of vocational training quality“ results to Lithuanian VET system.

Also in the conference was a practical part –how to get financing for new projects in education sector. „SIKC“ repr. Mr. Gintaras Bleizgys presented useful points on new opportunities to get benefit from EU support.