The first international cooperation agreement has been signed between the State Education Development Agency (VIAA) and the “Hotel & Gastro Formation Schweiz”, a leading Swiss Hotel and Catering Industry Training Centre within the framework of the programme “Stronger Work-Based Learning for Improving Vocational Education and Training in Latvia (VET)” (Swiss-Latvia Cooperation Programme). This cooperation marks a significant milestone towards strengthening industry-based vocational education and its sustainable development in Latvia, inviting industry companies to actively engage in the implementation of vocational education.
With the support of the Swiss-Latvia Cooperation Programme, the implementation of a new, industry-based vocational education approach is being launched in Latvia. It is based on the close involvement of companies and industry organizations in the development and testing of new vocational education implementation and assessment models, significantly increasing the responsibility and practical engagement of companies in the learning process, supported by the training of vocational education teachers in a work-based learning environment, the acquisition of digital tools and simulation equipment contributing to the creation of a sustainable vocational education system.
This new approach, based on the Switzerland’s dual vocational education model, provides significant benefits for all involved parties: companies gain the opportunity to train the workforce they need; learners acquire hands-on skills and improved employment prospects, and the state adopts an educational model aligned with the country’s economic development priorities.
This approach will be piloted in several sectors in Latvia, including agriculture, mechanical engineering, energy, and hospitality. In order to get acquainted with the practical implementation of the Switzerland’s dual vocational education, a study visit of the Ministry of Education, Science and Higher Education, VIAA and Latvian industry representatives to Switzerland took place at the beginning of July.
The Latvian delegation, which included representatives of the The Latvian Agricultural Organisation Cooperation Council, the Agricultural and Industrial Machinery Association and the Latvian Restaurant Association, visited companies, training centers and educational institutions to learn how industry associations and companies cooperate with the state and educational institutions to jointly ensure the preparation of a qualified workforce. During the visit, VIAA signed a cooperation agreement with the “Hotel & Gastro Formation Schweiz”, a leading Swiss Hotel and Catering Industry Training Centre to ensure direct transfer of experience, attraction of experts and practical support in the development of training and assessment models.
The official opening of the program is scheduled for 30th of September this year, with the participation of the Ambassador of the Swiss Federation to Latvia, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science Mr.Jānis Paiders, as well as cooperation partners from Switzerland – the Swiss Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET) and the Swiss Hotel and Catering Industry Training Centre “Hotel & Gastro Formation Schweiz”. The conference will focus on the importance of industry-based vocational education, the opportunities provided and the implementation conditions, with a special emphasis on the role of companies in preparing new specialists in accordance with the needs of the labor market. Entrepreneurs from the agricultural, mechanical engineering, energy and hospitality sectors, as well as representatives of Latvian vocational education institutions, will be especially invited to attend the event.
After the opening event, on October 1st and 2nd, several additional activities with the participation of Swiss experts are planned to provide an in-depth understanding of the Latvian vocational education system, conduct visits to companies, and prepare the groundwork for the future successful implementation of the program.
The programme “Stronger Work-Based Learning for Improving Vocational Education and Training in Latvia (VET)” will run from April 2025 to November 2029, in cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science, VIAA, industry organisations, and higher education institutions. The total programme budget is EUR 12.35 million, of which 85% is funded by Switzerland and 15% by the Latvian state budget.