Kraljevo, 24.05.2022. – Representatives of the company “Omniprojekt” today attended the signing of the contract for learning through work in their plants for the next two school years, between the Mechanical Engineering School and the parents of students who are completing the first year of the locksmith-welder course. The signing of the contract was also attended by Dr. Gabrijela Grujić, Assistant Minister of Education, Dr. Predrag Terzić, Mayor of Kraljevo, Bojana Marinković, Head of School Administration and Zvonko Tugegdžić, Director of the Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“The Mechanical and Technical School in Kraljevo has been an active partner since the beginning and has grown from one educational profile to five under the dual model,” said Gabrijela Grujić, Assistant Minister of Education in charge of dual education. “I came to support young people who enter the process of learning through work, as well as companies that have recognized the importance of cooperation with young people, which will enable them to sustainably provide staff and be innovative.”

By learning through work, young people will understand that their career begins in the next school year and that one thing will never change, and that is lifelong learning. The learning-by-doing process ensures a secure career path. They can also continue their education through higher dual studies that now also exist in the education system.

“Teachers and students of MTŠ have already visited Omniprojekt, so we were convinced of mutual interest in cooperation”, Branko Babić, director of Omniprojekt, told us. “We need CNC operators, mechanics, fitters… Finding a quality workforce is the biggest problem of the economy in Serbia today. In order to reach the right people, we publish competitions and carry out selection, in order to reach those who are motivated and who have chosen the profession they will pursue. The education itself is the easier part of the job, the commitment of the staff is important”.

According to data from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, in the school year 2022/23. in the secondary school system, there will be 61 educational profiles based on the dual education model, and as many as 500 employers have applied to join this system.

“For the next school year, we plan to enroll all three-year educational profiles according to the dual model and to have a four-year profile – technicians for controlling CNC machines, which is also according to the dual model. Of the 210 students we plan to enroll, 99 will be educated under the dual model. Now there are two profiles: locksmith-welder and fashion tailor, and in the next school year we will have five. That’s why we invited representatives of the company Omniprojekt from Vrnjačka Banja to the signing of the contract today, who need such profiles”, said the director of the school, Miloš Lazović.

The model of learning through work is called dual education in Serbia and was introduced in 2016. The main advantage is that in addition to theoretical knowledge, students acquire knowledge and skills in companies every day, and if they prove themselves in practical work, when they graduate from high school, they get the opportunity to find employment.