From 10th to 11th of December 2020 was held “Train the Trainer” event organized by University of Juraj Dobrila in Pula as part of the DYNAMIC project. The online course brought together eminent experts from the fields of science and higher education, the private sector, development agencies, business incubators, chambers of industry and commerce and other interested stakeholders. More than 30 participants discussed the experiences and possibilities of dual education in Croatia.
Assoc. Prof Sven Maričić greeted the gathered with introductory words and thanked them for their participation. Head of the Office for Partnerships and Projects Ivona Peternel, PhD, presented the challenges and issues of dual education and the role of the University in the project consortium.
Representatives of the private sector and institutions also joined the discussion: Dean Verbanac (Inter Soft Technologies doo), Marko Tominić (Red Martyr Entertainment), Dr. Stanislav Peharec (Polyclinic Peharec), Tanja Winter (Euroconsulting), Gordana Nikolić (PAR Business School) River). Weiss simulation d.o.o., Altair ltd., ITočka doo, E-kip doo, ITCable doo, Agendum doo, Noven doo, MEDils – Mediterranean Institute for Life Research, Fizio Tech doo, Eurokonzalting Pula, Tehnomont Brodogradilište Pula, Sprend doo, Red Martyr Enterntainment, Metris, Istarsko veleučilište doo, Startup udruga, Foundation for Encouraging Partnership and Civil Society Development, Representative of the Office of the Member of the European Parliament, Valtera Flege, PAR Business School, Rijeka, Incognito, graphic design craft, Eclipse engineering doo and LELA, a market research craft.
The representative of the Istrian Development Agency (IDA d.o.o.) Tamara Kiršić presented the activities of the development agency and the achieved goals through 21 years of operation. The representative of HGK ŽK Pula Koraljka Vitasović participated in the event, as well as Daniela Buntak (German – Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce).
On that occasion, student Juraj Vivoda presented his experience of practical work in the RED FORK company, a partner in the project and described his experience. The international dimension of this event was marked by a lecture by Assistant Professor Hagen Helge Hochrinner (FH Joanneum, Graz, Austria), who presented the Austrian model of dual education. Project manager Sebastien Clerc- Renaud (FH Wismar, Wismar, Germany) presented the DYNAMIC project, project objectives and impact. Amel Hadžipašić from the Start-Up Association presented the activities and projects of the association, as an example of non-formal education in the context of dual education.
Some of the conclusions of the conference are that the focus of dual education is the student, who should be motivated and enthusiastic for new challenges and ready to learn and adapt to the organizational culture of the company in which he comes for professional practice. The presented result of the research of the ICT expert group of the Istrian County, conducted in the student population of the Faculty of Informatics in Pula, that 90% of students plan to leave Croatia is worrying, so actions should be taken to change such an attitude. The University as a project partner will make proposals at the national level, as one of the results of the DYNAMIC project that will try to respond to the challenges. There are no successful experiences or results in the dual education system without an established partnership of the private sector, universities, development and vocational agencies. It is also important to work on early identification and directing the talents of the younger population and directing individuals to areas for which they show affinities. It is also essential to harmonize educational programs with the needs of the labor market.