Warmia and Mazury Vocational Training Centre

in Olsztyn

• educational association– mission: to provide education, training and

vocational development of adults and youth in terms of personal skills, professional qualifications and practical abilities

• non-profit NGO• established in 1992 (roots back to 1946)• DIN EN ISO 9001:2000

• provides training services for:– SMEs– employees– unemployed– handicapped– branch associations– adults and youth

• initiates and supports implementation of innovations in the region

• regional network of 12 local Centres of Education

• member of the national Association of VTCs

• over 70 employees• didactic staff of about 500 instructors,

trainers and teachers • over 11.000 trainees per year

• offer including over 600 training courses

• building sector training facility

• computer laboratories- local CISCO Academy

• driving school

• secondary schools• high schools• language school

transnational cooperation

partners all over Europe

transnational cooperation

• several realised projects:– PHARE partnership– Socrates Grundtvig („Wizard toolbox”, „Namal 2”)– Leonardo da Vinci („Ex.So.Res”)– Halland model for conservation of buildings– CI EQUAL

national projects

• Training projects addressed to:– unemployed– inhabitants of rural areas– handicapped– social workers– SMEs– employees– prisoners– ...

• Research projects

Warmia and Mazury region

Forests and lakes...

Demographics

• 1,4 mln inhabitants;• low density: 59 persons/km2 (rural areas: 11

persons/km2); • high birth-rate (2nd best in Poland);• young population (36% below 25 years, 11,4% above 65

years);• poor education (nearly 5% with no education, 41% with

basic education and just 8% with higher education); • low income

Geography

• 24.200 km2;• 55% - agricultural areas, 32% - woods, 6% - water, 3.5%

housing;• rural area: 97,5% (biggest rate in Poland);• 60% - urban population; dominance of small towns;• Green Lungs of Poland;• few and poor natural resources;• rich environmental resources.

Economy

• 108 000 companies (mostly SMEs)• low competitiveness of companies;• low productivity; • rather poor internal demand (due to low income);• low industrialization level („Green Lungs”);• poor communication (lack of airports, under-developed

roads and railway).

Industry

• tourist region;• main branches:

– food production– wood and furniture production– tourism– tyres production (Michelin in Olsztyn)

• domination of small, private companies

VET in Warmia and Mazury

• several vocational schools;• W-M ZDZ being the regional leader of vocational

education and trainings;• e-learning and blended learning systems still being

developped and rather unknown (save for big international companies)

W-M ZDZul. Mickiewicza 5

10-548 Olsztyn, Poland

r.szutowicz@wmzdz.plwww.wmzdz.pl