Abstract:

Nowadays, all educational systems cope with many challenges in a fast-changing, digital era/environment. So do vocational education. The main enablers to respond to those challenges are vocational teachers. To be able to do it vocation teachers should be equipped with adequate competencies which should be improved constantly.

In May 2017 Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (AVETAE, in Croatian ASOO) of the Republic of Croatia started the project of “Modernization of the system of VET teachers’ professional development” which has finished in December 2019. The project has addressed national strategies and politics related to vocational education system and education in general with its two specific aims/goals:
1) to improve and implement the activities of the modern system of professional development of vocational teachers and
2) to strengthen the role and capacity of the for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education in the planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of vocational training.

In this paper, the two project elements out of four are presented and methods used described:
1) analysis of the existing teacher training system, recommendations for improvements and a comprehensive study of skills and competencies needs and
2) development of a new concept of continuing professional development of vocational teachers.

The two project elements and its methods resulted in:
1) the guidelines for (vocational training and) continuing professional development of vocational teachers developed and finally in
2) a new concept/model of continuing professional development of vocational teachers based on those guidelines.

The paper aims to present and share experiences and lessons learned in setting up and implementing a methodology for completing a complex, challenging and creative task, such as proposing the new model for improving the competencies of vocational teachers as an important base of each modernization of a vocational education system.

Keywords:

Vocational education, modernisation, teachers, continuing professional development (CPD), guidelines, model, methodology.