Abstract:

The development of vocational education has in recent times experienced major changes relating to emerging needs in the labor market. In particular, this topic becomes important when evaluating the impact of educational programs and educational processes on the development of the local community. Therefore, at national levels educational policies face a number of challenges related to designing new knowledge for the future, new ways of learning, professional practices, cooperation with the business community etc., which can only be achieved through continuous cooperation and intensive networking with both local and regional, as well as international stakeholders.

This paper presents the results of the analysis of the vocational education in the Republic of Croatia. The analysis examines to which extent setting up a new system of regional centres of competence and related investment in modernisation and development of vocational schools in the Republic of Croatia contributes to local development.

The results of the research show that existing vocational schools have limited impact on local development. Low level of infrastructural, technical, technological and professional capacities limits the role of vocational schools as regional centers of competence. The findings were compared with regional development plans and the importance of readiness and potential of their founders (regional self-government units) to support the establishment and management of regional centers of competence was pointed out.

The results of the research also point out the key advantages of the processes of internationalization and international cooperation, which lead to well-developed development programs and investment in the education of the employees (both teaching and non-teaching staff). The shortcomings observed are related to the decline in young peoples' interest in vocational occupations, partly due to uninteresting outdated educational programs and outdated infrastructure, and the lack of active cooperation with the business sector. The recommendations go in the direction of stronger connection of vocational schools with the labor market, orientation to future needs, consolidation, internationalization, modernization of infrastructure, new innovative educational programs, cooperation with the scientific community in accordance with new development challenges.

Keywords:

Vocational education (VET), education, regional centres of competence, labour market, economic development.