Work based learning programmes in Latvia
2017
Golca, L., Vidzeme Univ. of Applied Sciences, Valmiera (Latvia) | Rajevska, F., Vidzeme Univ. of Applied Sciences, Valmiera (Latvia)
Work based learning (WBL) is referred to as a high-level education and employment policy priority in the European Union (EU), including Latvia. In the context of Latvia, WBL means that a student of a vocational school during the programme of WBL acquires theory and practice of vocational content of education programme in an education institution and in a company according to the individual plan of the appropriate education programme. WBL as an educational approach in vocational education in Latvia was launched in 2013 in the form of pilot projects, in 2015 it was included in the regulations as a form of education acquisition, and in summer 2016 it was adopted by the regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers. The goal of the article is to investigate the complicated road to the introduction of WBL in Latvia. Therefore, the tasks include a detailed analysis of the experience of stakeholders in WBL implementation process, mainly focusing on awareness-raising and communication experience of WBL implementers. The article is based on the analysis of legislative acts, reports from the ministries and interviews with stakeholders (10 interviews were conducted). Results show that in WBL pilot stage there has been a quite varied school awareness and interpretation of what WBL is and how to implement it within the existing legislative framework- this has contributed to the emergence of different experiences. Furthermore, the lack of experience in the implementation of the WBL approach and the school competition are some of the reasons influencing the communication among schools.
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