The Secret Formula of Education in Serbia 2021 by Diplomacy&Commerce magazine

SECRET FORMULA OF EDUCATION IN SERBIA The

2021

THE SECRET

FORMULA OF EDUCATION IN SERBIA

EDUCATION SYSTEM IS THE PILLAR OF THE STATE Continued investment in education and science infrastructure

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BRANKO RUŽIĆ First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development READ THIS ON WEB

ducation is one of the key development resources. It lowers poverty, and enhances economic potenial of a country. It also increases the quality of life of an individual, and empowers them to be an independent and active participant in social life. We talked with the new Education Minister Branko Ružić about education during the pandemic-induced crisis, the Ministry's future plans, as well as his personal vision of of education and scieence in Serbia.

During the COVID pandemic, education faced many challenges. How did the Ministry respond to these challenges? — I became minister less than three months ago. Although, this is not the best time to provide an unbiased evaluation of the education system, I can confidently say that we faced many challenges and responded to all of them completely and successfully. Today, almost all aspects of the education process have been digitalized in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The use of digital technologies in education became a necessity and a new reality. Both teachers and students successfully adapted to changes

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and proved quite capable of using the new technology and a range of electronic devices that came with it. The Serbian education system embraced permanent training as a way of enhancing the professional capacity and skills of teaching staff in all fields, including digital competencies. Back in March 2020, following the sudden lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development managed to organize an orderly transition to online teaching / classes in matter of days. Those extraordinary efforts were successful due to teachers training system already being in place. Additionally, the state secured free access to Microsoft platform TEAMS for the entire education system, as well as access to national TV systems (RTS Planet), class scheduling and my school platforms via the Internet. An agreement was reached with mobile operators to provide free mobile internet for educational purposes. Recording online classes proved to be a major challenge for the education system, particularly regarding vocational schools and schools with a dual education system which combines academic learning with handson instructions in participating com-

The objective is to ensure full access to education for every child and reduced attrition (especially from vulnerable social groups)

panies. In other words, these efforts enabled students from vocational schools to acquire both academic and applied skills through online education. This academic year, the situation is different since the lower pandemic risks allowed face-to-face practical training albeit in small groups in adequately equipped teaching cabinets and workshops. These methods were used in many relevant industrial sectors (textile, leather goods, metal processing) and, to a lesser extent, in the provision of health care services. Will the experience gained with online (distance) learning be utilized in preparing the new Education Strategy? — Extensive data and feedback received from schools on regarding their experience in the area of distance/online learning thus far indicate that this mode of learning secured adequate student motivation and academic achievement in all those cases where pre-defined models of online learning were followed. Naturally, digital education and learning hold a prominent place in the new Education Strategy both regarding the teaching process and the use of “integrated information system in education” which will enable even more efficient management of that system in the future. How far have you come in drafting the new Education Strategy? — The new Education Strategy is an attempt to create a systemic basis for improved education and learning in the Republic of Serbia until 2030. Presently, a draft Strategy is undergoing a standard public debate, including a more specific Action Plan for 2021 through to 2023. In addition to updat-

ing and enhancing the thematic coverage at all levels of education, the new Strategy will focus on the core competencies of teachers and students, boosting human resource development in the education system, and modernizing teaching methods and learning in general, including creating the necessary prerequisites for effective learning. The Draft Strategy envisages, among other things, greater coverage of pre-school education, pre-school prep programs, elementary and high school education, as well as higher enrollment rates in adult education and learning. The objectives of the strategy also include improved student achievements at high shool graduate level, and reduced attrition in elementary and high schools. The Sstrategy also seeks to update and modernize higher and university educationm, as well as introduce effective monitorring and evaluation systems for higher and university education. In advanced societies, education is one of most important resources of development. If we look at the salaries in education, it appears that there is a gap between the declared and actual importance, i.e. education is undervalued or even degraded. What can your Ministry do to change that? — Education is not degraded in Serbia. We continuously strive to elevate respect for professors and teachers. This effort is very important since education represents the central pillar of every state. Clearly, we must invest in education system. Raising salaries in the education sector in recent years has shown a more positive and supportive stance. I believe that social dialogue in this area is very important, as well as continuous communication with labor unions in the education sector. This will enhance our ability to identify all issues and challenges, and find solutions going forward. The promised reform of public sector wages and the introduction of clearly defined pay-grades will enable a more transparent and just remuneration system in education. The Government of Serbia is presently evaluating the possibility of introducing a new public sector pay scale system starting in 2022. Which priorities would you single out in the context of the education budget? — Securing good work and learning conditions is among one of the top priorities of the Ministry. We continue to invest in education and science infrastructure, including preschool facilities, schools, student dorms, science

and technology parks, centers of excellence, and research institutes. We envisage strengthening leading education and science institutions to reach recognition at the regional and European level. We plan to invest in and support individual development, especially young scientists. The Strategy also envisages a range of measures to secure a dynamic development of science, research, and innovations. The objective is to advance the development of science, technology and innovation systems, expand their share in the European research space and, most importantly, strengthen the basis for economic development of Serbia.

In addition to poor people and those in unfavorable social and economic situation, young talent, scientists and researchers also deserve help. How will the Ministry support young talented people who are critical for advances in education, science and innovation, as well as the best ambassadors of Serbia in the world? — Strategic orientation of the Government of Serbia and the Ministry is to improve conditions for promotion and career development of young talented people and their work in Serbia. We continue to offer scholarships to students, scientists and young talent and, by doing so, we are sending out a message that the state supports them and values the “power of knowledge”. This is the slogan of the new 2021 – 2025 Science Strategy. In addition to education scholarships and grants, the state also provides scholarships and financial support to graduate students at Master’s and PhD level, as well as individual researchers and research institutions. In our budget

This year, the budget will support young scientists and researchers with almost 7 million Euros

for 2021, close to 7 million Euros has been allocated for education and research support. One example of support for graduate students includes matching grants for participation in international conferences, research in qualified institutions, and costs of writing a PhD thesis and post-doc specializations. Many other activities of the Ministry are aimed at creating better conditions for science, research and innovations in Serbia. As a new minister, what is your vision of education and science in Serbia and what are your priorities during your term in the office?

— Serbia has a well-recognized tradition in the broad area of education and science. Our scientists and researchers are globally renowned. We strive to develop a modern system of education and science which will be able to deliver quality education, academic excellence, research and innovation on par with the best European and world institutions. In the first place, our objective is to increase enrollment at all levels of education, minimize attrition and secure quality education for every child and young person. In terms of outcomes, the objective is to secure better achievements, quality education, training and research programs, and a better social status and financial support for teachers. Overall, we would like to implement quality education policy, facilitate a widespread use of modern teaching and learning techniques and tools, and have a better and more meaningful connection between education and research and the market expectations.

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FORMULA OF EDUCATION IN SERBIA

WE HAVE MANAGED TO SUSTAIN THE SYSTEM IN VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS

Higher education institutions play an important role in creating a professional workforce, although they have to face the challenge of some high-school graduates not being sufficiently prepared for independent work at the university

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vanka Popović has been the chancellor of the University of Belgrade since October 2018. We talked to Ms Popović about the education system in our country, online teaching in Serbia and how well it is organized, improvements and elevating the University of Belgrade's position on the so-called the Shanghai List of the best universities in the world. "I would like to single out two challenges that am facing as the university chancellor - restoring trust in the University of Belgrade as an institution and improving and implementing procedures related to academic integrity. I believe that we have made progress in both,“ says Chancellor Popović.

The research conducted by the Centre for Public Policy shows that 71.9% of students believe that online teaching is not an adequate substitute for regular classes, and 76.1% think that it has reduced the quality of higher education, but also have a very positive attitude towards online exams. In your opinion, how did the pandemic affect student education? — No-one wanted to replace regular with online classes. This decision was imposed by the pandemic. I think that the faculties in Serbia have made a huge effort to switch not only to online teaching but also to online busi-

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ness practically overnight. The change was not easy for students and workers alike. Whenever the conditions during the pandemic permitted, classes were held live, primarily for freshmen. Education is a two-way process so the success of such an endeavour depends on all participants. Taking exams outside the institution in which one's studies, i.e. taking online exams, is not allowed according to the current Higher Education Law. The University of Belgrade faculties have invested enormous effort and substantial material resources to create optimal conditions for teaching and taking exams during the pandemic. If we compare the exam results at the University of Belgrade from June to October 2019 to the same period in 2020, we can see that, in 2020, the pass rate was 8% higher than in 2019. This is an exceptional result which shows that we have managed to sustain the system in very difficult conditions. How will the experience of working at the faculty and studying during the pandemic affect the future of higher education in Serbia? Will there be any longer-term changes? What did we learn during this pandemic? — The acquired experiences will certainly affect the way of teaching at the faculties in the future. Combined teaching is imposed as a model that

IVANKA POPOVIĆ Chancellor of the University of Belgrade

My priority is to continuously improve the quality of all aspects of the University of Belgrade's operations

gives maximum effects. Online teaching can contribute to theoretical teaching, while the time that students spend live with teachers and teaching associates should be used to discuss the material covered. The Conference of Serbian Universities and the National Accreditation Body of Serbia are closely cooperating to adopt standards that will regulate the combined model of teaching at faculties. What are the University's role and position in a country that has been in transition for many years where many human values have been degraded? — Higher education institutions play an important role in creating a professional workforce, although they have to face the challenge of some highschool graduates not being sufficiently prepared for independent work at the university. In addition to acquiring professional knowledge, universities offer students the opportunity to acquire other, so-called soft skills that can boost their competitiveness in the labour market. During their studies, students can also learn about entrepreneurship, which creates opportunities for launching an independent business. Higher education can reduce brain drain in conjunction with other measures at the national level.

The University of Belgrade first appeared on the Shanghai List of the world's best universities in 2012, ranking between the 400th and 500th place. In the next six years, the ranking was improved and the University jumped to the 302nd position, only to fall again in early 2019. How do you interpret that? — I believe that the fact that the University of Belgrade found itself in the company of the 500 best universities in the world is an extraordinary success. Having in mind the previous period during which science in Serbia was allocated very modest funds, the University's rank is an even more valuable result. The institution's scientific activity is the key factor affecting the University's place on the Shanghai List. At a time when, around the world, more and more funds are being spent on science, it is not at all easy to maintain a position on the list. That is why I would like to underline once again that the overall ranking of the University of Belgrade and all our faculties and institutes deserves great respect. Are you satisfied with how much money has been invested in science? What successes would you highlight in that segment? — It remains to be seen if the intentions to boost domestic science through the implementation of the Science and Research Law and the Science Fund Law will yield the desired results. Our goal is no longer only to increase the number of published

scientific papers, but also their quality and impact on the global scientific community. This is possible only in science receives stable financing and if there is a gradual increase in state budget allocations for science to 1%. The countries that have made the biggest progress in science invest as much as 3% of the state budget in this area. Our researchers have been successful in applying for and getting funding for projects from the European Commission programme. Here, I would especially like to mention the Horizon 2020 programme from the previous financing framework and Horizon Europe in the current financing framework.

The University of Belgrade has made a significant step forward by becoming a member of the 'Circle U' European University Alliance

One of your goals is for the University of Belgrade to be better positioned and more visible internationally than it was in the previous period. How will you achieve that and have you made any progress already? — The University of Belgrade has made a significant step forward by becoming a member of the 'Circle U' European University Alliance, where it works closely with the six renowned European universities – the University of Paris, the Catholic University of Leuven, King's College London, Aarhus University, the University of Oslo and Humboldt University of Berlin. As the name of our alliance suggests, we are creating a circle of knowledge that connects education, research and innovation, all in the service of social progress. We are proud to have included Serbia in the group of countries with

universities that are the higher education leaders in Europe. You are only the second woman chancellor in the long history of the University of Belgrade. In 2019, the University Senate adopted the Gender Equality Plan of the University of Belgrade. Some progress has been made in this area but what more could be done to have more women in science, especially in the natural sciences? — At our University, female students are sufficiently represented or even make the majority in both natural and other sciences. About 60% of students at the University of Belgrade are women. We have also noticed that women are more interested in information and communication technology studies. We have equal representation among assistant professors and associate professors, while 40% of full-time professors are women. Our priority is to raise awareness of gender equality and gender stereotypes, especially regarding the representation of women in administrative positions. By developing an equal opportunity policy, we want to contribute to the well-being of all members of the university community. What goals have you set for yourself for the next period? — The pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives. The main goal is to gradually return to normal work. My priority is to continuously improve the quality of all aspects of the University of Belgrade's operations.

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FORMULA OF EDUCATION IN SERBIA

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WHAT IF? THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

How many times have you heard someone say that education is outdated and schools are not preparing children for the reality of their present, let alone their future? So, why are schools like this? Why are they not changing, and what if they could change READ THIS ON WEB

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e all know that the system of schooling was created to support the needs of the industrial revolution, yet the system is still fundamentally the same today. A few thoughts to consider: • 65% of children in Primary School will enter a job that does not currently exist (World Economic Forum) • It is likely that Primary children will never need to drive a car as an adult • Children currently in school will probably never see a check-out person in a supermarket. • Already today, the average adult goes 41 days without writing by hand • The Gig Economy is the fastest growing industry sector So what should the purpose of school be today? Surely education has to be very different from schools of 50, or even 10 years ago. This is supported by the fact that we now know far more about brain research and how children actually learn. Unsurprisingly, the most powerful learning does not come from remembering facts and then regurgitating them for a test. This traditional model is ‘passive learning’ where education is done ‘at the learner’. All of the research points to the fact that a more active model of education, where students take responsibility and ownership of their own learning, is far more powerful. I have had the privilege of helping many schools around the world redesign their learning. When I ask teachers, students or parents what they believe are the most important skills, attributes or values students need to learn, everyone says similar things:

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ANDREW DERRY Director, International School of Belgrade

If education is about lighting fires... It’s about time we got out the matches

• Leadership skills, especially ethical and service leadership • Entrepreneurial skills, especially the importance of learning to fail and being resilient • Critical Thinking • Creativity • Collaborating, locally and globally • Communications skills • International Understanding, an ability to work on a global stage. Interestingly, no one has ever said that the Aztecs or Quadratic Equations are the most important things to learn. In fact, can you remember the last time you used quadratic equations? Of course, this doesn't mean that some of the traditional elements are not important, But, according to David Perkins (Harvard), it does mean we should be extending our students beyond: • B eyond basic skills - 21st century skills, concepts, values • Beyond traditional disciplines - hybrid, new areas • Beyond discrete subjects - interdisciplinary, real-life • B eyond the classroom - local and global perspectives • Beyond content - Big Ideas. Using content as a lens to think about big ideas • B e y o n d p r e s c r i b e d c o n t e n t - personalised • Beyond school - partnering with industry to solve real-life problems Here at the International School of Belgrade, we will always focus on high standards and examination results at all levels. But, at the same time…. We have a duty to prepare our students for their fast-changing, globally connected, technology-rich future.

We must help our children develop the contemporary Values, Attitudes and Attributes that prepare them to be successful in their world….. …..to be the leaders in our future world To be globally good not just locally good To be able to create a job not just get a job To have the capacity to learn, unlearn and relearn To focus on human centric abilities, social and ethical values. As an example of what this might look like, imagine a class of 7 year old students working on a unit of study in which they have to design and build something new and of use to the medical industry. Industry experts come into school to work with, and guide the students. They focus on design skills, entrepreneurship, and especially failure. Every first idea has either already been invented, or will not work, so inevitably, the students fail to start with. This is vital, because it teaches students about the importance of failure, failing forwards and pivoting their ideas. In addition to their design models, often 3D printed, students also need to create a financial plan, a marketing plan and an executive brief, ensuring that the traditional Math and English elements are covered. The results are always astonishing. If we can do this successfully with 7 year olds, imagine what real-life learning could look like for High School students. Website: www.isb.rs Admissions: admissions@isb.rs Phone: +381 11 206 9999

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READY FOR THE FUTURE WITH DIGITAL INJECTION Education as core business during COVID-19 - challenges and solutions?

FERDINAND AYEN Klett EDU CEO Stuttgart

orldwide, the Corona crisis is intensifying many existing trends. One of these trends is obviously digitalization. Industry, services as well as the demands on education are changing at an unprecedented speed.

Especially for Serbia and its region, this change comes on top of existing developments such as a difficult demography and an ever-increasing lack of skilled workforce in both industry and the service sector. Klett EDU already meets this demand with 3-month and 1-year education programmes that offer effective, well-proven didactics and learning processes as well as top-notch teachers. Now, and piloting with Pepsi, we want to go to the next level: We have the goal to increase our own effectiveness and the scalability of our programmes by establishing genuinely digital tools and channels. While we will never abandon the basic ideas of dual education such as “learning by doing”,

we have recently asked some questions, such as: — Why does a group of participants from, let’s say the Maglić plant, should come to Belgrade every time there is a training? — What can you do with a broadband internet connection, a 360-degree camera and some not-anymore-beta VR-goggles? — Have customers already invested in such a technology, but never had a real use-case for it? — How can the classroom teaching and virtual / distance teaching become complementary to each other? Without a doubt, the possibilities are all there. With a digital injection like the one we are developing, not only companies in Serbia, but also employees can be ready for the future.

PROVIDING PRACTICAL AND APPLICABLE KNOWLEDGE

In-class and digital education - what happens when merged?

lett EDU‘s concept of education is based on providing practical and applicable knowledge to our clients, both companies and individuals. Industrial Mechatronics is the flagship of our portfolio and we are very proud to share that as of 2019, almost 100 employees from various production companies in Serbia successfully completed Mechatronics program in our specially equipped Klett EDU training center. We are firmly holding to our Teach & Practice principle however, COVID-19 situation showed us that the way we achieve this goal can change. Example of our cooperation with PepsiCo has proven many times to be the best practice. From the very first meeting couple of years ago with Luka Ljubicic, HR Business Partner Supply Chain PepsiCo, there was a clear

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mutual understanding on objectives, delivery and shared commitments to achieve the best results. Luka is a great representative of his company – committed to continuous organization development, supporting innovation and striving for excellence in delivery. As per PepsiCo COVID-19 policy, the request as of this year was to conduct Mechatronics program online. Klett EDU experts’ team and PepsiCo partners diligently adapted the Maintenance of Mechatronics System program to the digital way of education. The lecturer teaches online, explains and shows practical examples and sets assignments. Participants prepare the equipment for learning situations in front of them so they can actively participate in practical work. In order to be innovative, VR learning method is included in several segments, which has

OLIVERA GVOZDENOV Klett EDU Director

proven to be a great solution for mechatronics programs – easy, structured, understandable, appealing and fun! Education is a continuous process, both for educators and learners. Together with PepsiCo, we have combined what we call “analogue and digital” in the best possible way, which is why we look forward to share it and scale it with other markets.

MORE ENGAGING AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE VR and AR in corporate training industry?

ith all the horrors a global pandemic brought into our lives, there still was a silver lining. Research shows the key driver behind digital transformation that exploded last year were neither the CEO nor the CTO, but COVID-19. We have all witnessed years and years of philosophical discussions on the possible future applications of cutting edge technology in business, but until last year no substantial steps were taken to leverage the existing tech and digitize our work. We in PepsiCo have gladly embraced the change and are already

TIJANA TADIĆ South-Central Europe & Baltics and CE Franchise HR Sr. Manager, PepsiCo, Inc.

working on several projects that will bring massive improvements in training and culture. Virtual reality, for example, enables us to ensure absolute consistency of quality of trainings delivered, as well as significant savings in the time allocation our subject matter experts historically had to put in training preparation and delivery. Not only is VR bringing us a qualitative boost and economies of scale, it’s also providing a more engaging and memorable employee experience critical for our desired positioning as a modern, tech savvy, fun employer.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON MODERNISATION

Why is mechatronics a perfect topic for the first VR PepsiCo professional training? veryday challenges and work with the most modern equipment and machines in our factory, requires continuous extension of technical knowledge and specialized skills of our technical staff. Our operators and technitians at PepsiCo production sites need to adopt a combination of different knowledge and skills in order to be able to properly operate and maintain various equipments and systems. No matter how skilled our workforce is, there is a constant need to continue to invest in their knowledge, just as we are focused on modernisation of our manufacturing sites. Adopting a huge amount of knowledge and practice can take a long time, but if we put the relevant information in the right context,

then it directly gives the best possible result. Our great collaboration with Klett EDU began with the impementation of Mechatronic System Maintenance program in our production plant in Maglić. The whole situation with COVID-19 has led to many challenges that we want to turn into advantages. Thanks to our partnership with Klett EDU, we have identified an opportunity to take professional education to the next level by taking advantage of digitized platforms and the virtual environment. Virtual reality as an innovative method of teaching and learning is a great solution to ensure continuous improvement of knowledge even for front line employees - we are really proud to have successfully developed a solution even for specialized technical skills, such as mechatronics.

ROBERT BAKA Plant Manager PepsiCo Serbia

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FORMULA OF EDUCATION IN SERBIA

INSPIRING EDUCATION IN AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

With over 40 different nationalities of students, Chartwell is a world of its own, that celebrates cultural diversity. The unifying factor is its accreditation from Cambridge University CLICK ON ICON 

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hartwell International School, which is situated in a beautiful, quiet, residential area of Belgrade, has spacious, brightly- lit classrooms, with park like gardens and many sports fields. Chartwell has been providing education to kids from the ages of two to 18 in seven spacious premises for more than 20 years, guiding its students in their aspirations to become global citizens by immersing them in a world of multiple languages and cultures, inspiring them to learn through inquiry. With over 40 different nationalities of students, Chartwell is a world of its own. In a tightknit establishment that celebrates cultural diversity, the unifying factor is its accreditation from Cambridge University, which recognises Chartwell as an international school, and its registration with the Serbian Ministry of Education. Academic standards are keenly monitored at Chartwell International School, with class sizes that are small

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enough, with a ratio of as little as 1 to 3, tailored to suit the academic needs, interests and potential of each child, including additional personalised tuition if needed. A wide range of subjects is offered throughout the school – from foundation to secondary level, designed to stretch and challenge each individual, providing everyone with the opportunity to discover and examine their own particular interests and talents. Contemporary teaching methods are applied with an interdisciplinary approach to subjects. Although the Chartwell management team (Owner, Heads of Schools, Coordinators, finance officers etc.) lead the way, the success and heart of the school are the Chartwell teachers. They come from a variety of backgrounds and have various experiences, but what they all have in common is a love of teaching, empathy for their students and a commitment to their education. All are well qualified for the role they play. Encouragement and motivation

CHARTWELL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Chartwell fosters a strong family atmosphere and is not governed by rules, rather by respect for others and common sense

are keywords in Chartwell’s teaching philosophy. Lessons are taught in English at Chartwell International School, but a variety of world languages are offered alongside. Cultural diversity is very important at Chartwell. The school traditionally celebrates UN Day, promoting tolerance and respect. Evenings of poetry and music are organised, at which children recite poems and sing in their mother tongues and the languages taught at the school. British traditions are respected, celebrating Valentine’s Day, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter and Christmas, while Chartwell is the only school in Belgrade to celebrate Bonfire Night. Chartwell fosters a strong family atmosphere and is not governed by rules, rather by respect for others and common sense. This is a place where students come for more than just study – Chartwell is a home away from home. This is what makes the school a unique, tension free environment, where students and teachers chat during breaks, play sports together, resolve problems and participate together in various projects. Regardless of their many cultural differences, students and teachers respect each other and work closely to achieve the best possible results. Realising that education encompasses much more than the academic programme, great emphasis is placed on that extracurricular activities that are offered on a daily basis and range from sports to fencing, dance, drama and languages, while Chartwell students are also involved in the life of the community. “Our goal is to provide our teachers and students with conditions in which each will be able to attain best results. We will continue to optimize class sizes to be able to tailor the curriculum to suit individual student’s needs. Likewise, we have implemented the latest air purification technologies in our new buildings, using HEPA filters and UV lights, which provide fresh air for better efficiency and concentration of our students and staff. In addition, our own catering service provides healthy meals for our students and staff.

C H A RT W E L L -

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Towards

• British curriculum based international school • Accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education • Accredited by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia

S C H O O L

Excellence

•A ccredited by Council of British International Schools •S tudents representing over 40 nationalities • 20 years of experience •W ide range of daily after school activities

• 7 languages taught • Monthly outings to the theater/museums • 2 residential trips per year •T he only international school with its own catering • Involved in community service projects

Enrolling

NOW!

for the 2021/22 school year

+381 11 2661 858 •

+381 69 3675 340 •

enrolment@chartwell.edu.rs •

www.chartwell.edu.rs

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DUAL EDUCATION EDUCATION TAILORED TO THE ECONOMY

About 3,000 students completed dual education, and about 70% found jobs that they were educated for

he incorporation of dual education in the education system of the Republic of Serbia was initiated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS) at the request of the country’s business sector to harmonize education with the needs of the labour market and reduce youth unemployment. We talked with Mirjana Kovačević, Head of the Centre for Education, Dual Education and Education Policies and Director of the CCIS Business Academy, about the initial results and the further development of the dual education system.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia has initiated the implementation of a dual model of education over five years ago. Who were all your partners along the way? — Partners from Germany (through the GIZ project "Vocational Education Reform") were among the first to support secondary vocational schools in establishing and improving cooperation with companies and continued, during the process of developing dual education in Serbia, to boost the capacity of secondary vocational schools. Partners from Austria provided expert (Austrian Chamber of Commerce and IBW Institute for Educational Development) and financial support (Austrian Development Agency) to building the capacity of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. As for Switzerland, it contributed to the development of dual education in Serbia through the implementation of

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the Master Plan, an act for management and coordination of the entire reform process. The Master Plan was developed by the Swiss Economic Institute KOF, under the leadership of expert Ursula Renold, and for Serbia, it was made in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Center for Educational Policies (COP). By coordinating the project activities of donors, first by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, and then through constructive cooperation with the line ministry, we set a common goal, that is the incorporation of a dual model in the education system of Serbia. The result of this cooperation is the Law on Dual Education, which was passed in 2017, and has been in force since the academic year 2019/2020. This law meets all 14 criteria from the recommendations of the European Council for quality and effective learning through work. In which way does the dual education model benefit young people and in which was the economy? — The goals of dual education are to create prerequisites for the acquisition and development of competencies following the needs of the labour market, to contribute to boosting the competitiveness of the Serbian economy, as well as to provide employment after graduation. Employers, who take on students

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MIRJANA KOVAČEVIĆ Head of the Centre for Education, Dual Education and Education Policies and Director of the CCIS Business Academy

35% of students continued working in the companies in which they did learning through work

in dual education, will not need to allocate significant funds for their additional training when hiring new workers, because they can choose their future employees among students who have already acquired the necessary work knowledge and skills by learning through work in their facilities. In that way, they shorten the time of introducing a new worker to the job. Also, by the more active engagement of employers in drafting job descriptions as the first steps in the preparation of new qualification standards, given inputs contribute to harmonizing curricula with business & technological processes, and the education process is put in the function of economic growth and development. As for the young people (students), the advantages are quick and easy integration into the job after graduation, as well as having more options in career development, namely to work immediately after graduation or to continue education, often with the support of the same companies in which they studied through work. How many students and companies have applied so far? Which job profiles are most in demand? — The first significant steps in the de-

velopment of this model were made in 2013, and in the period until 2016, we already had 400 students who were educated for one of the three job profiles in 16 schools and 40 companies. In the current school year, about 6,900 high school students are learning through work in almost 900 companies, for one of the 47 educational profiles. The number of students, schools and companies involved in the dual education system has grown yearon-year, and today, dual education accounts for 10% of all vocational education in high schools, the share of dual education profiles is 16% in relation to the total number of profiles for which high school students in Serbia are studying for, and almost a fifth (18%) of schools have dual profiles in their offer. For the academic year 2021/2022, 51 dual educational profiles have been prepared. Jobs like locksmith-welder, industrial mechanic and machining operator have traditionally been in demand for years. Also, companies need sales staff and catering staff (cooks and waiters). Motor vehicle mechanics are also in demand, especially by small service stations. At the same time, inclusion in dual education is a bigger challenge for them, because a micro or small company can rarely independently achieve all the outcomes defined by the curriculum, so it is necessary to form training alliances between companies. In previous years, the demand for textile industry jobs was higher. This year, furniture companies are more active. The needs of businesses for certain kinds of workers are changing, and dual education is just that education tailored to the economy. This year, there was less demand for a technician for computerized control of CNC machines. Diplomacy&Commerce magazine is also read by the business community. How can they apply to participate in this programme? — Businesses can apply to participate in dual education throughout the year, but the applications are done mostly in the second half of the year. The CCIS has launched a special web portal - http://portal.dualnoobrazovanje. rs/ - where interested employers can obtain more information and create a profile and in a simple way, in only three steps, submit an application for inclusion in the dual education system. When applying, employers have to submit a Statement of Readiness for Inclusion in Dual Education and a request for accreditation. The documentation for accreditation should

be submitted by employers no later than 10 days from the date of submission of the statement and request, electronically, to the e-mail address: obrazovanje@pks.rs or the postal address of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, 13-15 Resavska Street, Belgrade. Did you receive feedback from students? What are the first visible results of the programme? — Students who were among the first to attend dual education were usually schooled for production occupations such as industrial technicians, machinists-welders and electricians. These students saw for themselves that engaging in a productive occupation does not mean doing hard physical work. Modern production is based on a high degree of automation and safety standards and working conditions are significantly different than they used to be. The students also point out that they socialized quickly, i.e. got accustomed to the industrial culture, gained self-confidence, were able to propose some improvements and changes in the production process, and thought it was good that older colleagues took their suggestions seriously. By being in a real work environment, they learned responsibilities and teamwork and realized that due to their lack of commitment or poor work, other members of the team can be badly affected. Just over 3,000 students already completed dual education. Research on the selected sample showed that about 70% of these students, after completing their education, got a job for work they were educated for and that close to 35% of them continued working in the companies in which they did learning through work.

Employers can submit an application for inclusion in the dual education system in only three steps

— What else needs to be done to further develop the dual education model? — Although we can say that we are satisfied with the accomplishments so far, as well as the fact that the dual model of vocational education in Serbia is no longer viewed met with prejudice, but rather as a way to build a

competitive economy, there are still many challenges to overcome. First of all, we need to have a larger number of micro and small business entities involved (which is why we are now working on the development of training alliance concepts). Due to demographic changes, we need to create classes with less than 30 students (for example 10 to 15). Also, if businesses in a certain area need a certain job profile we have to facilitate a better selection of students by companies. Plus, we need to carry out the digitization of educational profiles and ensure health and safety in the workplace, which, in certain cases, should be addressed by introducing virtual classes. For teachers and professors to be able to adequately prepare students to continue their studies in companies, they need to be trained on modern technical and technological solutions in companies. It’s not good if students know more about new production technologies than their teachers. Also, the success of dual education requires good cooperation between schools and companies, not only in education but also in the promotion of dual educational profiles, which should begin with activities during the professional orientation that is carried out in primary schools.

YEAR

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

NUMBER OF COMPANIES

NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL PROFILES

NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS

2013-2016

400

2016-2017

1000

2017-2018

3000

200

2018-2019

4500

600

2019-2020

6100

800

2020-2021

6900

900

Source: The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, September 2020

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FORMULA OF EDUCATION IN SERBIA

WE VISITED A UNIQUE CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL – THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Now we know why its motto is Truly Different

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ocation at the very heart of the city, smart classrooms, Cambridge programme, STEAM subjects, numerous extracurricular activities and a gateway to the best universities and colleges around the world – all of this is synonymous with the International School, a unique Cambridge secondary school in Serbia. We decided to pay them a visit to see the environment in which future ‘ambassadors’ of our country are growing up.

AN OASIS OF LEARNING AND FRIENDSHIP IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

If you head from Saint Sava Church along Vračar’s cosmopolitan streets, the road will take you to the cosy Šumatovačka Street where you will see a prestigious secondary school in which students are preparing for the best universities around the world. After Zorana Živanović welcomed us on behalf of the staff, we went on a tour of the school. It was immediately evident that each classroom tells a story and that together they are a staple of a 21st-century school.

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It was immediately evident that each classroom tells a story and that together they are a staple of a 21st-century school

“This is our Study Hub, i.e. the intelligent classroom equipped with state-of-the-art educational technology”, explained Zorana while presenting the creative ways in which the students use the interactive whiteboard, laptops, tablets, the 3D printer, 3D pens, the 3D scanner, and other teaching gadgets. According to Zorana, the Learning Centre is the students’ favourite nook. Here they rest, play the guitar or the piano, play table football, and build up energy for new challenges. Although we wanted to stay a little longer, we couldn’t resist the mouth-watering aroma coming from the school canteen which provides students with well-balanced meals every day. This is where we continued our conversation.

A MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT

Lunch break was underway and for a moment we forgot which country we were in, as all around we could hear perfect English. “Lessons in our school are exclusively in English”, proudly said Zora-

na, adding: “Owing to a holistic education and two Cambridge programmes (IGCSE and A-Levels) which yield two international Cambridge diplomas (ICE and AICE), the students have no problem enrolling at the best universities around the world”. The reason behind the students’ accomplishments and the school’s prestige is precisely this blend of top-quality teaching, Cambridge programmes, dedicated teachers and comprehensive extracurricular activities. It was clear to us that the International School is an open and cosmopolitan school that respects diversity and fosters a sense of togetherness.

FUTURE INTERNATIONAL LEADERS EARNING AN EDUCATION IN SERBIA

Our visit to the International School confirmed that Serbia is providing children with internationally recognised skills and expertise necessary for success in the 21st century. If you would like to see what modern education looks like, go to www.international-school.edu.rs or visit the school in person.

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THE WINNING FORMULA LIES IN THE APPLIED KNOWLEDGE The Swiss educational group winsedswiss (World Institute of Service Education) is one of the pioneers of lifelong learning and the dual education model. Located in Switzerland, Romania, Cyprus, and Serbia, the group provides a unique concept of education through all phases of life – from kindergartens to universities, and training for all profiles of employed professionals ur group represents a bridge between the needs of the market and the demand for qualified staff by offering our students solutions and answers that enable them to achieve high pro-

fessional goals. Partnerships with the world's most recognized educational institutions allow us to provide our students with the highest quality education, licensed by the world's leading schools with internationally recognized

diplomas, so they can match their peers from foreign universities and build their careers in Serbia or anywhere around the world” – Uroš Urošević, CEO of winsedswiss in Serbia.

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LIFELONG LEARNING IS THE KEY TO CAREER SUCCESS Traditional concepts of education around the world are increasingly giving way to ‘lifelong learning’ as a model that provides professional development and acquisition of skills needed in the labor market of the future. Dual ed-

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ucation, as well as applied knowledge are becoming a comparative advantage and a key link in the career development of professionals who are valued and sought after by all industries. Starting from the goal of ed-

ucation tailored to today, Swiss educational group winsedswiss (World Institute of Service Education), brings to our market such an approach to education.

ERI by winsedswiss FINNISH PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE EDUCATION BEGINS AT THE EARLIEST AGE The concept of lifelong education at winsedswiss begins with the program of the first Finnish extended daycare in Belgrade, intended for children from 7 to 11 years. This educational center brings a Finnish teaching methodology based on interactive, experiential work with children through activities that in a fun way contribute

to the cognitive development of the child, development of critical thinking, creativity, and leadership skills. The program is designed to support the education that children receive in the family and to complete their formal education by learning through play, exploration, socializing and fun.

Assistance with homework, corrective learning, practical exercises, monitoring the individual progress, as well as highly qualified staff, make ERI Education Center unique in our market. Eri Education Center Matije Gupca 38, Belgrade, Serbia +381 62 803 1244 • eriboravak@winsed.swiss

Performance and Customer Experience (pCX) POSTGRADUATE STUDIES winsedswiss focuses on providing quality services where the key to success is a direct collaboration with the client and where the client’s experience is as important as the product and service they receive. Postgraduate studies in the field of Customer Experience Management are intended for all those professionals who want to improve their knowledge and skills through mastering trends and best practices

in the service industries. The studies are applicable to professionals and managers working on Customer Experience, call center managers, executive directors, and senior management, professionals in the field of marketing and human resources, as well as business owners. All of which have a common focus - a great user experience and repeat buyers.

The program is divided into 15 modules, lasting seven months with over 200 hours of training, after which participants will earn a professional diploma issued by winsedswiss Education Group and EHL Advisory Services, a branch of École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). www.winsed.swiss/en/postgraduate-performace-andcustomer-experience

ohma by winsedswiss EDUCATION ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAMS FROM THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS FOR HOSPITALITY AND CATERING ohma by winsedswiss, Educational Academy for Management in Hospitality accepted its first generation of students, who will acquire knowledge and skills over the next 18 months according to an exclusive Swiss dual model of education. For the first time in Serbia, the future professionals will study according to the programs designed by the most prestigious hospitality education institution in the world, the famous - École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). In addition to the training model that guarantees education in accordance with the highest global standards in this industry, at the end of the program graduates of ohma Academy will

obtain the prestigious VET by EHL professional diploma, which will enable them to open doors to the local and global hotel industry. A perfect balance of theory and practice in the real work environment awaits them at their future workplaces. Internship programs at the best hotels and hospitality companies in Serbia and the region will enable participants to acquire the necessary competencies during their studies. This will give graduates a comparative advantage in the labor market. Four study programs are available - Culinary, Room division, Hotel administration and Food & Beverage services, after which attend-

ees will obtain internationally recognized diplomas. Divided into three levels - each program lasts 6 months. Upon completion of 18 months of intensive theoretical and practical training, all those who successfully complete these programs will have the necessary competencies for a professional position in hospitality industry, not only in Serbia but anywhere in the world. ohma Belgrade belgrade@ohma.swiss www.ohma.swiss/sr/

winsedswiss Talent REGIONAL HUB FOR HUMAN CAPITAL SOLUTIONS Knowledge and professional skills are the most important resource and comparative advantage in the labor market, but winsedswiss goes further - in addition to educational centers and paid internship programs, we provide young people with the opportunity to become part of our Talent Hub and connect with employers in the hospitality and other target industries that are searching for highly qualified candidates. The Talent Hub is a niche recruitment platform that offers a wide range of career development opportunities both at home and abroad. In addition to providing job seekers with the

opportunity to present their competencies to reputable companies in the field of hospitality and retail, winsedswiss Talent provides young people and all those who want to advance their careers with a unique experience of additional training through webinars and mentorship programs led by proven professionals, as well as counseling, career guidance and professional retraining services. Through professional guidance throughout the entire application process, our candidates acquire the necessary skills to present themselves to future employers in the right way.

Additionally, for companies looking for the most qualified staff on the market, winsedswiss Talent provides professional recruitment and support services for finding the right candidates and professional staff. Our team of experts, as well as a wide base of talent, provides employers with the most precise connection with the candidates they need. winsedswiss Talent Adria talentadria@winsed.swiss

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PRINTED TEXTBOOKS WILL REMAIN THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE One of the certainties in the future is that, in addition to printed textbooks, support in digital format should be developed and harmonized with technological innovations. But I am confident that printed textbooks will remain a basic and irreplaceable source of knowledge for students in the future too

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oday, generations are growing up with mobile phones and tablets in their hands with almost all information and knowledge available to them through multimedia and interactive platforms. As BIGZ Školstvo monitors and adapts to innovations, we talked with Marija Živković, the company’s Editor-in-Chief, about digitalization, the quality of textbook authors and textbooks, as well as the future of this segment of publishing.

How much have the significance, role and content of textbooks changed in the 21st century in terms of the development and application of new technologies? — Printed textbooks are certainly an irreplaceable teaching tool. However, having in mind that the educational system should be developed in accordance with technological innovations and adapt to them, our company provides students with that kind of support. All textbooks of BIGZ Školstvo publishing company have been digitized and uploaded on two interactive platforms. In this way, we have combined traditional and contemporary, so that learning is supported by the use of digital devices, which have become an indispensable feature of everyday life, even in the teaching process. For students, it is a kind of challenge to acquire knowledge in a digital environment, which is extremely close to the younger generations. Even material they are not initially interested in can become very interesting when presented through 3D

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MARIJA ŽIVKOVIĆ Editor-in-Chief of BIGZ Školstvo

What sets our company apart from others is consistency in quality and our continuous support to teachers and students

animations, recorded experiments, virtual walks or educational games. Many publishing companies on the Serbian market create textbooks. What sets BIGZ Školstvo apart from these companies? — We are very proud of our teams of authors, who are made of the most renowned experts from our country (methodologists, practitioners, scientists) and who have woven their knowledge and experience into textbooks. What sets our company apart from others is consistency in quality and our continuous support to teachers and students. This was especially evident in 2020, when we all had to adapt to the pandemic. We demonstrated that teachers and students could rely on our constant support in the teaching process. Our abundant digital base has realized its full potential in terms of application during the state of emergency, when the teaching process was completely transferred to the digital environment. Also, we have shown efficiency in adapting teaching materials, so that teachers and students could use them most optimally in the changed circumstances of the teaching process. To what extent do your textbooks encourage children's independence, critical thinking as well as their social skills, and do you ever consult students about the textbooks you publish? — Of course, they encourage and enable independent work and learning. Our textbooks have abundant content that facilitates connection between

everyday life and scientific concepts, while the methods and didactic procedures are in line with the theory and practice of active learning. Ways of learning are planned and designed from the point of view of the learner, i.e. with full respect for the teaching process as a partner, but at the same time, they underline the educational needs of students. In the end, the students themselves are the best "reviewers" of textbooks. Their opinion is an important indicator for us whether the textbook is good and applicable. For this reason, we do evaluations and surveys when creating textbooks, to ensure that feedback. It is wonderful when you hear from a parent that their child easily learns by using our textbooks and that the child is satisfied. That is our greatest satisfaction. The coronavirus pandemic has affected almost all areas of society. Has it perhaps imposed new trends in publishing? What do you think the future of textbooks will look like? — This pandemic has shown the importance of online support in the form of digital textbooks and multimedia materials. Even before the pandemic, BIGZ Školstvo had been engaged in digital sphere for years, so we were ready when this unpleasant situation emerged. One of the certainties in the future is that, in addition to printed textbooks, support in digital format should be developed and harmonized with technological innovations. But I am confident that printed textbooks will remain a basic and irreplaceable source of knowledge for students in the future too.

THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION

International conference “Education 4.0” pertaining the new model of education introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic was held jointly by Petnica Science Center, Color Media Communications, and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

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ain conclusion from the Conference was that Serbia need to be a learning nation and to foster online and traditional methods of education to be complementary. It is important for educational system to be elastic, not just to adapt to the extreme extraordinary circumstances. A 21st century educational system should be able to hold up to a rapidly changing world. Key note speakers at the conference were Mr. Branko Ružić, Serbian Minister of Education and Science; Mrs. Dejana Kostadinova, Head of the UNICEF country office in Serbia; and Mr. Alessandro Bragonzi, Head of the European Investment Bank office in Serbia. The conference covered numerous topics and various aspects of the online and hybrid education. The first panel discussion tackled important policy issues „(Not just) another brick in the wall?“. The second panel discussion focused on the real-life experiences „Classroom view: A new Models of Education from the perspective of the teachers, parents and students“. And finally, the third panel discussion deal with the topic of “Education from the perspective of the business”. The last twelve months have brought us unexpected challenges and one big educational experiment along with all other aspects of the „new normal“.

NIKOLA BOŽIĆ Program Director, Petnica Science Center

We should all use an (temporary) exit into the online world to understand that the school of the future is shifting to a new direction

We should learn from that experience and acknowledge effects of the experiment. The digital transformation of education requires a complete change in the way we think about education, and not only the technological transition to distance learning. Thus, we embarked on the effort to bring together all the stakeholders to discuss how we utilize this experience and lessons learned to move forward. Distance learning was rarely presented in our system. This is evidenced by isolated cases such as few colleges or schools with expert lectures occasionally organized via Internet platforms. In just a few days during the lockdown, everything has changed. Everyone has adapted to the new circumstances - students and their parents, teachers and education in general. However, in the long run, it has been shown that understanding of technologies and familiarity with software is not enough to make a complete digital transformation of the educational process. For a successful transition to distance learning it is important to think outside the box. The paradigms of education of the twentieth century should be abandoned. We should all use an (temporary) exit into the online world to understand that the school of the future is shifting to a new direction. The “new” school should not be aimed to solely teach a large number of facts. Anyhow, we have access to information and our common knowledge is multiplying every day. Hence, the school of the future (not exclusively online) need to prepare students to be independent, able to adapt and capable to respond to all future challenges. The new technologies are of great benefit to the development of (non-formal) education. They allow us to easily reach to long distances, visit large

laboratories, science centers, museums, galleries, entire cities just by sitting in front of our computer. Current mobile phones allow us to make use of all sources of information, resources, and educational materials, despite our location. Innovations and new solutions have made education accessible to everyone. However, technologies cannot affect whether we will devote time and energy to learning and exploring new ideas. It can not affect our dedication or motivation to continue with the learning process. For that we need a mentors and teachers who represent indispensable segment in every educational system. The most important question we are facing right now - In what direction should we lead our educational system in order to create the school of the future? The fundamental role of the schools should not be transformed but should explore an effective method to teach the new generations about the phenomena, processes, and mutual interactions between them as well as to teach the basic facts about the world around us, nature, society, and technologies. But without a doubt, the modern school must incorporate in its curricula methods and programs to introduce students to critical thinking, problem solving, interdisciplinary relationship among different scientific fields, modern excellence, skills of cooperation (teamwork) and communication. The school of the future should teach the pupils and students how to learn. Teachers have the crucial role in this development. Not to just serve as a source of information and symbolize authority of knowledge, but to be the mentors in a cognitive and social development of their students, the future of our society.

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