Development of vocational education in Gdynia

The main objective of the project „Development of vocational education in Gdynia – construction, redevelopment and expansion of the vocational education infrastructure, accompanied by provision of equipment” is to improve the quality of the vocational training option at the upper secondary level and adapt it to meet the needs of the economy, especially in the sectors that are regarded as top priority for the development of the region.

The project outcomes include construction of new buildings, as well as a redevelopment and expansion of the pre-existing ones, in five of Gdynia’s educational institutions:

• Centre for Vocational and Continuing Education and Training No.1;
• Ecology-and Logistics Schools Complex;
• Refrigeration Engineering and Electronics Schools Complex;
• Hotel Management and Catering Schools Complex;
• Administration and Economics Schools Complex;

The proposed scope of construction work has already been implemented in four of the schools – where buildings were placed in service. The work is still ongoing on the most extensive investment in the project, i.e. the Centre for Vocational and Continuing Education and Training No.1, the completion of which is anticipated in August of this year.  All the buildings covered by the project have been adapted to the needs of people with disabilities as well as adequately equipped to meet the fire safety regulations.

Moreover, all the institutions under the project were provided with advanced equipment for vocational workshops and school labs, as well as with IT equipment and specialist software and multi-media language labs (i.a in the labs of mechanical technology and technical drawing, the ship building technology and construction, accounting- and economics, catering technology and many others). The purchases for educational purposes included cars for driving lessons, a multi-functional simulation system for rail traffic –  a railway model, professional  equipment for kitchens, guest service halls and hotel rooms, as well as turning, milling and welding equipment and any other specialist equipment indispensable for the implementation of an up-to-date education programme, not only in terms of theoretical knowledge but primarily of practical vocational skills.

The project implementation also includes initiatives in the area of continuuing education. So far, vocational certificate courses have been conducted as well as some of the proposed courses, which equipped the participants with the skills and knowledge suitable for the dynamically changing labour market, for instance in areas of haulage and transportation,  settlement of salaries and allowances, operation of unmanned aircraft, as well as courses in the catering sector such as Sushi Master, Confectioner, Sommelier, Barman or Barrista.

As a result of the implementation of the project, the completion of which is expected for the end of this year, adequate conditions will be created for the improvement of the quality of vocational training and for its adaptation to meet the needs of the local and the subregional labour market, especially in terms of practical skills, information technology competence and foreign languages.

So far five out of the eight buildings included in the project have been constructed, redeveloped and undergone expansion. The capacity of the infrastructure covered by the support amounts to approximately 2500 students  – the up-to-date modern facilities, equipped with specialist didactic aids, have already been made available to students from the Ecology-and Logistics Schools Complex, the Refrigeration Engineering and Electronics Schools Complex, Hotel Management and Catering Schools Complex as well as the Administration and Economics Schools Complex.