Croatia: VET in focus

Croatia: Vocational Education and Training in Focus

Vocational education and training (VET) in Croatia has been receiving much attention recently. Specifically in dual vocational education, it is a focus for policy-makers and stakeholders, recognising a need to increase the employability of VET school graduates for whom current indicators are low. Consequently, VET is a key reform measure in the 2016 National reform programme. The Croatian Government work programme 2016-20 foresees the introduction of dual vocational education. Government support is ensured through regular monthly meetings, with the topic of VET and dual education headed by the deputy prime minister and the minister of education, along with stakeholders.

In February 2017, the Economic Council of the President of the Republic of Croatia presented its recommendations, which include a segment dedicated to VET. The Council identified areas for improvement and provided recommendations on several important issues: improving the importance of VET with links to the labour market, strengthening professional capacities, and dealing with the lack of flexibility and cooperation within the VET system. From the Council’s perspective, some of the challenges are related to the current lack of dual education, lack of practical training and its discontinuity, inadequate validation of learning outcomes, and inability to acquire entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. The main goals are the reintroduction of dual education and development of curricula to ensure that acquired competences will match labour market needs.

Previous initiatives include the introduction of dual vocational education by VET stakeholders. The introduction of dual education is advocated by the Chamber of Economy (HGK), supported by initiatives from the Austrian and the German-Croatian Chamber of Industry and Commerce; it is seen as both an excellent means of battling youth unemployment and a means for reducing skilled workforce emigration to EU member states with stronger economies. The chamber believes that the first step should be a pilot project, followed by gradual increase in students participating in dual education each year. HGK has initiated an Erasmus+ project Capp4App intended to strengthen the chamber’s role in assisting SMEs engaging in the dual vocational education system and improving apprenticeships, correlates with the review of apprenticeship in the Republic of Croatia within the Cedefop project Thematic review on country apprenticeship.

With dual education receiving support from key stakeholders and policy-makers, it can be expected that the special committee for introduction of dual education, which will be appointed shortly, will be able to set out the steps for the future development of both dual and school-based VET in Croatia.

Latest news

In May-June 2021, the Institute for Social Research in Zagreb conducted a survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in Croatia. The survey concludes that the effects of the pandemic on learners’ wellbeing and learning progress were considerable; it calls for effective policy responses.

While facing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the WorldSkills Croatia 2021 competition was held live from 11 to 13 May in Zagreb, Croatia, for over 300 IVET learners in 43 disciplines.

From March to June 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown and the school transition to distance learning, the Agency for VET and Adult Education (ASOO) conducted a survey on the experience, attitudes and needs associated with distance learning in Croatia. They asked 1348 IVET and CVET teachers to assess digital competences, distance learning delivery and available support. Further surveys were also conducted among pre-tertiary and provider levels to plan support and different scenarios for education and training delivery in 2020/21.

The Zagreb and Petrinja earthquakes that occurred in the spring and winter of 2020 respectively, caused major disruption in the education process at all levels, including VET.

Latest publications

Key competences in vocational education and training - Croatia

Vocational education and training in Europe: Croatia - country report

Apprenticeship-type schemes and structured work-based learning programmes

Innovation in vet - Croatia

Supporting teachers and trainers for successful reforms and quality of vet - Croatia

Rss feed

Cedefop turns 50: the countdown is on

In 1975, Cedefop - The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training - embarked on a mission to transform vocational education and training and skills for Europe’s future and prosperit

Malta: launching the national Career Guidance Network

Although the European Year of Skills officially came to an end in May 2024, Malta has concrete plans to build on the momentum it generated.

Malta: a new digital education strategy adopted

Malta has made substantial progress in vocational education and training (VET) in recent years.

Denmark: a new type of vocational upper secondary school announced

Denmark's Ministry of Children and Education has recently put forward a comprehensive reform proposal aimed at reshaping vocational education and training (VET) and upper secondary education.