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European Social Fund Plus
Project2023-08-23

Vocational education and training helps young people in Lithuania find promising careers

Vocational education and training helps young Lithuanians find promising careers
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Funded by the European Social Fund, the Marijampole vocational education and training (VET) school works with local industry partners to tackle skills shortages in Lithuania. With nearly 2000 students, the centre represents the biggest vocational institution in the South of Lithuania, helping people train for careers including secretaries, florists, cooks, waiters and bartenders, as well as specialist services like construction and mechanics.

Edvinas Černauskas is one of the many students who successfully participated in the training and apprenticeships the school offered and was able to develop the skills he needed as an auto mechanic. Throughout his apprenticeship with the transportation company JSC Autoriba, Edvinas took coursework at the VET school to learn foundational skills, but also spent nearly three-quarters of his time learning directly from skilled mechanics. He discovered an appreciation for lifelong learning, ultimately leading to a change in his career trajectory.

‘After my apprenticeship, I continued to work for the same company for a year and really enjoyed it,’ says Edvinas. ‘As an apprentice, I didn't just learn how to service and repair vehicles, I developed an understanding of the real business world, where many things depend on you.’

As the deputy head of Marijampole VET school, Roma Šimukauskienė is keen for other students to emulate Edvinas’ success as an apprentice. Roma explains how apprenticeships help young people discover fulfilling careers while also helping many of the region’s companies develop the skilled workforce that they need to expand their operations. ‘Many young people want to enter the labour market as soon as possible. An apprenticeship allows them to do this while giving them the skills they need to secure a fulfilling career with great prospects.’

About 38 professional teaching programmes are also run through the centre, and students are constantly involved in activities that raise their literacy capacity to pass on what they have learned. The centre is also a member of the European Forum for VET, and participates in over 80 international projects, enabling students to find jobs across the EU.

For Edvinas, this extra training resulted in a real appreciation for lifelong learning, ultimately leading to a change in his career trajectory. After his apprenticeship, he continued to work in his field, building his expertise in mechanics. Now, he wants to help other students find the same success, ‘Ultimately this brought me back to Marijampole VET school, not as a student, but this time as an auto mechanic teacher.’

Project details

Project name
Marijampole VET school
Countries
Lithuania
City
Marijampolė
Organisation
Marijampolės profesinio rengimo centras
Participants
2000
Project start
2020
Project end
2022
Contact details
Kauno g. 117, 68223, Marijampolė
mprcentras@mprc.lt
Total budget
328 335,97 €
EU Budget contribution
328 335,97 € (100%)