Meeting of a SEC in the context of SEC-pLus. Photo: ZWH
SEC-pLus is part of bilateral cooperation between the German and Latvian ministries of education. What objectives have the ministries set for the project, and how is this cooperation reflected in your work?
SEC-pLus builds on over ten years of German-Latvian cooperation in vocational education. The focus is not on developing ready-made products for education and training but on empowering stakeholders – strengthening existing structures and capacities.
The ministries explicitly encouraged the project partners to focus their activities on developing the SECs as capable, action-oriented actors. The goal is for the members of the sectoral councils to actively assume responsibility for shaping vocational education and to contribute their voices to educational policy decision-making processes.
A special emphasis is placed on improving communication and cooperation among stakeholders – both within Latvia and between the German and Latvian partners. Topics such as regional labor market forecasting, the strategic orientation of SEC work, and deeper involvement of enterprises in training are high on the agenda.
We want to enable the SECs to confidently and independently shape the modernization of vocational education in their sectors in the future.
SEC-pLus runs from June 2024 to May 2026. What are the key results so far – what does your ‘midterm summary’ look like?
After the first year, the consortium draws a very positive interim conclusion. Communication between the sectoral councils and the Ministry of Education has become noticeably more intensive. Issues that were previously treated separately are now discussed jointly – for example, regional labor market forecasts or the future role of the SECs in modernizing training standards.
Numerous workshops, discussion rounds, and two study visits have taken place. The exchange with German experts during the study trip to Düsseldorf and South Thuringia was particularly valuable, where Latvian partners gained insights into the structure of dual vocational training, the regulatory work of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), and innovative training centers such as the “Furniture Industry Training Factory”.
On the Latvian side, activity is also high: the SECs in the three participating sectors – woodworking, metalworking and mechanical engineering, and agriculture – work closely together, attend each other’s meetings, and regularly exchange ideas and best practices. This new culture of collaboration is one of the central achievements of the project so far.
Study visit at the Furniture Industry Training Factory in Löhne in the context of SEC-pLus. Photo: ZWH
What hurdles have you already overcome in the project, and what challenges still lie ahead?
As is often the case in international cooperation, one of the biggest challenges lies in the limited time resources of the professionals involved. Many SEC members run their own businesses or are engaged in other projects. Nevertheless, the level of commitment is remarkable – we experience a strong willingness to contribute and learn from one another.
A key challenge for the coming months will be to secure this collaborative culture for the long term. The project team aims to ensure that the structures and relationships established continue beyond the project’s lifetime – for example, in the form of professional networks, regular dialogue partnerships, or joint specialist events.
Impression from a workshop on the strategy of the SECs in the context of SEC-pLus. Photo: ZWH
Environmental protection as well as social and economic sustainability are key issues for the skilled crafts sector. What role do these topics play in the project?
Environmental awareness, resource efficiency, and social responsibility play an increasingly important role, especially in agriculture but also in the woodworking, metalworking, and mechanical engineering industries.
The discussions on the “green and digital transformation” run through many of the project’s activities. Workshops also explore how training content can be adapted to new technological and ecological requirements. The aim is to anchor sustainability not merely as an add-on topic but as a core component of vocational education – both in curricula and in training practice.
Furthermore, the active involvement of companies and social partners in shaping vocational education makes a decisive contribution to social and economic sustainability. When employers, associations, and employee representatives work together on training content and qualification standards, tailor-made, future-oriented competencies emerge – securing companies’ competitiveness in the long term. This participation also strengthens companies’ sense of responsibility for developing their own skilled workforce and ties them more closely to societal development processes. At the same time, such dialogue fosters a VET system that is more inclusive, innovative, and resilient to economic and technological change.
Who are your main supporters in the project?
SEC-pLus is supported by a strong partnership:
- The Latvian Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) and the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) as central national actors,
- The German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK) as the local project partner,
- The Central Office for Continuing Vocational Education and Training in the Skilled Crafts (ZWH) as the German technical partner, and
- The Chamber of Skilled Crafts South Thuringia, which contributes valuable input through practice-oriented elements, study visits, and workshops.
The project is also supported by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which lead the bilateral VET cooperation.
Impression from a workshop in the context of SEC-pLus. Photo: ZWH
How could the project evolve further, and what might future cooperation look like?
The Latvian side has shown great interest in topics beyond traditional VET – such as career marketing and promoting young talent in STEM professions.
Another important future topic is the stronger involvement of companies in career orientation and regional workforce development. The project sees significant potential for future collaboration in these areas.
Latvia brings strong momentum and openness – many ideas for rethinking vocational education. This creates an excellent foundation for long-term cooperation.
What interests does your organization, ZWH, have in this cooperation, and what benefits do you gain from it?
For the ZWH, SEC-pLus offers not only the opportunity to contribute its expertise to international cooperation but also to gain new perspectives itself. The exchange with Latvian partners enriches our work, particularly in areas such as governance, regulatory development, and the modernization of training standards.
We understand international cooperation as a two-way learning process. SEC-pLus shows that European partnership means sharing responsibility – for strong vocational education, for securing skilled workers, and for sustainable economic activity.
