Nordplus Junior 2021 Project
„Organization of green workplace at vocational school”

Profesionālās izglītības kompetences centrs "Rīgas Valsts tehnikums"/Vocational Education Competence Centre "Riga State Technical School" (RSTS) with approximately 2500 students is the largest vocational secondary education institution in Latvia. RSTS implements programs of secondary vocational education which give a possibility to acquire the third level of vocational education.

Additionally RSTS performs such functions as a regional or branch methodical center, teacher further education center, and evaluation of professional competence acquired outside the formal education. RSTS is the most versatile vocational education competence centre in Latvia. There are 9 departments in RSTS: Auto, Computer, Business, Chemistry technology, Energetics, Mechanical engineering, Printing and Media Technology, Woodworking, and Railway. RSTS has also 2 branches in other cities of Latvia: Kraslava and Limbazi.

The international cooperation at RSTS is being developed making vocational education in Latvia competitive at the European level.

RSTS participates in mobility projects since 1998, sending practical training students and job shadowing vocational education specialists. In the implementation of mobility projects, RSTS has cooperated with Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Greece, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Malta, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Finland, France, Spain, Turkey, Germany, Sweden, etc. RSTS has experience also as a host organisation, providing practical training and experience exchange to the students and school staff from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Estonia, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey etc.

RSTS has long-term experience also in coordination and partnership of other international and local level projects. RSTS has been involved in the projects of several sub-programs of Erasmus+ programme, in the projects of the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund, in the projects under Nordplus Junior and Adult education programmes etc.

In 2021 RSTS received Erasmus Accreditations in VET, school education, and adult education.

In order to save natural resources the Green Course in the implementation of practice/work-based learning is introduced:

• e-format of practice documents (3-sided agreements, agreements);
• use of the e-practice diary.

There are different environmental activities organized at RSTS, e.g. reuse of waste and recycling, collecting waste paper. To promote green management, we have the light on motion sensors in the corridors. Solar batteries are installed on the roof of the technical school, the energy of which is used.

The two secondary schools in the Knarvik area were established in the mid-1960s - and have played an important role in the region for over fifty years.

The school has two buildings; Juvikstølen and Kvernhusmyrane.

At Juvikstølen, specialist studies take place, together with technology and industrial subjects (TIF), child and youth workers (BUA,) and craft, innovation and product development (HIP).

At Kvernhusmyrane we teach electrical subjects, construction subjects and health subjects, has well has our 4 years program for technical and general subjects (TAF)

Here, young people in Nordhordland have had the opportunity to acquire vocational and study skills without having to move away from home to go to school - and after completing their training, the students have had the opportunity to make use of their skills in public and private companies.

Safe and good school environment

We have many different educational programmes, both vocational subjects and study specializations, which means that students will experience a colorful and exciting environment! Learning and growth for everyone is our motto. At our school, we are concerned that students should have a good time socially, and experience being included. Throughout the school year, among other things, our environmental team works to come up with great social activities for our students.

Knarvik vgs is certified as an environmental lighthouse

The certification facilitates sustainable growth and reduces the burden on the environment. This means, among other things, that we commit ourselves to:

• sort waste at source
• reduce waste, both paper, plastic and food waste
• prioritize short-traveled food and organic goods
• reduce energy consumption
• facilitate the use of bicycles
• take environmental care when purchasing goods and services
• report on our climate and environmental work

International activities

Our school has a long tradition of international cooperation. Each year we send student groups to visit various cooperative schools in Europe.

Our partners this year:

• Institution Robin, France
• lycée professionnel Augustin Hébert, France
• ITC International
• Shipcon Limassol Limited
• Learning Together (learning-together.eu)
• School Education Gateway - Homepage
• Walddörfer-Gymnasium, Germany
• BTI, Butwal Technical Institute, Butwal, Nepal
• Riga State Technical School, Riga, Latvia
• Valga County Vocational Training Centre, Valga, Estonia
• Lapland Education Centre REDU, Lapland, Finland
• Kaunas technical vocational education centre, Kaunas, Lithuania

In August 1st 2016 Kauno statybininku rengimo centras (Kaunas builders training centre) had marged with Kauno mechanikos mokykla (Kaunas mechanical school). New school is named Kauno technikos profesinio mokymo centras (Kaunas technical vocational education centre). The centre consists of 5 departments: Transport, Mechanic, Business and Services, Wood processing and Construction. Students are offered lower-secondary education in gymnasium classes of technological trend, upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education.

VISION OF KAUNAS TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CENTRE

Modern, open and developing vocational education centre of technological type where studying and working are pleasant.

MISSION OF KAUNAS TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION CENTRE

To train competetive specialists, personalities whose activities are based on such values as civic education and creativity ensuring leadership in Lithuania as well as in international space of vocational training. Kaunas technical vocational education centre opens excellent opportunities to study perspective and marketable specialities for graduates of:

• 8th grade, providing secondary education and granting vocational qualification;
• 10th grade, providing secondary education and vocational qualification;
• secondary school, providing vocational qualification.

Basic school graduates studying vocational and general education disciplines gain secondary education and vocational qualification. Later they can choose studies at universities and colleges or other vocational training programmes gaining vocational qualification in 1 year (length of programme in years 2+1).

Secondary school graduates gain qualified worker‘s profession.

1st Part Basic education programme graduates (8th grade) will be able to gain secondary education, choose vocational training programme and acquire qualification (length of programme in years 4+1).

Valga County Vocational Training Center (VKOK) was established on September 1, 1999 by merging Helme and Valga vocational schools into one of the Education and State educational institutions in the Ministry of Science. Valga County Vocational Training Center is the only vocational school in the county and the main activities are:

1. Organization of vocational training in all forms and forms of study;
2. Organization of adult in-service training and retraining;
3. Organization of professional information and counseling for county students and adults.

The study process takes place in Estonian, Latvian, Russian, and English languages, and there are eight curriculum groups in the school - construction, health and social services, transport equipment, logistics, wood processing, trade and tourism, catering, and accommodation service.

The Valga County Vocational Training Centre is a student-centered vocational training center, where every individual student is guided individually, for us a training center is first of all an event for the students. Students should feel comfortable at our training center. Student orientation also means to encourage and support students to develop their capacity, not only the low achievers but also the engaged and driven persons.

Valga County Vocational Training Centre participates in the international mobility of students, VKOK organizes every year basis international mobility for the students who like to get international practical experience within their field of study, The main international mobility direction countries for our students are Italy, Spain, Turkey, Norway, Austria, and Georgia.

All curriculums have environmental protection and recycling topics braided into all curriculums because environmental sustainability is very actual these days, so we need to keep our curriculums as fresh and youthful as possible. Also as our buildings are quite new, they use modern solutions: all heating is done by geothermal pumps, a lot of natural light is used, lightning has movement sensors and so on.

The Sodankylän Campus is a quite small unit with around 300 students. The biggest branch is mining. One can also study practical nursing, construction, plumbing, electricity and business and administration. There is also a preparatory education for work and independent living for the students with special needs as well as a TUVA-group for those who need some time to think, what they want to study.

There’s a dormitory for students who come from further afield and need a place to stay during the school weeks. The dormitory superviser will help students with different kinds of matters if needed and he warms up the sauna once a week.

There’s also a school canteen where both breakfast and lunch is served to the students. The school meal is free for the students. And the food is good!

The campus is situated next to the skiing tracks/nature trail so if the students are willing they can jog or ski there. Also the nature is next to the school so the forest and the green environment is very easy to reach. There is also a gym in the campus and that’s free to the students to use.