The Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (ASOO) organised the 9th Conference for Principals of Secondary Vocational Schools, which took place from 15 to 17 September 2025 in Bol, on the island of Brač. The conference brought together more than 200 principals and experts from the field of vocational education.
The conference was officially opened by the Director of the Agency, Mr Mile Živčić, who emphasised the importance of continuous professional development for school principals and the strengthening of cooperation between vocational schools and the Agency. Participants were also addressed by Zrinka Mužinić Bikić, representing the Minister of Science, Education and Youth.
The plenary lecture, entitled “Education for the Future”, was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr Mislav Balković, Rector of Algebra Bernays University. In his presentation, he highlighted the growing importance of digital competencies, creativity, and effective collaboration between humans and technology, particularly in the context of rapid developments in artificial intelligence and changes in the labour market.
Vesna Anđelić, Deputy Director for the Development of Vocational Education, presented the key thematic areas of the conference, including the new organisation of teaching, the use of the e-Kurikul digital tool, the importance of self-evaluation, and the promotion of work-based learning through cooperation with employers.
As part of the conference programme, six parallel workshops were held and facilitated by sectoral advisors and Agency representatives. The workshops focused on the implementation of modular teaching, with particular attention given to challenges related to student assessment, monitoring learning outcomes, and organising remedial instruction. Participants exchanged practical experiences from their schools and discussed approaches to supporting students and parents.
In addition, three workshops dedicated to the e-Kurikul application, a digital repository of vocational curricula were organised. The workshops were led by:
- Boris Caput, Principal of the Electro-Industrial and Crafts School Rijeka
- Dario Malogorski, Principal of the Technical School Bjelovar
- Renato Matejaš, Principal of the Electrical Engineering School Zagreb
Participants were introduced to the functionalities and benefits of the application and provided with practical guidance on its effective use.
On the final day of the conference, Josip Ivoš, Head of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department, presented FreeDOM, a digital repository of supplementary educational materials. FreeDOM provides free access to manuals, curricula, modules, and other educational resources intended for students, teachers, and adult learners.
The conference concluded with closing remarks by the Director of the Agency, Mr Mile Živčić, who emphasised the importance of continued collaboration, openness to innovation, and joint efforts aimed at improving the quality of vocational education.
Vesna Anđelić_Uvod u radionice
Radionica 1_Konferencija ravnatelja rujan 2025.
Radionica 2_Konferencija ravnatelja rujan 2025.
Radionica 3_Konferencija ravnatelja rujan 2025.
Radionica 4_Konferencija ravnatelja rujan 2025.
Radionica 5_Konferencija ravnatelja rujan 2025.
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