Legal and financial conditions required for dual education are given in Hungary, and these are crucial because practical vocational training can make an economy more competitive, Minister of State Zoltán Cséfalvay said at a press conference held at the Budapest headquarters of Siemens Hungary. The event took place after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on dual education by Zoltán Cséfalvay and President and CEO of Siemens Hungary Dale A. Martin.
Dale A. Martin emphasised that trainees in vocational training centres can obtain internationally competitive professional and language skills, and they can familiarize themselves with Siemens quality and international work culture. A renovated and updated workshop will be opened on 2 October, he added.
As the President-CEO said, in the vocational training centre currently more than 40 apprentices learn three various professions in two classes. Under the investment project, the currently one-storey building gets another storey and as many as 130 pupils can attend the new Siemens Education Centre.
Zoltán Cséfalvay stated that the Government began adopting the German vocational training system already in the second half of 2010 in Hungary. The vocational training act, adopted in 2011, laid down the required legal foundations, while the necessary financial resources were secured by the regulation on vocational training contributions.
However, Zoltán Cséfalvay pointed out, along with the legal and financial framework, the strengthening of infrastructure is another important factor, as this also helps extend vocational training. The National Training Register was also successfully transformed, he said, adding that some HUF 50bn of budgetary resources are allocated to vocational training per year.
The Minister of State also called attention to the fact that while one-fifth of German enterprises take part in the dual education programme, in Hungary only 5 percent of them. Accordingly, the number of participating companies must be increased in Hungary. The Government is aiming to support these enterprises and those at issue also show interest.
Speaking about the future Zoltán Cséfalvay said that the dual education system shall be strengthened also with regard to the tertiary education of natural sciences, therefore the next step may be to establish such a scheme within the field of engineering and informatics, which are areas close to the labour demand of enterprises.
The Minister of State also mentioned that in the 2014-2020 EU fiscal period Hungary will spend altogether HUF 7500bn on development projects, of which some 60 percent will be disbursed directly on economic development. Of this amount, according to current calculations, some HUF 50bn may be earmarked as direct funding for dual education.
(Ministry for National Economy)
