Reorganization of cultural education system and establishment of Vocational Education Competence Centrs’ system
According to the Cultural policy guidelines "Creative Latvia 2014 - 2020" 6 vocational education competence centrs are planned to be established by the year 2020, while according to the development concept of the vocational secondary cultural education institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Culture 8 vocational education competence centrs (VECCVECC) are planned to be established, 2/3 of which in the field of design. The establishment of VECCs was determined by the cultural and creative industries concentration in the respective area. The reform is intended to facilitate quality and excellence in vocational cultural education and establish a support system for the detection of talent and development of excellence, as well as ensuring the preparation of competitive specialists suitable for the labour market. In 2015 amendments were made to the Vocational Education Law to determine the delegation of the Cabinet of Ministers to approve the VECC status granting and revocation in the art and music sector, as well as in 2015 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the regulation on granting the status of cultural VECC and its cancellation procedures. In 2015 Riga Design and Art School received the status of vocational education competence centre. According to the Vocational Education Law vocational education competence centres should established convents – a collaboration platform between employers and the school. This will provide a stronger school education programs in association with the labour market requirements. In addition, a professional competence centre provides methodological work and methodological materials in the respective industry.
It is planned to establish two VECC in Riga – Riga School of Design and Art and the National Arts School, merging Riga Dome Choir School and J. Rozentals Art School, because in Riga there is the biggest critical mass of CCI companies and creative potential, as well as the largest segment of the labour market. Ventspils Music School (VECC) has been set up in the city of Ventspils. It has a well-developed educational practice places and a network of cultural industries’ institutions. Joining Liepaja Art and Design Secondary School with E,Melngailis Liepaja College of Music, Liepaja Music, Art and Design Secondary School (VECC) in Liepaja will be created. Liepaja is a city with strong artistic and educational roots and ancient cultural traditions. There are good labour market conditions for professional musicians and performing artists, as well as further education opportunities. Uniting Rezekne Art and Design Secondary School with J. Ivanovs Rezekne Music Secondary School, Rezekne Music, Art and Design Secondary School will be created (VECC). Rezekne city has marked the creative industries as one of the primary factors of urban development in its development strategy. Rezekne purposefully designs labour market for CCIs. On the basis of Cesis Music Secondary School it is planned to establish VECC Cesis Music Secondary School in the city of Cesis, because Vidzeme region is proud of the fact that it is the cradle of the Song Festival, and Cesis city and its environs are the festive traditions continuer. For many years, it holds an annual Cesis Art Festival and has a new concert hall. Valmiera city, nearby Cesis, is also historically formed as the CCI center of Vidzeme region. There is an active cultural life and festivals taking place in Valmiera. The region has a high concentration of business, providing internships and labor market opportunities, so there is a plan to create a VECC on the basis of Valmiera Art School.
It is planned to establish 6 vocational education competence centres by the year 2020 according to Cultural policy guidelines “Creative Latvia 2014-2020”, while according to the development concept of the vocational secondary cultural education institutions subordinated to the Ministry of Culture 8 vocational education competence centres (VECC) are planned to be established, 2/3 of which in the field of design. It is planned that this initiative will result in quality and excellence in professional cultural education and established support system for the detection of talent and development of excellence, as well as ensuring the preparation of competitive specialists suitable for labor market.
Budget: EUR 23 million from ERAF until 2023. It is planned to implement the reform until 2018.