The Austrian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalization (OeAD) organized a Conference on Vocational Education today in Sarajevo, in partnership with the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ), the Ministry of Education of Sarajevo Canton, and the Sarajevo Canton Chamber of Commerce.
The event brought together policymakers, educators, business representatives, and international experts to discuss how quality school-based and dual vocational education can address youth unemployment and meet the region’s growing need for skilled workers.
As part of the ReFocus Austria initiative, the OeAD emphasized the significance of combining classroom instruction with hands-on training in companies as a solution to labor shortages and youth joblessness.
Opening remarks at the conference underscored the value of public-private partnerships and international cooperation in education reform.
Austrian Ambassador Georg Diwald highlighted Austria’s longstanding success with dual vocational training and its potential as a model for regional development.
“Vocational education and training offer young people tangible and lasting opportunities. It’s also a powerful response to the brain drain issue,” said Diwald.
Sarajevo Canton’s Minister of Education, Naida Hota-Muminović, stressed the need for education systems to keep pace with modern demands.
“Our new Law on Dual Education provides a stable and sustainable structure for collaboration between schools and employers, drawing on proven international models like Austria’s,” she said.
Muamer Mahmutović, President of the Sarajevo Canton Chamber of Commerce, praised the partnership with Austrian institutions.
“Quality education is central to sustainable development, as outlined in the UN’s 2030 Agenda. Work-based learning enables quicker workforce integration and supports economic growth by supplying skilled labor,” he stated, according to a release from the Austrian Embassy.
