On a press conference held at the vocational high school “SETU Mihajlo Pupin”, the Mayor of Skopje, Danela Arsovska, the Director of the School, Dimitar Gjorghiev, the CEO of PrimePoint Partners, Biljana Markovic Stamenova and the representatives of the consortia, presented the project which was awarded a grant of around 450,000 Euros, from the Regional Challenge Fund. PrimePoint Partners was involved in developing the project concept, consortium coordination, and application development for this dual-education program.
With our support, the consortium led by “SETU Mihajlo Pupin” from Skopje and the companies LIBERTY AD Skopje, Rade Koncar Contactors and relays d.o.o. and Makstil AD Skopje obtained a grant in the amount of €453,590.00 from the Regional Challenge Fund. The fund is an initiative of the German Development Bank (KfW), financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The leading partner in the implementation is the Chamber Investment Forum of the six Western Balkans countries.
“Smart Laboratories will be created in the school premises, equipped with the most modern technology from the field of Industry 4.0, with an automated and robotic production process, which will make this the only such equipment in Macedonia intended for teaching purposes. Students who enroll in the electrical-technician and energy-technician profiles, will have the opportunity to practice and develop advanced skills by working in these renowned companies” – said Dimitar Gjorgjiev, director of “SETU Mihajlo Pupin”.
Mrs. Arsovska congratulated the partners and highlighted the need for these profiles for the private sector. “With the modernized teaching process, the school can bring the students’ skills closer to those required by the companies and will increase the number of employed students in these technologically advanced companies” – concluded Mrs. Arsovska.
“As part of the project, the School will also establish a Center for skills development and career guidance, which will focus on training for both technical skills and soft skills necessary for easier employment and faster integration into the labor market. The competencies of teachers and mentors will be improved and innovative teaching materials based on a circular and green economy, digitalization, energy efficiency, automation, etc. will be developed,” said Biljana Marković Stamenova, director of PrimePoint Skopje and an expert in the VET program development and management training.
The development of education programs of this profile will prepare students for the current demands of the labor market, which will also help companies that lack such personnel. Mihajlo Pupin, as a VET school with 900 students, has direct cooperation with some of the largest technology companies in the country. Thus such an initiative will contribute to the development of domestic companies with locally trained skilled staff – concluded the partners of the consortium.
