LINPRA – publicly acknowledged at Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition

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LINPRA has been publicly acknowledged for the contribution as a Pledger at Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition and has a pledge in the Digital Skills for Labour Force category.

The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition brings together Member States, companies, social partners, non-profit organisations and education providers who take action to tackle the lack of digital skills in Europe. Member States can support cooperation among different actors in their country by bringing them together in national Digital Skills and Jobs Coalitions.

Specifically, we contribute to the development of vocational competences – including digital ones – for at least 100 trainees and at least 50 VET trainers in the metalworking sector, with the development of a new set of occupational standards, a new VET programme and educational material that matches the skills requirements of the manufacturing industry. In addition, we commit to actively work in the field of vocational guidance and reach at least 6,000 young people and vocational teachers with a mobile STEAM laboratory (InfoMobil), aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the engineering professions and the awareness of the need for digital skills in the manufacturing industry. In order to strengthen vocational training for engineering professionals we aim to establish a sector ‘Professional competence center’, gathering the vocational training centers that provide training programmes relevant to the sector.

Page of Lithuanian coalition.

List of all National coalitions.

 

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Digital Innovation Hubs

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The European Commission launched on 19 April 2016 the first industry-related initiative of the Digital Single Market package. Building on and complementing the various national initiatives for digitising industry, the Commission acts to trigger further investments in the digitisation of industry and support the creation of better framework conditions for the digital industrial revolution. One of the more important pillars of the Digitise European Industry effort is the activity to develop a network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH). A first draft version of the Digtial Innovation Hubs catalogue is online. Lithuanian Digital Innovation Hubs are also in the European DIH network. More information – on European Commission page HERE. 

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Lithuania – in the list of initiatives for the digitisation of industry across Europe

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European Commission observes and provides an overview of National Initiatives for digitising industry. The full list and the map that reflects the status of national policy initiatives in the Member States is provided on European Commission page.

Fifteen national initiatives for digitising industry have been launched across Europe in recent years. With value chains increasingly distributed across Europe, the further digitisation of industry brings challenges that can only be addressed through a coordinated EU-wide effort. Read more about the digitising European Industry Policy HERE.

 

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Six Lithuanian companies listed in “Deloitte” ranking

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Deloitte, an audit and business consulting company, announced their compiled “Technology Fast 50” ranking, which includes even six Lithuanian companies. In Central Europe, Lithuania is the only country with just 2.8 million inhabitants and with even six companies included in the ranking. This is a significant result, which is a clear demonstration of Lithuania’s leadership in the region. Lithuanian companies, included in the ranking: „Deeper“, „Good one“, „Invenis“, „TV žaidimai“, „Adeo Web“ and „TeleSoftas“.

Full article published online – DELFI M360.

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The author of “The Fourth Industrial Revolution” Klaus Schwab visited Lithuania

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German engineer and economist Klaus Martin Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum in Davos, who holds doctorates in economics and engineering, is one of the most prominent researchers and developers of the concept of the fourth industrial revolution. Initiated by The Engineering Industries Association LINPRA and with the help of partners, professor’s book The Fourth Industrial Revolution has been just released in Lithuanian language and introduced during the Annual Economic Forum 2017 in Vilnius, 12 October.

As the main guest and speaker of the event, Klaus Shwab shared his ideas comparing the concepts of Industry 4.0 and The Fourth Industrial Revolution, explaining that revolution is much more overwhelming and refers to more aspects, not only digitalisation of the industry. One of the most important aspects is Education4.0 – traditional education mixed with lifelong learning and development of digital skills, maybe even coding, since young age.

During the visit Professor K. Shwab was awarded with the honorary doctorate of Kaunas University of Technology and delivered a public lecture on Friday, 13 October.  

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First meeting of the ‘Industry 4.0’ Commission

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The first official meeting of the National Industrial Competitiveness Commission ‘Industry 4.0’ (‘Pramonė 4.0’) takes place on August 29, 2017, aiming to:

  • Introduce activities, performed due to the digitalisation of industry and the implementation of ‘Pramonė 4.0’ initiative;
  • Discuss further possibilities of the initiative;
  • Determine the main directions of the National Digitalisation Platform ‘Pramonė 4.0’ activities;
  • Set up the tasks for the Coordinating group of the National Industrial Competitiveness Commission.

Structure of the National Industrial Competitiveness Commission ‘Industry 4.0’ (‘Pramonė 4.0’) is confirmed by the Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis on June 13, 2017, and consists of the following:

  • Mindaugas Sinkevičius – Minister of Economy (chairman of the Commission);
  • Robertas Dargis – President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (deputy chairman of the Commission);
  • Gintautas Kvietkauskas – President of Engineering Industries Association of Lithuania LINPRA;
  • Eglė Radišauskienė – Deputy Minister for Social Security and Labour;
  • Lukas Savickas – Adviser to the Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Strategic Change Management;
  • Rimantas Vaitkus – member of Lithuanian Robotics Association, General manager of joint stock company ‘Vilniaus baldai’;
  • Gintaras Valušis – Director of State Scientific Research Institute, Center For Physical Sciences And Technology (FTMC);
  • Paulius Vertelka – Executive director of association ‘Infobalt’;
  • Giedrius Viliūnas – Deputy Minister of Education and Science;
  • Mantas Vilys – Director of Public Institution Lithuanian Innovation Center.

 

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“The AHK can be a mentor for vocational training in Lithuania”

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Interview with LINPRA director Gintaras Vilda for the AHK Balt published business magazine “AHKbalt aktuell”. Read full journal online: http://bit.ly/2zkdqBg

Like in Germany, the manufacturing industry in Lithuania is one of its driving forces. Training for qualifications in technical professions is essential. For this reason, the Engineering Industries Association of Lithuania (LINPRA) is advocating vocational training in line with the German model, as Director Gintaras Vilda explains in an interview with AHK Balt aktuell.

 What do you think about the current situation of vocational training in Lithuania?

The number of people starting at vocational training institutions this year indicates a marked positive shift. We’re extremely happy with the great popularity that engineering, manufacturing and industrial professions are already enjoying – they are gaining the day in terms of pupils’ career aspirations this year. However, we’re still seeing just how important it is to promote and standardise dual vocational training in Lithuania. This type of training is most effective and helps to supply the economy with highly qualified workers over the long term.

What do companies need to take into account when offering vocational training?

The cornerstone of an effective apprenticeship for employers is having a certain sense of responsibility. This is the only way they’ll feel the sense of duty necessary to ensure the training process is successful and play a hands-on role in vocational training. Employers will then be in the position to help make decisions on how the vocational training network can be managed effectively, how professional standards can be better integrated and how training schemes that meet industry expectations can be implemented.

You travelled to Germany a few months ago to find out about the dual training system following an invitation from the German Embassy. How are Germany and Lithuania different?

 In Germany, the companies themselves are more closely involved in vocational training than in Lithuania. Not only do they train the young people, they also pay them for the whole period. They therefore support a young person in two ways, but they also help themselves by passing specific knowledge onto their up-and-coming talent. In Lithuania, people have had the ideas for this system but no suitable model has been found or, rather, no fitting framework. And then there’s the fact that dual training has a long history in Germany and forms an integral part of its education culture.

How would you rate the role played by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Germany compared to Lithuania?

 The role is very important! The Chambers of Industry and Commerce – IHKs – are essential partners for vocational training in Germany. They act as intermediaries between the companies and schools and set the various careers that can be learned. With these standards, the IHKs ensure an even and comparable level of quality for all the training pathways in the exams that they set. The “IHKcertified” tag is a seal of quality. I think that, particularly in Lithuania too, there should be a more rigorous assessment of whether the companies are actually prepared – and by that I mean qualified and equipped – to provide training. Uniform standards need to be put in place for training content and the trainers have to have the necessary skills. This is the only way to ensure that the dual training is high-quality. I can envisage Lithuanian associations such as LINPRA and the German Baltic Chamber of Commerce – AHK – working together to define these standards and roll them out nationwide in the future.

A new Lithuanian Education Act is currently being prepared. In what ways can Lithuania learn from Germany in this process?

Lithuanian legislation definitely needs to set out what qualities companies have to bring to the table before they can begin to provide training. The new law will be able to establish the model and framework that I mentioned earlier, which will allow vocational training in the country to meet the required quality standard. The law must establish what content the training is to teach so that various different companies can provide training independently from one another. This is the only way to guarantee that a mechatronics engineer trained in Kaunas can work in a company in Klaipėda or Marijampole without any issues, for example.

The AHK is a global mediator for dual training. Where do you see potential in the cooperation for Lithuania?

 I think that the AHK can be a mentor for vocational training in Lithuania. It is important to always consider the characteristics of the Lithuanian job market, its companies and its education system. At the same time, the AHK contributes lessons learned from Germany and the rest of the world. This can only be beneficial to us and help us develop the best for Lithuania through our joint efforts.

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