​The project Chance for IT Start was presented today at the premises of the City Administration, aiming to improve and align the quality of education in vocational and technical schools with the needs of the labour market.
 
The Chance for IT Start project is being implemented as part of the Framework for implementing Sustainable Development Goals as a foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDG2BiH) program, funded by the Government of Sweden and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UNWOMEN in BiH, with coordination from the UN Resident Coordinator Office.
 
The goal is to initiate the implementation of projects that contribute to the implementation of the SDG Framework in BiH and that contribute to the implementation of the principle of ‘Leave No One Behind’.
 
The program includes eight local self-government units and three cantons in BiH, selected as leaders in BiH regarding achieving sustainable development.
 
On behalf of the City of Bijeljina, the Section for Local Economic Development and European Integration, as the program coordinator for Bijeljina, applied with two projects for co-financing, and both were approved.
 
When speaking about the partnership of the Technical School ‘Mihajlo Pupin’ in this project, principal Milenko Maksimović emphasized its importance for this educational institution. He mentioned that the teaching staff will enhance their knowledge through training in the field of information technology and subsequently transfer that knowledge to the students.
 
“For our school, equipping computer labs is very important - 30 computers and 2 smart boards will be of great benefit to the students and contribute to the improvement of the curriculum,” said Maksimović. He also pointed out that until now, students have not had practical IT lessons with employers and that through this project, with the approval of the Ministry of Education and Culture, modern practical lessons will be provided to students with employers.
 
Filip Božić from the Mayor's Office stated that the project will be implemented through a partnership with company Elephant Solutions and Technical School ‘Mihajlo Pupin’, and one of the results will be equipping two IT labs in this school, enabling implementation of practice lessons. The City of Bijeljina has allocated more than BAM 28,277.98 for this purpose, while the Swedish government has allocated BAM 60,089.60.
 
“In times of great transitions and rapid development of artificial intelligence, projects like this are of great importance to better prepare future professionals for the labour market,” emphasized Božić.
 
Head of the Section for Local Economic Development and European Integration, Ankica Todorović, clarified that the first meeting of the project team working on the implementation of the Chance for IT Start project was held today, and that it will be implemented as part of a program funded by the Swedish government, in collaboration with UNDP and UNICEF.
 
“This is a project that will improve the educational process in IT-related fields where future IT professionals are educated. The partnership has been formed with the Technical School ‘Mihajlo Pupin’ and the IT company Elephant Solutions, and it involves numerous activities - modifying the curriculum for IT occupations in collaboration with private IT companies, in line with market needs, strengthening the capacities of teachers and students, improving conditions for conducting IT practical lessons in the Technical School through modern equipment in two IT labs, organizing practical lessons with employers, all aimed at adequately responding to market demands,” said Todorović. She added that she hopes Bijeljina will set an example for other local communities on how to improve the educational process.