Fórum Lidské Zdroje

Education fund for SME's and craft Employees Žalec, Velenje, Mozirje, Šentjur, Šmarje pri Jelšah

Ulica heroja Staneta 1b, 
SI-3310 Žalec
Slovenia

Tel:  +386 3 710 13 60
Fax:  +386 3 710 13 61
Email: jasna.nikolcic(zavinac)siol.net

Professional career:

My first employment was as journalist in chemical and graphical company (www.aero.si)  as journalist for five years and later on I worked in marketing and public relations for two years.  In TECOS Slovenian Tool and Die Development Centre (www.tecos.si) as corporate secretary for 11 years I was responsible organisation of office work, organisation of one day courses (30 per year), international conferences (100 participants from 25 countries) every second year and workshops, administration of international projects (Phare, Leonardo), 10 monthly issues for tool producers, organisation of technical excursions, communication with business partners, HR for 11 employees Since September 2005 I am Secretary General to Fund for Education of employees at Independent Entrepreneurs of Savinjska region. Fund covers 6000 employees in 1700 SME's and was founded by Chamber of Craft and Trade union of SME workers; As Secretary general of the fund. I am responsible for organisation of training courses, technical excursions, creating of education policy in part of Savinjska region, cooperation with founders, schools and local employment services, promotion of vocational training, joint actions on filed of vocational education.  I am also a Secretary General on state level for Slovenian Funds for education.

Summary of the presentation:
Nikolcic

Education funds for SME's and craft Employees in Slovenia have been founded over 30 years ago by Slovenian Chamber of Craft and Slovenian Craft employees Union.

As a good example of social partnership Education funds for SME's and craft Employees in Slovenia have a very important role in lifelong learning and vocational training of employees. In year 2005 32.256 (55, 29% of all) employees were co-financed though Educational funds activities and in year 2004 27.329 (46, 45% of all) employees.

There are 29 funds in Slovenia for app. 21.100 employers with 59.000 Employees. The aim of educational fund is to co-finance education of SME's and craft employees. Employers are obliged by collective agreement on field of craft work to contribute for every employee 1% of salary for educational purposes. Education fund operates with this means and co-finance formal and informal education for employees. Education funds are organiser of vocational trainings too and through Chamber of Craft active player on field of Slovenian Vocational training policy.

Some funds work on regional level (6) and some for only one region or local Chamber of Craft. Educational funds work on state level with Coordination Educational Fund.

At the moment Educational funds in Slovenia are facing a lot of changes such as reorganizing of Slovenian chambers system, changes of field of social agreements, new legislative system for Vocational training which bond vocational education system with economy. Companies will become together with Chambers and other social partners a creator of vocational education system too.

At the same time there are some actions for reorganising Coordination of Educational Fund and Educational funds as well. There is a strong initiative that employees will be included in co-financing too.