In addition to the traditional topics of the Chamber of Commerce – development of the system of vocational education and professions, the year 2008 saw a more serious focus on promoting entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial studies and several discussions were initiated for arranging the general education schools network.
Vocational education
The most substantial activity in 2008 was developing of the plan for use of the funds of the European Regional Fund. During the years 2007-2013 in total 3.6 billion EEK will be given for updating the infrastructure of vocational educational institutions, first and foremost study workshops. The Chamber of Commerce participated actively in developing the conditions for applications for investment and investment plans. When making our proposals and defending our positions we relied on the distribution of companies between the sectors of economy and projections for the labour needs.
Arranging the general education schools network
The joint discussion of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce, Cultural Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu and management of the Ministry of Education and Research on educational topics continued. The Chamber of Commerce continues to have the opinion that at the moment the Estonian educational system is not functioning as an integrated whole and is preparing extremes while the bearing intermediate layer is drying out. During the recent years significant progress has taken place in the field of vocational education. However, this is not enough for ensuring balanced developments. It is necessary to bind the second level of education (upper secondary school and vocational education) more, first and foremost it is necessary to plan and finance jointly the student places. The only reasonable solution in long-term planning of the school network was the integral approach covering the state and different types of schools. By the end of 2008 the principles that found support in the common discussions, such as separation of the basic school and upper secondary school reached the form of draft act. The work is continuing.
System of professions
For the system of professions the year 2008 was a year of great changes. The Riigikogu passed the new Professions Act, which mostly specified and corrected the generality of the previous wording. At the same time the new act also establishes principle changes in direction the detailed development of which will be done the next year. By the initiative of the Estonian Professions Chamber in total 36,772 certificates of competency as on 01.01.2009. The Chamber of Commerce is one of the founders of the Professions Chamber and is actively participating in the development activities for the system of professions, in the council of the Professions Chamber and in the work of sectoral professions councils.
Promotion of initiative and entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial studies in vocational education
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication appointed Tiia Randma, the Educational Counsellor of the Chamber of Commerce to the expert group Business Studies in Vocational Education established by DG Enterprise of the European Commission. The expert group compiles an overview of the developments in all member states. The final version will be prepared in 2009.
Training series “For the Success of Business”
In 2008 the Chamber of Commerce initiated and organised the training series “For the Success of Business”, which covers entire Estonia. The aim of the training series is to expand the knowledge of teachers of economy from general education schools and vocational schools with regard to latest development trends in economy in Estonia, Europe as well as in world as a whole and introduce updated teaching materials prepared within the framework of different projects. The training days were carried out together with the lecturers of the Bank of Estonia, Estonian Institute of Economic Research and University of Tartu. From August to November training days were organised in ten locations in Estonia. Organising of the training series was supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
Think Tank for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Chamber of Commerce is convinced in the need for entrepreneurship and enterprising spirit studies. For several years now we have tried to contribute to promoting entrepreneurship studies by cooperating with different partners and initiating or supporting different projects. Estonia has many people who think in the same way but mostly everyone is taking its actions alone and therefore we reached the understanding that it would be wiser to join the forces.
In October 2008 the Think Tank for Entrepreneurial Studies met for the first time at the Chamber of Commerce – the participants were from organisations, educational institutions and civil servants from different areas. The aim of the Think Tank is to initiate a process which would result in a specific plan and agreed role division and activities of different parties in the near future.
The idea of initiating and leading the activities of the Think Tank has a very ambitious aim – the importance of entrepreneurial stand in Estonia are understood on the national, regional as well as individual level and possibilities are in place in the educational system for its development and acquiring entrepreneurial knowledge and skills. All this is for growing a new and intelligent generation of entrepreneurs.
