The Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education organized the 4th National Conference on QA in VET in Croatia on Thursday, April 10th. National conferences on QA in VET are part of the EQAVET NRP HR project and are organized annually to serve as a platform for mutual learning among school personnel who manage quality assurance. Each conference hosts over 100 participants from 100 different VET providers out of more than 300 in Croatia. The conferences are designed so that each participant, regardless of their experience in quality assurance in VET, has the opportunity to learn and share experiences.

This year’s conference focused on excellence and innovation, closely linked with the National competition for VET students - WorldSkills Croatia 2025. The conference coincided with the National competition, providing additional opportunities to connect quality assurance experts with experts in various vocational fields and their students, competitors.

The conference program consisted of three sessions, each offering a different perspective on QA, starting with an overview of QA in VET and ending with specific tools for QA of VET providers. The first session opened with a lecture by the director of a Croatian VET provider, which is also a regional center of competence. This session provided a detailed showcase of QA, its application, and the results of a well-established QA system. An example from Spain followed, offering a different view on QA. The international lecture highlighted the importance of every step in the quality assurance cycle and provided examples of how QA is integral to excellence and innovation for both teachers and students.

The second session featured three blitz lectures by VET providers from different economic sectors. The lectures covered topics such as attracting students to enroll in programs, ensuring better outcomes, and tracking graduates to enhance the quality of provision. Each blitz lecture included a discussion moderated by the event organizer.

The third session focused on activities and tools developed through the EQAVET NRP HR project, VET graduate tracking, and peer reviews. Guests from VET providers involved in the project activities participated in a round table discussion, answering questions from the moderator and audience. The conference concluded with a visit to the National competition, emphasizing the link between QA and excellence.