Moving beyond dual education framework for the skill development of ICT potentials

For 10 years, Deutsche Telekom IT Solutions Slovakia runs a unique programme of educating and developing potential candidates for a range of job positions in ICT. The development has been running as a dual vocational education programme. It is realized in cooperation with Secondary Vocational School for Electrotechnics in Kosice, and since conception over 200 students went through a 3-year old curriculum. The programme is tailored for the secondary school graduates and in the context of Slovak education it is considered as a higher professional form of education. Formally, standing at ISCED level 3b it is, in principle, equivalent to university-based bachelor studies. While the dual programme is steadily delivering value to our business, we are exploring the ways to move the educational concept beyond merely dual secondary level. In the contribution we argue the needs, benefits and specific ways forward in improving the mutual permeability of vocational education system especially in vertical dimensions. We share our vision of efficiently interconnecting the dual VET level with the “standard” tertiary education levels. Why does this matter? We believe it might (1) increase the attractiveness of VET as a path for personal development, and (2) open up paths to further education to the graduates of the dual form of higher studies.