In the period from 7th to 16th April 2025, a 10-day mobility program based on the framework for entrepreneurial skills (EntreComp) was implemented in Slovenia, concretely in Litija, Zasavje region and wider area. The program brought together 23 participants, learners, educators and management staff from VET centers for adults from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro, together with representatives of the project coordinator JA Serbia. The goal of the program was to support professional development of the management and educational staff of VET centers for adults and support vocational learning/training experience of learners through international learning experience.
The participants had the opportunity to visit a number of relevant institutions and companies that are crucial for the development of entrepreneurial skills, among which are:
Regional development agency Zasavje and Zasavje business incubator – Participants were presented the role and key projects of RDA in Zasavje region and the services offered by Zasavje Business Incubator to start-ups and new entrepreneurs.
Beekeeping Dremelj – Participants learned the family enterprise Beekeeping Dremelj – history of family beekeeping, products and services on the market, received awards. The visit included degustation of honey and honey products.
Seasonal lakes of Pivka nature park with Ecomuseum – Participants discovered the characteristics and peculiarities of protected nature park in the area of Pivka seasonal lakes and were acquainted with its management in cooperation with local actors.
Mine Sitarjevec – Participants learned the process of development of new tourist offer based on technical heritage – former mine Sitarjevec in Litija.
Herz d.o.o. – Participants were presented the development path, challenges, implemented solutions and current market position of one of the most important local companies producing sanitary fittings.
Carpentry Kos and Lesarius museum – Participants met the success story of a family business in the field of wood processing (wooden outdoor furniture), focusing on creativity, circular economy, sustainability, innovation and local development. They also experienced practical work with wood and old wood processing tools in the Lesarius Museum.
KIKštarter Kamnik – co-working and incubating center – Participants learned different services KIKŠtarter is offering to start-ups in Kamnik municipality.
In addition to the visits, the program also included various lectures, presentations, workshops and sessions dedicated to entrepreneurial skills and diverse competences:
Organization of formal VET programs for adults at EC Geoss – Participants learned the existing formal VET programs at secondary and tertiary level, and their relevance for the labor market and employability of the learners.
EntreComp as framework for boosting entrepreneurial competences – Participants were familiarised with entrepreneurship competences and ways to bridge the gap between the fields of education and work at European level.
EntreComp toolkit and its use in teaching and learning – Participants were presented with the toolkit as a resource for planning teaching units with embedded entrepreneurship competences.
Lili Mahne, holder of supplementary activity on farm, heritage interpreter and project manager – Participants learned useful tips how to sell local products from the farm with added value – as culinary services and how to plan and manage own business. They also practically experienced culinary workshop and created own culinary “selling” products.
Development Centre of the Heart of Slovenia – Participants learned the services offered by VEM point for entrepreneurs (“All in one place”), examples of projects supported through Local action group Heart of Slovenia (focusing on entrepreneurship) and role of the Consortium of handicraft centers of Slovenia.
Pathways Toolkit for adult education – Participants got familiar with different motivation techniques, techniques to identify adults’ backgrounds and techniques to identify adults’ objectives and perspectives. They also implemented selected exercises to motivate, to identify adults’ potential and to identify adults’ future options.
Digital skills for entrepreneurs – Participants were taught digital skills useful in entrepreneurial field (related to marketing, financial and economic literacy).
In addition to formal activities, the program also included a series of relaxed events that allowed the participants to get to know each other better and build a network of contacts. These activities included:
Teambuilding activity with zoom-in cards – introductory teambuilding activity that demanded cooperation and joint search for solution.
Sightseeing city tour in Ljubljana center – a guided tour around main attractions in Ljubljana city center to learn cultural and historical heritage in the city.
Comicy jam session – the final group activity where the participants designed a joint comic based on their experiences during the program.
The mobility program was successfully implemented in the scope of the EU-funded VETpreneur project, with a positive response from the participants who emphasized the importance of such initiatives for acquiring new knowledge and skills. Through visits, workshops, lectures, presentations and informal activities, the participants developed several EntreComp competences such as vision, creativity, spotting opportunities, motivation and perseverance, financial and economic literacy, ethical and sustainable thinking, planning and management.
