The State Institute of Vocational Education (ŠIOV) is a directly managed organisation of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, responsible for the coordination of vocational education and training and adult education in Slovakia. It supports the development of national policies in the field of education, helps to introduce new trends and innovations in vocational education and training and adult education. ŠIOV activities focus on pupils, teaching and vocational staff and employers' needs.

Its main activities are:

• management and coordination of the national network of vocational education and training schools in Slovakia,
• developing national education standards (national curricula) and qualifications,
• analysing trends and needs for the development of vocational education and training and adult education in Slovakia,
• Supporting the Ministry of Education in the development of VET and adult education policies and strategies,
• monitoring, analysing and introducing new trends and innovations in vocational education and training and adult education
• securing, initiating and developing cooperation with national and international institutions, organisations and experts in the field of vocational education and training and adult education,
• coordination of national competitions and exhibitions.

ŠIOV manages EU initiatives in the field of VET and adult education in Slovakia, namely:

• National contact point for the European Qualifications Framework,
• National EUROPASS Centre,
• National reference point for EQAVET
• EPALE National Support Service,
• The National Coordinator for the Implementation of the European Agenda for Adult Learning
• National Qualifications Framework,
• Slovak Centre of Training Companies,
• EuroSkills National Contact Point,
• UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre.

ŠIOV is a member of the European Basic Skills Network (EBSN), the European Forum for Vocational Education and Training (EfVET), EUROPEN, the Association of Adult Education Institutions in Slovakia, the European Association for Adult Education (EAEA). It is part of the European network Cedefop ReferNet, which monitors the quality and research of VET in the European environment. ŠIOV employees are members of various advisory bodies and working groups at the EU and other institutes, e.g.:

• Working Group on the Strategic Framework for the European Adult Learning Area (European Commission),
• European Qualifications Framework Advisory Group (European Commission),
• Group of National Experts on Vocational Education and Training (OECD),
• Accreditation Commission of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport for Further Education,
• Erasmus+ National Team of Experts for Vocational Education and Training.

He has extensive experience in the implementation of EU-funded projects, including large-scale national projects funded by the European Social Fund, Erasmus+, EaSI, etc. supporting the implementation of VET policies in Slovakia. He supports and develops the talent of young people in national and international competitions and runs the SLOVAK CENTRE FOR TRAINING COMPANIES (SCCF) as part of the international network of training companies PEN WORLDWIDE.

The vision for the management of the ŠIOV (click for PDF)