How can knowledge gained at school be connected to the needs of the labour market? How can young people develop skills for a rapidly changing world of work while they are still in secondary education? And how can a promising initiative grow into a lasting partnership between schools, businesses and institutions?
These questions were discussed at the panel “Connecting Vocational Education and Training with the Private Sector through Digital and Sustainable Innovation”, held as part of Sarajevo Unlimited 2026.
The panel brought together representatives of institutions, businesses, education and young people: Jens Elsner, Programme Manager of Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SEDEP) at GIZ; Olivera Hasković, Head of the Department for Secondary Vocational and Adult Education at the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Education; Lejla Korjenić-Mulić, Human Resources Manager at Comtrade Distribution; Professor Medina Dedić of the Ilijaš Secondary School Centre; and Anel Kadrić, now a university student, who attended the Ilijaš Secondary School Centre last year.
From Six Schools to a Broader Partnership
The discussion began with last year’s Ideathon, which brought together six schools working with GIZ at the time.
Since then, the initiative has grown beyond the initial Ideathon pilot. Its partners—the City of Sarajevo, the Sarajevo Canton Chamber of Commerce, the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Education, Networks and the Networks Foundation—are now creating opportunities for schools across Sarajevo Canton to take part.
The initiative currently includes an open call under the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund, with StrukaTron as one of its funding categories. The call gives young people an opportunity to turn their ideas for a greener, more sustainable Sarajevo into projects.
Young people aged 15 to 24 from Sarajevo can submit ideas that contribute to climate action and positive change in their communities. Selected ideas can receive financial support of up to BAM 8,500, along with mentoring from the City of Sarajevo and programme partners.
The application deadline is 30 September 2026.
Open call for microgrants under the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund | Sarajevo.ba
This development—from a single activity to a broader partnership—was one of the central themes of the discussion.
During the panel, Jens Elsner highlighted the importance of bringing different stakeholders together around a shared goal: building an education system that can respond more effectively to changes in the labour market and give young people more opportunities to test their knowledge in real-world settings.
Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the green transition and new ways of working are changing the skills companies need.
Cooperation between education and business therefore begins well before a young person looks for a job. It starts by introducing students to real workplaces, giving them concrete problems to solve, and helping them develop teamwork, creativity, initiative and other skills that are difficult to build through classroom teaching alone.
For businesses, this cooperation is an opportunity to get to know potential future employees and share their experience and needs more directly with the education system.
When a School Idea Becomes Real Experience
Anel Kadrić’s story is perhaps the clearest example of the value of this approach.
As a student at the Ilijaš Secondary School Centre, Anel took part in last year’s Ideathon and won first place with his team. He then had the opportunity to gain practical work experience at Comtrade.
His journey from a school idea to a real workplace did not end with an award.
For Anel, the Ideathon was a chance to develop skills while working on a concrete challenge. His experience at the company then helped him become familiar with a professional environment and see how the knowledge and skills he was developing could be applied in practice.
Examples like his show that cooperation between education and business can become much more than an occasional activity.
From an Initiative to an Established Practice
The panellists agreed that the next challenge is making these models of cooperation sustainable over the long term.
For schools and teachers, this means creating the conditions for practical, project-based work with partners to become a regular part of education. It also means recognising teachers as a vital link in the process and supporting them in helping students access these opportunities.
For companies, it means finding ways to contribute their knowledge, time and experience to the development of future skills. For institutions, it means creating a framework that helps identify labour market needs early and connect them with education.
The aim is for young people to have opportunities like these throughout their education, beyond a single project.
Future Skills Are Built Together
As the world of work changes, so will the occupations and skills young people need.
Connecting vocational education with business is therefore becoming increasingly important. It can help education respond to today’s labour market while preparing young people for jobs and technologies still to come.
Through the Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP) programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina, co-financed by the German Government, the European Union and the Swiss Government and implemented by GIZ, efforts are underway to strengthen cooperation between education and business and create better opportunities for young people to develop skills and find employment.
The future of skills is built where classrooms and businesses come together.
Anel’s message to young people is simple:
“If you’ve reached a point where you just want to take it easy and don’t feel like doing anything, I completely understand. At our age, we all tend to go through that phase. But now is the ideal time to show what you can do. Take part in that competition, do that internship… These are opportunities that will benefit you in the future.”
