As part of the “Chance for IT Start” project, a roundtable was held in Bijeljina on the topic “The Importance of Aligning the Education System in the IT Sector with the Labour Market”, as part of the program “Framework for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals as the Foundation for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SDG2BiH)”. The program is funded by the Swedish Government and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWOMEN) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, coordinated by the UN Resident Coordinator's Office.
 
The head of the City's Section for Local Economic Development and European Integration, Ankica Todorović, emphasized that the goal of the project is to align the curriculum and teaching process with the needs of the economy, and that a number of results have been achieved through the project.
 
“The curriculum for IT programs has been modified, including the subjects taught. Training has been provided for both teachers and students, two classrooms have been equipped, but most importantly, practical training has been improved. Students have been given the opportunity to carry out their internships directly in IT companies,” Todorović explained.
 
The Principal of the Technical School “Mihajlo Pupin”, Milenko Maksimović, highlighted the importance of the mentioned project for the students of the school he manages.
 
“Thanks to this project, our school has received two new, smart IT classrooms, 30 computers, two smart boards, and for the first time in the educational process, the curriculum has been modified. Students who undergo practical training have the opportunity to do their internships with potential employers, that is, in suitable companies,” Maksimović clarified.
One of the participants in today's roundtable was Stevica Živanović, the owner of the company “387 Solutions”, who emphasized the importance of practical training for both students and the economy. His company joined the project with pleasure, together with the City Administration and the Technical School “Mihajlo Pupin”.
 
“Thanks to the practical training in our company, final-year students from IT programs will be directed toward the most in-demand jobs in the IT sector,” said Živanović.
The project has been ongoing for 7-8 months, showing significant progress and results, and it will certainly be highly successful in the end, with a total value of over 83,000 BAM.