With the aim of upgrading Vocational Education and Training and bridging the gap between students and the modern labour market, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation supported the implementation of the innovative programme “Educational Routes”, which was piloted for the first time by Odyssea in 2024. The Programme aims to train and empower students of Vocational High Schools across Greece through modern educational tools, addressing key challenges within the Vocational Education and Training system — such as high dropout rates, insufficient infrastructure, the introversion of school structures, limited connection with the labour market, and the lack of teacher training in contemporary teaching methodologies.

Within the framework of the Programme, a mobile training unit visited the educational facilities of the participating Vocational High Schools, offering:

1. Career Orientation Workshops

These workshops were implemented for first-grade Vocational Education students, offering them the opportunity to explore labour market needs and discover potential career paths they could pursue in the following years at Vocational High Schools, aligning their skills and interests with the school’s fields of study. Participants completed a career guidance test and received personalised counselling based on their individual aspirations and abilities.

2. Vocational Training Workshops

Through these workshops, Vocational Education students from the first to the third grade gained access to modern technology products, familiarised themselves with their use, and, together with their teachers, put their theoretical knowledge into practice. At the same time, following an assessment of each school’s specific needs, a tailored educational kit was developed to address them and was provided to the Vocational High Schools along with the corresponding training workshop.

3. Employability and Career Readiness Workshops

These workshops were attended by third-year Vocational Education students, aiming to help them shape their professional profile and prepare for their upcoming transition into the labour market. The workshops included training on CV writing and job applications, interview preparation, and familiarisation with the basic principles of professional behaviour.

• 44 workshops were delivered across the 7 Vocational High Schools that participated in the Programme.
• 1,318 students participated in the Programme, while 14 educational kits were donated to the participating Vocational High Schools.

“We would like to thank ODYSSEA and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation for the training sessions and the equipment we received free of charge as part of the Programme — it has been extremely useful for our school.”

Giorgos Ioannidis

Principal, Vocational High School of Istiaia