The invitation to participate in the work on changes to the core curricula, directed to the Poznan School of Logistics upon the recommendation of the Ministry of National Education, is a result of the “WSL FOR HIGH SCHOOLS” program, which has been implemented by the Poznan School of Logistics since 2007. Recognizing the problems faced by teachers educating in the professions of logistics technician and freight forwarding technician, the Poznan university organized a Teachers’ Forum. This conference allowed for the definition of the direction of changes aimed at improving the quality of education in schools with this profile and became an annual meeting that organizes previous work in this area. Together with the Institute of Logistics and Warehousing and high school teachers, WSL developed a series of textbooks for schools, established postgraduate studies in logistics for teachers, began organizing teaching materials useful for conducting lessons, and launched a program of field trips showing logistics from the inside. Workshop teams were also created, which included teachers from schools educating in the professions of logistics technician and freight forwarding technician, as well as academic lecturers from the Poznan School of Logistics. These teams developed proposals for changes in the teaching programs for these professions, which, along with the comments of reviewers of the previous core curriculum, became the impetus for change.
Information about the prepared proposals for changes in the teaching programs was forwarded to the Ministry of National Education, which referred the matter to the National Centre for Vocational and Continuing Education (KOWEZiU). This is a body subordinate to the Ministry of National Education, dealing with changes in the scope of vocational education in upper secondary schools in Poland. KOWEZiU develops, among other things, vocational qualification standards, core curricula, and teaching programs.
A team was appointed, which worked on changes to the core curriculum for the professions of logistics technician and freight forwarding technician on August 19-20, 2009. It included:
– Elżbieta Hejłasz (KOWEZiU)
– Kazimiera Tarłowska (KOWEZiU)
– Leszek Jóźwik (teacher from the School Complex of Economics in Międzyrzec Podlaski)
– Agnieszka Krupa (teacher from School Complex No. 23 in Wrocław)
– Marek Stanisławski (teacher from District Complex No. 3 of Technical and General Schools in Oświęcim)
– Alina Hajdamowicz (teacher from the Maritime School Complex in Kołobrzeg)
– Dr. Eng. Piotr Cyplik (lecturer at the Poznan School of Logistics)
– Dr. Maciej Stajniak (lecturer at the Poznan School of Logistics)
The individuals representing KOWEZiU were responsible for the compliance of the work with the standard defined by the Ministry of National Education. Their comments regarding the writing of such documents were also valuable, as they had over 130 developed core curricula in various professions to their credit. The rest of the team was responsible for the substantive side. At this point, it should be noted that the teachers made a huge contribution, passionately lending their knowledge and experience. The goal of the work was to organize the entries in the core curriculum for the professions of logistics technician and freight forwarding technician, which in turn will allow for the introduction of the changes to the teaching program itself, as postulated by the teaching community. Two working groups were separated, dealing with individual professions.
– The core curriculum for the freight forwarding technician profession was constructed in such a way that, in fact, a graduate of a school with this profile is more of an economist than a freight forwarder, and therefore changes are necessary – emphasizes Dr. Eng. Piotr Cyplik. – Our work is the beginning of the road leading to changing education in the professions of logistics technician and freight forwarding technician. The next step will be to amend the education programs, taking into account the teachers’ comments developed at WSL workshops and fitting into the new core curriculum.
As a result of the two-day work, the following changes regarding the professions of logistics technician and freight forwarding technician were developed:
– streamlining of terminology,
– streamlining of graduate qualifications,
– updating requirements regarding didactic equipment for vocational training laboratories,
– taking into account the comments of reviewers regarding the old core curriculum,
– adapting the core curriculum to the new ministerial template.
By the end of September, both core curricula are to take the form of an official document. It will likely be implemented from the 2010/2011 school year. Thanks to the changes in the core curricula, it will be possible to introduce changes in the teaching programs postulated by vocational subject teachers. All this so that future graduates of the logistics technician and freight forwarding technician tracks are better prepared for professional work in broadly understood logistics.
– I am very pleased with the method adopted by the Ministry of National Education, because the commitment of the Poznan School of Logistics, secondary and post-secondary vocational schools, and their teachers to activities aimed at improving teaching programs in logistics professions has been appreciated – says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eng. Ireneusz Fechner, Chancellor of WSL, coordinating the university’s cooperation with high schools. – The work that these communities have carried out together is not being wasted, and the changes introduced by the Ministry of National Education correspond to the spirit of the developed proposals and are taking place with the participation of their creators. An additional, very important effect of the work to date is the strong integration of schools and teaching communities with our university around the issues of logistics education, its quality, methods, and forms, as well as innovative activities aimed at increasing the attractiveness of learning. An example of innovation is the National Logistics Olympiad for students and the program of meetings at the Poznan School of Logistics, during which interesting lectures by logistics practitioners are combined with tours of logistics companies, thanks to which students have contact with the substance of their future profession.