ADJUSTING VET CURRICULA FOR WELDERS TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PRINCIPLES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Vocational education is important for training competent specialists considering recent changes in the work processes and their related re-design due to the development of circular economy in the different sectors, especially in the industry. At the same time, the issue of the framework for the VET (vocational education and training) curricula for welders of different levels prepared to perform on a sustainable level remains extremely challenging. The aim of the article is to identify the ways to adjust the VET curricula to include the application of the principles of circular economy in the work process of welding. The article considers the main approaches to determining the components of the work process for welding and the specialists needed to perform it efficiently and sustainably. To achieve our goal, we used two different approaches, meaning the Daughnut model of social and planetary boundaries to establish the goal for the changes in the VET curricula, and the Work and Learning Station Analysis (WLSA) to create a roadmap of changes to the VET curricula. A structured seminar for target groups was organized, during which a survey of experienced workers, as well as teachers and trainers, was conducted. The survey included 8 areas of research, covering both the organization of the work process and the training curricula for welders and the necessary changes to it. A detailed analysis of the welding work process, as well as the necessary procedures for its implementation, allowed us to determine the basic skills and abilities that welders must have. This made it possible to determine the basic competencies that should be acquired by specialists in the process of vocational training. Six areas of competence were identified and the objectives of the curriculum for each of them were set. The analysis of the best practices of designing the welding wok process was carried out, the basic skills which are used by the welders are defined. It is established that the proper design of the work process requires the welders to perform efficiently and sustainably. It is determined that the use of the principles of the circular economy requires a significant adjustment to the VET curriculum for welders. The key factor in the successful implementation of the necessary changes was the legislative support.