Local Training Activity in Mostar: Bringing WEC to the Western Balkans

In late June and early July 2026, Okret – Spin organised a local training activity in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as part of the Women Empowered in Construction (WEC) project. The four-day programme, held at Hotel Buna from 29 June to 2 July 2026, brought together VET educators and key institutional stakeholders from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton region.

Who was in the room?

The training gathered 10 participants representing six vocational secondary schools from the HNK region, alongside a representative of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and the Institute for Education Mostar (Zavod za školstvo). The group comprised 9 female and 1 male participant, reflecting the gender-inclusive spirit of the WEC project itself.

What did we do?

Over four working days, participants explored the four core themes of the WEC curriculum: gender equality and inclusive workplace culture; leadership, communication and professional identity; health, safety and wellbeing in construction; and innovation, digitalisation and entrepreneurship in the construction sector.

The programme was delivered using the same materials and methodological approach developed and tested during the WEC Learning, Teaching and Training Activity held in Ireland, ensuring consistency in quality and learning outcomes across the consortium. Facilitation drew heavily on experiential learning, scenario-based activities, peer exchange and reflective practice, modelling the inclusive pedagogical approaches promoted by the WEC curriculum.

Why does this matter?

Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the countries where the gender gap in the construction sector is most pronounced. With women making up a tiny fraction of the active construction workforce, and with youth unemployment in the Mostar region among the highest in the country, the need for innovative, gender-sensitive VET education could not be more relevant.

By working directly with educators from vocational secondary schools, the Mostar training activity focused on building capacity where it matters most: in the classrooms and workshops where the next generation of construction professionals is being trained. Equipping VET educators with knowledge, tools and confidence to address gender equality and promote inclusive practices is a key step towards lasting change in the sector.

Voices from the room

Participants highlighted the practical and interactive nature of the sessions, the relevance of digital construction technologies to their everyday teaching, and the value of connecting with peers from across the HNK region. The presence of the Ministry of Education HNK and the Institute for Education Mostar opened a broader conversation about how WEC resources could inform future regional VET development.