Swiss Delegation Visits Unipromet and Vorwerk: Investing in People as a Long-Term Business Strategy
Čačak, 4 March 2026 – What does it look like when a company treats employee development as a strategic investment rather than a short-term expense? This was the key question explored yesterday during the visit of the Swiss Embassy delegation to Unipromet and Vorwerk Autotec Serbia, within the framework of the SDC “Education to Employment” (E2E) project.
The purpose of the visit was to assess on-site progress in strengthening internal training systems, exchange feedback with management and HR teams, and speak directly with employees who have participated in the training programmes.
The delegation included Katrin Ochsenbein, Deputy Head of Cooperation Swiss Embassy in Serbia; Jovana Mihajlović, National Programme Officer; Oliver Streit, Head of Education to Employment (E2E) project; and Ilija Stanković and Mirjana Bojanić dedicated to Private Sector Cooperation within E2E.
During the tour of production facilities and training capacities, discussions focused on tangible outcomes: how structured training programmes contribute to operational efficiency, workforce adaptability, and long-term competitiveness in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
Unlike conventional short-term training projects, the E2E approach is centred on building sustainable internal systems.
Unipromet: From Skills Upgrade to Accredited Programme
With the support of E2E through a carefully designed capacity-building programme, Unipromet launched a comprehensive one-year initiative aimed at strengthening technical competencies in industrial automation, pneumatics and hydraulics. The programme also includes the development and accreditation of a mechatronics curriculum, as well as supporting a vision for establishing a regional inter-company training centre.
This model extends beyond the needs of a single company, creating a platform for broader industrial collaboration and long-term skills development.
Vorwerk Autotec Serbia: Internal Training Centre as a Strategic Asset
With E2E’s structured support, Vorwerk Autotec Serbia — a supplier of components for the automotive industry — has further strengthened its workforce development strategy by establishing a comprehensive internal training centre.
The programme targets automation technicians, mechatronics specialists, robotics technicians, electricians, maintenance staff, as well as HR and management teams through soft skills development.
Implementation partners include the Faculty of Technical Sciences Čačak, Represent Academy and Integrativa.
The initiative is expected to directly train 80 employees, while an additional 170 will benefit through the cascade knowledge-transfer model.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of partnerships between international development actors and the private sector in building resilient and competitive industries.
The Education to Employment (E2E) project is supported by the Swiss Government and the Government of Serbia, with the objective of strengthening employability and fostering sustainable workforce development systems in Serbian companies.
