Public Institutes for Vocational Training are converted into Higher Vocational Training Schools.

The ministerial decision on the conversion of (D.I. E.K.) Ministry of Tourism, in Higher Vocational Training Schools (SEK) Tourism Law 5082/2024, according to ERT. The decision is part of the broader framework of the Ministry’s policies in order to provide the Tourism IEKs with an extremely enlarged role in the active interconnection of their trainees and graduates in the tourist labour market. To this end, the Ministry of Tourism takes advantage of the new institutional framework of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, to upgrade vocational education and training, so that the Tourism SAEK can be the first choice for many of our fellow citizens who want to work in the tourism sector. The new Tourism SAEK, per Region under the Tourism Ministry are: SAEK Tourism Attica (based in Anabyssos) SAEK Tourism Thrace (based in Alexandroupolis) SAEK Tourism Ionian Islands (based in Corfu) SAEK Tourism Crete (based in Heraklion) SAEK Tourism Macedonia (based in Thessaloniki) SAEK Tourism South Aegean (based in Rhodes) SAEK Tourism Peloponnese (based in Argos) SAEK Tourism Central Greece (based in Galaxididio) The specialties that can be provided in SAEK are six (6): Hospitality Unit Staff Management and Economy in the field of Tourism Technical Cook Art – Chief Maker (chef) Technical Baker – Confectionary Staff of Travel and Tourism Enterprises (experimental) Staff of Hospitality Enterprises with specialization in Room Administration (experimental). The Decision explicitly states that the specific specialties offered by each Tourism SAEC will be determined annually under the Parallel Machine Bulletin procedure, as well as the notice issued annually by the Ministry of Tourism. Under-Minister of Tourism, in charge of Tourism Education, Elena Raptis, said: “In the Ministry of Tourism, with faith in our announcements to upgrade tourism education, we are currently moving towards the transformation of IDEK Tourism into Higher Vocational Training Schools (SAEK) Tourism. Our goal is twofold: on the one hand, to strengthen the interconnection with the tourist labour market and on the other hand to improve tourism. We continue, for another year, with the two successful experimental specialties, host business executives with specialization in the room management sector and travel and tourism business executives. At the same time, we are working on the design and introduction of a third new experimental specialty in a Tourism SAEK. The Tourism SAEK continue the great tradition of tourism ministry schools, with their “brand name” on the labour market and the immediate professional rehabilitation of their graduates. We are sure that the new Higher Schools will contribute to the coverage of job vacancies in the tourism sectors, to further strengthening the Greek tourism product, by upgrading the profile of tourism workers.”