DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF VOCATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SERBIA: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GENERATIONAL GAP AND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS FOR INNOVATION
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF VOCATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SERBIA: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GENERATIONAL GAP AND STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS FOR INNOVATION

Summary/Abstract: Digital transformation represents one of the most significant challenges for contemporary educational systems, particularly in the domain of secondary vocational education, which must directly respond to the dynamic demands of the Labor Market 4.0. This paper explores the level of digital competencies among teachers and students through the lens of the “digital divide” concept. The primary objective of the research was to determine the distribution of competency levels among respondents and identify significant differences across generations and within the student population across various grades. The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 141 participants (120 students from the first, second, and fourth grades, and 21 teachers) from vocational secondary schools located in two key administrative and cultural regions of Serbia – Belgrade and Vranje. Using a quantitative approach based on eight key digital literacy domains, data were processed using descriptive statistics and categorized into four skill levels. Key findings reveal a heterogeneous “digital landscape” and point to a specific paradox: while second-grade students were identified as digital leaders (47.40% in the advanced category), a significant stagnation was recorded among fourth-grade students, with 70% of respondents remaining at a functional (moderate) level. The teaching staff is predominantly positioned within the functional literacy zone, significantly lagging behind the advanced capacities of younger students. This gap indicates that the current educational model does not fully utilize the digital potential of students during their schooling. As a strategic response, the paper proposes an innovative “Reverse Mentoring” model and a redefinition of educational management through the establishment of “digital patrols,” providing concrete guidelines for overcoming barriers in the digital transformation process.

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