POSLOVNI FM PREDSTAVLJA Callidus

Guest CallidusHosted by Boris ŽivkovićMay 3, 2026

Callidus

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

As industries evolve and new roles emerge, the traditional education system often struggles to keep pace, leaving skill gaps that hinder both individuals and businesses. Antonija Briševac, Project Manager, and Gordana Marković, Head of Educational Programs at Callidus, explain how their adult education institution has thrived since 2008 by directly addressing this challenge. They don't just teach; they co-create curriculum with the very employers who need the talent, from developing specific programs for drugstore operations with DM to pioneering training for cutting-edge 3D dental technology. Their work, spanning national and international projects, illustrates a proactive model for education that not only bridges skill deficits but actively shapes the future workforce.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Callidus developed a program for 'jobs in a drugstore' directly with DM Drogerie Markt, demonstrating that the most effective vocational training is not just informed by market needs, but co-created with the specific employers who will hire the graduates.

The 3D dental technician program is a key offering because, as Callidus states, 'there is practically no other way for a dental technician to get educated in 3D technologies right now.' True innovation in education comes from identifying a specific, unmet skill gap in an emerging field and building the sole pathway to address it.

For the 'educated personnel in cleaning services' project, the program combined theoretical instruction at Callidus with practical training where 'each participant received their own mentor at our economic partner.' For rapid re-employment and competence building, practical, on-the-job mentorship with a specific employer is more effective than theory alone.

Callidus acts as the 'main methodological partner' for defining new job standards, qualifications, and curricula in regional competence centers for sectors like tourism and 3D technologies. Shaping the future of an entire industry sector requires not just training people, but also defining the very standards for what those jobs entail.

The institution has developed 'innovative educational programs' for technical staff in Serbia, covering areas like quality control and modern machinery, with plans for follow-up in robotics and 3D technologies. The methodology for creating demand-driven, employer-specific training is itself an exportable product, valuable across national borders and developing economies.

With 'ten programs in circulation,' Callidus continuously listens to the market for new ones, collaborating with 'a large number of partners from the economy.' Maintaining relevance in adult education means a continuous feedback loop with industry, where existing programs meet general needs, but new programs emerge from specific, identified demands.

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