Two partner schools of the ‘Skills for Jobs’ project, ‘Kolin Gjoka’ School and Tirana Economic Technical School, have won competitive grants from the Regional Challenge Fund.

The Regional Challenge Fund is a unique financing mechanism aimed at increasing the employment of vocational education students through collaboration and the empowerment of stakeholders across the Western Balkans region.

Out of 123 applications from the region, 5 projects from Albania were selected as grant winners this year. The RCF has allocated 2.6 million euros for investments in equipment, infrastructure, and capacity building for VET institutions. The winners’ announcement ceremony took place at the ‘Rogner’ hotel and gathered representatives from the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), the German Embassy, KfW, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Regional Challenge Fund, as well as the grant winners from Albania.

The ‘Skills for Jobs’ project is very proud to have successfully created models for developing school-business relationships, improving the digitization process in schools, and accessing projects and funds for professional development and skills enhancement.
So far, five partner schools of S4J have benefited from grants from the RCF. We believe that this collaboration model will guarantee sustainable continuity and achieve further success and accomplishments in the future.