Skills for Jobs (S4J) in cooperation with the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES) launched the D.U. Talks – National Dialogue on Development Units, a series of eight sessions aimed at strengthening the role and effectiveness of Development Units within vocational schools across Albania.
The first sessions of the series were conducted in a hybrid format and focused on three key areas for the sustainable development of vocational education and training (VET): the role of the Development Unit Coordinator, graduate employment tracer, and business and stakeholder relations.
The first session explored the role of the Development Unit Coordinator, providing a platform to share practical experiences, challenges and good practices from vocational schools across the country, while fostering collaboration among institutional representatives and development partners.
The second session focused on graduate employment tracer as one of the most important tools for evidence-based decision-making in VET. Participants discussed how tracer study data can be used to improve curricula, strengthen career guidance services and enhance the responsiveness of schools to labour market needs, while also addressing challenges related to data collection and analysis.
The third session examined the role of Business Relations and the function of the Business Relations Coordinator, with a focus on strengthening cooperation between vocational schools and businesses and reinforcing the strategic role of this function as a bridge between the two. The discussion panel brought together business representatives, workplace mentors and coordinators from the vocational schools “Hamdi Bushati” in Shkodër, the Commercial School in Vlora, and Vocational School in Elbasan, who shared their experiences and good practices in building sustainable school–business partnerships.
The sessions also welcomed representatives of civil society organisations actively supporting vocational education in Albania, including World Vision, Save the Children, Terre des Hommes, UNICEF and the Skills for Sustainable Employment (Sd4E) project implemented by UNDP, among others.
Through these dialogue sessions, participants highlighted the importance of the strategic use of data and continuous collaboration among schools, institutions and development partners in building a more effective, sustainable and labour market-oriented VET system.
