APPRENTICESHIPS IN VET: THE BUSINESSES’ PERSPECTIVE

APPRENTICESHIPS IN VET: THE BUSINESSES’ PERSPECTIVE

The number of companies offering apprenticeships to vocational education students in Albania has increased rapidly in the last two academic years. Two hundred eighty-five companies have already signed MoUs with S4J partner VET providers and are currently offering apprenticeships to 781 students in direction such as: tourism & hospitality, economy, textiles, ICT and auto-mechanics. Preparing for the new academic year, Development Unit (DU) staff have started establishing contact with new private sector companies to discuss possibilities to host a new cohort of students. It is estimated that another 900 students will start an apprenticeship by the end of November.

The challenges both schools and companies face to offer quality and effective apprenticeship are diverse. ‘Skills for Jobs’ S4J team has engaged in an intensive two-months campaign to exchange with VET provider’s management, staff of DUs, teachers and instructors and managers and mentors of the companies where the students do their apprenticeships.

This campaign serves all the stakeholders to better understand the challenges, identify ways to overcome those challenges and agree on the way forward to promoting quality and effective apprenticeships.