What We Do
‘Skills for Jobs’ (S4J) is a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) project implemented in Albania by Swisscontact. The project is in phase 3, the consolidation and transfer phase and the primary focus during this phase will concentrate on the development, consolidation, and transfer of six key innovation objects:
- Digitalization of VET Offer
- Improvement of internal Processes and Structures
- Continuous Professional Development Models
- Business relations and networks
- Quality of work-based learning in companies
- Diversification of offer and upskilling
In Phase 3 (July 2023 – June 2027) with 7,720,000 Swiss Francs, the project aims to amplify past achievements, ensuring sustainable VET changes and fostering a brighter future for Albania, while also offering improved opportunities to approximately 29,400 Albanian individuals, encompassing women, men, youth, and special needs groups.
Vision
The main goal of ‘Skills for Jobs’ (S4J) project is to offer young people in Albania the best vocational education and training. Better skills will help young people to get a job that they love and that pays them well.
Beneficiaries
Partners
Donators
Company
Industry Associations
Public and Private Universities
High Schools
Results to Date
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16850 students benefit from the S4J project
(In Shkodra, Lezha, Tirana, Elbasan, Vlora and Berat)
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Higher employment among female VET graduates
The share of female VET graduates working reached 48% in 2020 compared to 32% in 2019.
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More VET graduates are getting employed
One year after graduation, 63% of graduates in 2020 were employed compared to 34% in 2016.
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More VET graduates in gainful employment
The share of those in gainful employment increased from 24% in 2017 to 59% in 2020 (150% or above from the minimum salary).
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Less VE students are dropping out of school
The drop out rate fell by 3.6 percentage points at 5.1% in the AY 2020-2021 compared to a year earlier (target 9%).
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619 companies collaborate with project’s partner institutions since phase 1.
Out of these, 514 provide vocational apprenticeships for 2515 students. Some of these companies, among the best in the country, co-finance the VET, participate in the VET network and in curricula development.
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More big companies collaborate with partner VET providers
Of the 100 largest (by annual turnover) companies in Albania, 21 have singed MoUs and are collaborating with S4J partner providers.
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Career guidance is offered in 7 partner institutions
Consolidation of services such as career centers, work-based learning schemes, on-demand short-term courses, personalized development plans and graduate’s tracer system.
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Intensification of the dialogue between VET providers and companies
Business representatives from different industries are contributing towards an improved VET offer through local dialogue roundtables with businesses organized each year.
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Improved labor market-oriented offer
Considering the needs for skills in the labor market, S4J partner VET providers have included in their curriculum new directions and profiles.
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Modern infrastructure
The virtual learning platform and the platform for institution management as well as investments in ICT equipment, with improved features for learning and entertainment.
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Support during distance learning
During the COVID-19 pandemic, partner and non-partner institutions are supported via MesoVET platform and teachers’ capacitation in using the platform and developming digital learning materials. The number of the users of the platform multiplied, reaching 7967 users by the end of 2021.
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Teachers trained by the industry
Trainings in: development of digital teaching materials, online teaching planning and implementation, electric vehicles, tour guides, insurance, Smart Home, CISCO courses, digital marketing, Alfaweb, annual planning, video pedagogy, website maintenance, etc.
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More efficient educational plans
Trainings for teachers on best practices and criteria for annual educational planning, where soft skills and blended learning are now included.
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Better and strategic institutional management
Partner VET providers developed their strategic plans and annual action plans, based on the strategic priorities. The goal is to strengthen the institutions, to align their priorities with those of the project and the National Employment Service and to improve the monitoring and assessment system.
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Consolidated Development Units
Partner institutions selected their coordinators for each of the functions of the Development Unit and were supported by S4J for the consolidation of these functions.
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Better Promotion
The project’s partner institutions carry out a series of promotional activities throughout the year as part of the Institutional Marketing efforts, including the Apprenticeships Week.
Our Team
DR. ERKA ÇARO
Deputy Project Manager / Line Manager for New Ways of Inclusive Learning
MIGENA KAPLLANAJ
Intervention Line Manager for Organisational Development
ERIOLA SHINGJERGJI
Account Manager for Tirana and Elbasan / Gender Expert
Collaborators
Swisscontact
Swisscontact is an independent, business-oriented Swiss organization aiming international development cooperation. Represented in 36 countries, with 123 projects and over 1100 employees, it has been promoting economic, social and environmental development since 1959.
FAQ
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is secondary education aiming to develop students’ skills through combining vocational theoretical subjects and practice, preparing youngsters for employment after graduation. After graduating from VET secondary education, they can also pursue higher education.
Vocational Education and Training in Albania is supported by state institutions as well as foreign organizations and projects. The Ministry of Finance and Economy is the ministry responsible for VET, while the responsible agencies are the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES) and the National Agency of Vocational Education, Training and Qualifications (NAVETQ). VET in Albania is also supported by the Swiss, Austrian and German governments.
At present, there are 18,192 students enrolled in the VET institutions in Albania.
- Vocational education develops youngsters’ skills through the combination of vocational theoretical subjects and practice.
- Students attain their practical skills by being assisted and guided at every step by field experts.
- From an early age, youngsters have access to the labor market and learn from the experience of the most successful business representatives.
- Apprenticeships create opportunities for suitable and well-paid employment and possibilities for promotion in managerial positions.
- Youngsters discover their passions while working in practice and make more suitable career choices.
- Youngsters are quickly employed and self-employed in profiles that match their skills and education.
- They get prepared, in theory and practice, for pursuing higher education.
- The demand for qualified professionals from different industries is continuously increasing.
- Modernization and digitalization of the economy needs young professionals with practical experience.
- Vocational education in Albania is supported by countries such as Switzerland, Germany and Austria. These countries have extensively chosen vocational education for attaining professional and life skills
VET institutions which are partners of the S4J project have an extensive network of partner companies, some of the best in the region, which provide long-term apprenticeships for students. Based on the apprenticeship model developed by S4J, students receive career guidance by both school and business instructors, to help them understand their skills and flairs as well as which educational directions and job positions are best fitted for them. Students are also guided throughout the apprenticeship application process. During the Apprenticeship Fair organized by the school they get to know different businesses and have interviews. Once the parent, school and company sign a cooperation agreement, the student can start his apprenticeship in the company.
Partner institutions of the ‘Skills for Jobs’ project have been supported by the project with the necessary infrastructure and technology for learning that combines face-to-face learning with online learning. Blended learning classrooms and infoteques (computer-equipped rooms) have been set up in several schools, where students can work on their online projects. MësoVET platform, developed by the project, makes distance learning possible and is frequently enhanced with digital learning materials. During the period of physical distancing imposed by COVID-19, the use of the platform increased by multiple times and it was also used by other VET institutions in Albania who are not partners of the S4J.
- Developing a business mindset in partner Vocational Education and Training institutions by intensifying their collaboration with the private sector and other partners;
- Adoption of the apprenticeship model by partner providers, as a model with countless benefits for the students, companies and VET institutions;
- Improving and modernizing the learning process by integrating technology and new ways of learning, teachers training provided by industry front-runners and the integration of the process of assessment and monitoring of education plans;
- Institutional development by establishing and consolidating the Development Unit as well as through strategic planning, management and self-assessment process in partner institutions.
