As an agency of European Union, the ETF has been active in Albania since 1997, supporting the EC Phare, CARDS and IPA programming cycles in HRD-related fields. Previous ETF activities have focused on areas, such as quality assurance in VET, project-based teaching and learning in vocational schools, key competences and entrepreneurial learning development, post-secondary VET, adult learning and European employment policies. In addition, Albanian experts have participated in regional ETF projects to exchange experience with other countries from the IPA region.

For more than a decade Albania has been undergoing a profound reform of its system of vocational education and training (VET) for both young people and adults, at secondary and tertiary levels. The Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, as well as their executive agencies have been leading reform efforts, which were supported by a number of multilateral and bilateral donors, notably from the European Union (EU), UN organisations, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, the US and others.

The Human Resource Development Review for Albania, published by the European Training Foundation in 2010, illustrates how much progress Albania has made in the past decade in terms of developing its human capital, but also the challenges ahead if the country wants to spur its economic and social development and eventually join the European Union.

ETF actions are designed to add value to the work of the EU and its member states in the area of human capital development in the context of the EU’s IPA programming cycle. Through its policy analysis, advisory and capacity building actions, the ETF improves policy development and management in the areas of education and training, employment and social inclusion policies. As part of its regular functions, the ETF delivers expert input to the European Commission’s human resource development (HRD) programming and IPA project cycles. In the area of VET, Albanian counterparts have defined three priorities: increasing VET quality, continuing teacher development, and promoting and further expanding the cooperation between schools, training centres or universities and businesses. Currently, as part of its so-called Torino Process, the ETF supports Albania’s efforts for preparing a National VET sector development plan by assisting with data collection and participatory dialogue and analytical processes. One of ETF’s priorities is to improve cooperation between VET and businesses, building on existing good practices at national and school levels (Edubiz initiative). A sector skill needs analyses provides inputs into debates around Albania’s future VET school and programme infrastructure. Another priority of ETF’s work in Albania is entrepreneurial learning, where we have for many years joined forces with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry to help the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy carry out an assessment against the SME Policy Index linked to the EU Small Business Act and determine respective policy priorities. Finally, Albanian actors participate actively in the ETF core group on inclusive education who, among others, advise the European Commission on a respective IPA Multi-beneficiary project.