The Kosovo Education Strategic Plan 20111-2016 (KESP) was approved in August 2011. The introduction of the KESP has brought about new planning and monitoring routines at MEST, with more emphasis on planning and implementation in a more comprehensive sector-wide and longer-term perspective. For the first time a Joint Annual Review conference was organized in Prishtina March 28-30, 2012 with the purpose of identifying the progress made, challenges and policy and action priorities for the sector. This conference addressed mid-term objectives (2013, 2014, and 2015) of KESP. Progress, challenges and recommended priority actions were summarised in an Aide Memoire, which was the final outcome of the conference.
Among the key developments reported in the VET sub sector were the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), and the establishment of the National Qualifications Authority (NQA), significant improvement in VET schools management, teaching, facilities and material development. Two new Centres of Competence (CoC) are completed and two more are under construction. Efforts are being made to integrate these CoCs into the national VET system. More progress has been made in career counselling and in developing professional standards and new curricula for new profiles. The Law on Vocational Education and Training and the Law on Adult Education are being drafted. Policy discussions have started for the establishment of the VET and Adult Education Agency.
The key recommendations for the VET sector include: i) to determine jointly with the employers and social partners the state of play in, and vision for, the VET system in the country; ii) evidence based policy making in VET is crucial in managing affordable VET policies; iii) the VET Council is not yet fully operational and the National VET and Adult Education Agency needs to be established and supported to perform its role in accordance with the legal provisions according to KESP; iv) a major challenge for the sub-sector is to develop vocational courses or programmes, taking account of the new Kosovo Curriculum Framework and relevant criteria set by the National Qualifications Authority; v) putting in place monitoring of the VET is a major challenge. Evaluation of achievements will need to take place at regular intervals, in order to assess the extent to which the objectives set out in KESP (VET- sub sector) and other legislative documents have been achieved. It is high time to look into setting performance indicators. vi) a major challenge for the sub-sector is the understaffing of the MEST VET division; and vii) big challenge remains in VET to allow for more access and opportunities for marginalized groups.
The main documents to be used as basis for the policy discussions of this one day workshop are: the Kosovo Education Strategic Plan 2011 -2016 (KESP) and the JAR 2012 reporting, the 2011 Law on Pre-University Education, the Kosovo Curriculum Framework (KCF), the 2008 Law on National Qualifications, the 2009 Law on Education in the Municipalities of Kosovo, the draft Law of Vocational Education and Training and Adult education, discussions on the establishment of the VET and Adult Education Agency, Centres of Competence (including the draft Administrative Order for it), the key findings of the 2010-2012 Torino Process review of progress in VET IPA funded KOSVET V “Proposal for the future role and structure of CVET and the related establishment of a VET Agency (November 2011).
The meeting on 14 June seeks to present and discuss the preliminary findings of the Torino Process Review currently underway. This meeting will examine current developments in the Kosovo VET system with a view to identifying policy implications and policy options. In particular, key issues to be discussed are (i) outcomes of Education sector Joint Annual Review(JAR); (ii) the proposed VET and Adult Education(AE) Agency; (iii) the draft laws on VET and Adult Education; and (iv) the Centres of Competence
The participants’ discussions will focus on:
• how to ensure relevant stakeholders are engaged in and consulted on key policies
• communication between policy makers, practitioners and the world of research and analysis
• informed VET policy- making and system review
The workshop outcome: an agreed way of how to establish sustained information dissemination processes and communication between policy-makers, practitioners and researchers.

Type of Event: Operational
Place: Prishtina (Kosovo (as under unscr 1244))
Date: 06/14/2012
Topic(s): Lifelong learning; Employment; Portability of Skills; Policies and Systems; Education and Business; Key Competences; School and Teacher Development; Equal Access to Education; School and Teacher Development; Key Competences
Project: WP12-10-01-KOS
Organiser: Lida Kita, Cristiana Burzio ;
Contacts: Lida Kita, Cristiana Burzio;