Why is post-secondary vocational education and training important?

The development of global knowledge-based economies is acting as a stimulus for increasing levels of educational achievements. Eurostat data highlight the current shortages at the top end of the labour market. It is expected that these developments will impact on most South Eastern European countries, which cannot meet the labour markets’ increasing demand for highly skilled workers. Policy makers look into new options to address this issue. Experience from suggests that occupationally oriented tertiary education programmes can provide innovative degree levels in sectors relevant for the economy.
In Croatia and Turkey there are post-secondary VET schools and current initiatives look into further developments. In the other countries in the region the need for providing post-secondary VET is increasingly discussed.


What is the aim of this project?

This project will encourage discussion and learning about the models and conditions for developing post-secondary VET and exploring the demand side. Also, the three year-project will support national policy developments based and to build capacity in the countries through targeted actions and knowledge sharing.
The discussions and learning process will tackle the following areas: horizontal and vertical accessibility, involvement of employers, information on the labour market and demand side, the national- and the European qualification framework.


The ETF’s work on post-secondary vocational education and training

The ETF has been involved in EU VET reform programmes in the region where the topic has been included. In 2005, the ETF organised a conference on request of the Macedonian Minister of Education on post secondary in VET in SEE during which different EU practices were presented to promote awareness about post-secondary VET systems.