30 Years, 30+ Stories: Albania, driving digital innovation in education

Situated on the shores of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, Albania lies in the southern part of the Western Balkans. After decades of communist rule, Albania became a transitional democracy in the 1990s, stabilising after the end of the war in neighbouring (and collapsing) Yugoslavia.  

In recent years, Albania has been working towards integrating into the European Union. It was granted EU candidate status in 2014 and began formal accession talks in 2020. As a result, the cooperation with the ETF, which began in 2000, has been further strengthened. In 2023, the EU and Albania made a decisive move forward in their accession negotiations, aligning Tirana more closely with EU governance and reforms. 

Economically, Albania's resilience was tested by the 2019 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. The economy rebounded with 8.9% growth in 2021, with key sectors such as tourism and construction playing an important role, and is expected to continue its expansion in 2024, albeit at a slower pace. Inflation peaked at 6.7% in 2022 but is expected to stabilise at around 3% by 2025.  

Although the country has made progress in tackling informal employment, a significant part of the labour market remains unregulated, posing a challenge for both workers and resilient economic development. 

In education, Albania has made significant improvements, moving from one of the lowest performing countries in Europe to notable progress in access and quality, with the Human Development Index (HDI) value increasing from 0.66 in 2000 to 0.79 in 2022. 

The recently adopted National Strategy for Employment and Skills (2023-2030) focuses on improving vocational education and training (VET), to equip young people and the workforce with the skills needed for a dynamic, EU-oriented economy. 

24 years of forward-thinking partnership 

The ETF has a long-standing partnership with Albania aimed at improving the quality and inclusiveness of the VET system. The ETF's monitoring of the VET Recommendation and Osnabrück Declaration 2023 for Albania is in line with the priorities of the Osnabrück Declaration, which emphasises sustainable competitiveness, social equity and resilience in VET reforms. The ETF also analyses VET policies and practices through the evidence-based monitoring of the Torino Process. 

The ETF is a key contributor to national reforms, including the Economic Reform Programme and assessments of the Small Business Act, with an eye to the future: in 2021 it produced a study on future skills needs in the energy sector in Albania. The ETF's Skills for Enterprise Development activity in the Western Balkans also plays a key role in Albania, focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the agri-food sector.  

Romain Boitard, the ETF's country liaison officer for Albania, emphasises the importance of such cooperation: 'From strengthening governance structures to aligning qualifications with EU standards, we are deeply committed to facilitating Albania's transition to a more inclusive, modern VET system. This partnership is not just about immediate improvements, but about sustainable, long-term alignment with European frameworks,' Boitard said. 

Ejvis Gishti, Director General of the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Qualifications (NAVETQ), highlights significant achievements resulting from this cooperation, in particular the modernisation of VET qualifications and the establishment of the Albanian Qualifications Framework (AQF). 

'The ETF has had a productive and impactful partnership with Albania in the field of VET over the years. Key achievements include the modernisation of VET qualifications, the improvement of teacher training and professional development, and the establishment of quality assurance mechanisms. These efforts have contributed to a more cohesive, relevant and effective VET system in Albania,' said Gishti. 'Current priorities include addressing the challenges of digitalisation, the green economy and a dynamic labour market with a focus on lifelong learning.' 

In the area of employment, the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES) plays a central role in putting Albania's new Employment and Skills Strategy into practice. The strategy aims to align workforce skills with labour market needs and promote inclusive job opportunities, with a focus on supporting vulnerable groups such as young people and women. The NAES has implemented several active labour market programmes (ALMPs), including employment subsidies and vocational training programmes, aimed at improving access to the labour market for underrepresented groups.  

Of note is the launch in October 2023 of the pilot phase for the Youth Guarantee (YG), a pillar in the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. The programme aims to support young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) and has been integrated into the National Employment and Skills Strategy introduced last year. In practice, a pilot project has been launched in selected municipalities, 'focusing on improving coordination between employment, education and social services to provide tailored support to young people,' Klevis Hysa, Director General of NAES explains. 

'The ETF played a crucial role in the design of the programme, helping to integrate EU standards into the Albanian Youth Guarantee framework. Through workshops and stakeholder engagement, the ETF facilitated a dialogue that helped Albania build the necessary governance structures to successfully implement the programme,' added Hysa. 

Strengthening digital competence in education 

As part of the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans, the ETF and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (DG-JRC) have launched SELFIEforTeachers, a tool to assess and improve teachers' digital literacy. Rolled out in Albania in 2024, the initiative consists of an online tool to help primary and secondary teachers reflect on how they use digital technologies in their professional practice. Teachers can use the tool to learn more about their digital competences and identify areas for development. 

Alessandro Brolpito, digital skills and learning expert at the ETF, highlighted the success of the tool: 'SELFIEforTeachers has already been adopted by 573 teachers, almost half of all vocational teachers in Albania.' Brolpito added that a fruitful workshop on the results was recently held in Tirana, while the next dissemination event will take place online on 6 November, with an expected audience of between 500 and 1000 participants. 

Ejvis Gishti highlighted the significant impact of the SELFIEforTeachers tool in Albania. 'The 2024 pilot showed that most VET teachers improved their digital literacy,' she explained. 'Through self-reflection, teachers have identified areas for improvement in integrating technology into their teaching. This data-driven approach will enable VET institutions to develop customised training programmes and digital reforms that address the specific needs of teachers.' 

According to Gishti, SELFIEforTeachers provides a reference framework that allows Albanian VET institutions to measure progress alongside their European counterparts. The tool fosters a culture of continuous improvement and helps plan investments in digital infrastructure. 'Going forward, Albania's VET digitalisation roadmap will build on the findings of SELFIEforTeachers, fostering peer learning among educators and driving digital transformation efforts across the sector, added Gishti. 

This initiative is critical to preparing Albania's students for the modern workplace, while fostering a culture of innovation among teachers. It is also an important step in aligning Albanian education with broader European digital education policies. 'In its own small way, SELFIEforTeachers serves as a crucial tool for the EU integration and future accession of Albania,' concludes Brolpito.