Albania
The European Training Foundation (ETF) cooperates with and complements the work of the European Commission and the European External Action Service in its support to Albania, including responding to requests from the Delegation of the European Union to Albania contributing to EU-Albania bilateral policy dialogue.
The ETF is actively supporting the implementation of actions in the Osnabrück Declaration in the region, in close cooperation with its sister agency Cedefop. The Osnabrück Declaration sets out policy actions for the 2021–25 period, in support of the Council Recommendation on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. The national implementation plan for Albania describes how the country plans to address EU priorities and achieve its national objectives in VET.
The ETF also gives input to EU policy monitoring mechanisms, including the Economic Reform Programme for the social sector, in particular in training and employment policy, assessment of progress on the Small Business Act for Europe and wider human capital developments reported in the Torino Process. It encourages Albanian actors to participate in European platforms and dialogue processes.
Moreover, the ETF provides policy advice for the operationalisation of the National Agency for Employment and Skills and the VET management information system, and collaborates with the Albanian Qualifications Framework taskforce supporting the implementation of the recognition of prior learning and the assessment of providers of post-secondary vocational qualifications.
Other ETF activities include advice on the evaluation of VET student company internships, network support from European Alliance for Apprenticeships, assistance in the establishment of the dual training system under the National Chamber of Crafts, piloting the EU SELFIE exercise to embed digital technologies in teaching, learning and student assessment, and participation of Albanian experts to the ETF Forum for Quality Assurance in VET. The ETF is also developing a training package on video pedagogy to support the professional development of teachers and trainers.
Read our 2024 update on Key policy developments in education, training and employment (ETF, 2024). For a quick overview, see below:
2024 developments at a glance
📜 Strategic frameworks and policies: The ongoing implementation of the National Employment and Skills Strategy (NESS) 2023–2030 remains pivotal in advancing skills development and improving the quality of vocational education and training (VET);
⤵️ Demographic challenges: the decline in population due to low birth rates and high emigration presents challenges. Targeted improvements to education systems and the labour market could mitigate the significant ‘brain drain’ of skilled individuals. The recent 13.8% increase in the average monthly gross wage is a significant step toward improving labour participation and decent work in the country;
🏫 Strengthening VET participation: the development of new programmes aligned with labour market needs and enhanced accreditation processes aims to boost quality and relevance and therefore VET participation. The higher employment rate of VET graduates, along with the introduction of comprehensive frameworks for monitoring the VET system should contribute to an increased appeal and effectiveness of VET;
💻 Digital transformation: the growing importance of the ICT sector in providing well-paid employment opportunities contributed to the increased integration of technology in education, including the rollout of digital skills training, enhanced infrastructure for vocational training centers, and efforts to bridge the urban-rural digital divide. Initiatives like SelfieforTeachers help primary and secondary school teachers improve their use of digital tools, helping learners develop essential digital skills and navigate the digital world effectively;
👦 👧 Focus on Youth: the launch of the National Implementation Plan for the Youth Guarantee pilots a number of approaches to address the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs). By the end of 2024, 500 young Albanians had already benefited from this support, with many more to follow in the future;
🧓 Lifelong learning: the development of flexible learning pathways and targeted adult education programmes aim to improve accessibility, address low participation rates and skills mismatch in the adult population, and provide reskilling and upskilling opportunities for employees;
📉 PISA results and trends: the sustained improvements recorded over the last 10 years took a significant dip in 2022, mirroring the downward global trend of educational performance in mathematics, reading, and science. The results also highlight the ongoing challenges in ensuring quality education for all, with schools in rural areas struggling to attract well-qualified teachers;
✅ Public Employment Services: the National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES) improved the puna.gov.al portal, now serving 14,000 monthly users, to enhance access to employment and training services through digital solutions.
Priorities for 2025
👉 This year, Albania intends to further consolidate its national qualification framework which will help improve the fluidity of the labour market. Moreover, the Youth Guarantee roll out will also reach more marginalised citizens, making the labour market more equitable overall.