Kosovo*
The European Training Foundation is supporting Kosovo in developing education and training to boost employability, increase access to opportunities and promote social cohesion.
We cooperate with and complement the work of the European Commission and the European External Action Service in its support to Kosovo, which includes input to EU policy monitoring mechanisms, including the Economic Reform Programme, assessment of progress on the Small Business Act for Europe and wider human capital developments reported in the Torino Process.
Our support focuses on developing the role and capacity of national actors in policy advice to improve the employability of women and vulnerable groups. We also provide support to improve the VET system governance, in particular to enhance the quality of data.
Kosovo participates in the Torino Process, the Quality Assurance Forum, the development of digital skills, activities supporting the continuing professional development of VET teachers and trainers, and the network of centres of vocational excellence.
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
⚖️ Legislation and policy reform: the Growth and Reform Plan sets the foundation for further socio-economic convergence with EU standards and targets reforms in key areas including education and employment. Pre-primary education becomes compulsory for all children;
📋 National census: the 2024 results reveal a significant 8.9% decrease in the resident population since 2011, highlighting ongoing emigration and an ageing population;
🏫 Vocational education and training (VET): the National Development Plan and the Education Strategy 2022-2026 help expand dual VET programmes, making VET more labour-market relevant. The establishment of Sector Workforce Councils enhances alignment between education and industry needs. The establishment of a working group starts the drafting process of a new law on VET and adult education;
🛠️ Work-based learning: a task force is created to help accelerate the availability and quality of dual VET, linking businesses with VET providers and helping businesses to implement dual VET. To support progress, Kosovo is preparing to join the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA);
💼 Labour market developments: the Kosovo Employment Strategy 2024-2028 targets skills development and the reduction of skills mismatch, increasing labour market participation of vulnerable and underrepresented groups, and improving decent work opportunities. The drafting of the new Labour Law continued, and review of the Employment Law will see the Employment Agency Law and the Employment Services Law merged under one comprehensive law;
👦 👧 Youth in focus: the rate of youth unemployment (15-24-year-olds) decreases to 17.3%, a huge decline from the nearly 60% registered in 2015. However, the rate of youth not in employment, education or training (NEETs) is stagnating at 33% for the 15-24 age group;
💻Digital skills development: The Education Strategy 2022-2026 prioritises digital skills training for teachers and ICT expansion. The government has committed €6.5M annually until 2026 to improve school internet connectivity alone. Beyond that, ambitious plans include upgrading equipment, enhancing digital learning content, and strengthening teacher digital competence. Development partners also support digital skills initiatives, such as introducing new curricula tailored to the digital economy;
📉 PISA results and trends: the 2022 PISA results for Kosovo record a low performance in key subject areas, following the global downward trend in learning achievements. The new State Strategy for Youth refers to the need to raise the quality of education and targets a +13% improvement rate in mathematics, science, and reading by 2032.
Priorities for 2025
👉 Kosovo is working towards the enactment of a new law on VET and adult education, aimed at reforming system governance, financing, and other key areas;
👉 Kosovo aims to implement significant aspects of its school network reorganisation plan.
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.