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.