Context
The Republic of Kosovo is one of the poorest countries in Europe and so far, only slightly integrated into the global economy. The employment rate is 28.2%, out of which 13.3% women and 43.0% men, the lowest in Europe. Youth unemployment stands at 48.9%. Education system in Kosovo does not provide young people with vital competencies, digital competencies and does not provide them with adequate career guidance at the necessary age. Kosovo’s participation in PISA in 2015 and 2018 has ranked the country among the last three countries, confirming the deficiencies in education and showing that Kosovar students lack critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills. Therefore, many vacancies in the private sector cannot be filled due to the lack of adequate skills required by the labour market. The challenges of young jobseekers have been exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Insufficient employment opportunity of Kosovar youth causes a shortage of skilled labour and undermines the chances for economic growth in Kosovo. Moreover, the current labour market measures are not geared towards the specific needs of young people, women, minorities, and returnees, as well as the needs of employers. The relevant institutions continue showing a lack of necessary capacities at all levels of the education sector to achieve the development objectives of the Kosovar Government and to converge towards European standards in terms of inclusive and qualitative education matching labour market needs. Moreover, the coordination and cooperation between institutions and stakeholders working in employment and education at the central and local level is insufficient. Against this background, the German Government through GIZ Kosovo’s "Fit for Jobs" project aims to increase employment of Kosovar youth by improving the quality and labour market orientation of vocational education and training, career guidance, and active labour market measures like job search services.
Objective
Employment of the Kosovar population and sustainable productivity and competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have improved
Approach
The project systematically pursues a three-level approach (individual, organization and society) to enhance the employability of young people by improving the career guidance, quality of vocational training and job search services as well as a stronger orientation in the labour market. To improve the employability of Kosovar youth at the individual level, the competencies of specialists (qualified employees) and managers of selected lower secondary and vocational schools will be promoted in partner enterprises and institutions. At the organization level, school development plans will be established, digital competencies will be encouraged, relevant labour market offerings in lower secondary and vocational schools will be integrated, including the private economy. Systematic anchoring is done both on the political advice for the creation of the strategy, laws and regulations as well as on the initiation and accompaniment of cooperation mechanisms of state and non-state stakeholders (e.g., private economy, Employment Agency of the Republic of Kosovo (EARK), Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), and Ministry of Finance, Labour and Transfers (MFET). The project focuses on 4 main areas:
Output 1 aims to improve and advance the life skills and career orientation of young people in lower secondary school (grade 9). The effect hypothesis stands for informed and competent young people who will be better prepared for the labour market and be able, for their interest and skills, to decide on a professional education that suits them most. This will contribute directly to the improved employability of the young people which is also the objective of the project.
Output 2 aims, through the participation of the economy in the vocational education and trainings (VET), to orient this to the demands of the labour market. The effect hypothesis is that young people (grade 10-12) who have completed their professional education with the practical work in the companies, will have better chances to enter the formal labour market.
Output 3 pursues the goal of anchoring the orientation of professional education in the labour market to the ministries and subordinate institutions. The effect hypothesis is that labour market-oriented planning and implementation, and education policy reform show significant impacts on the employment opportunity of young people, including vulnerable groups and returnees.
Output 4 aims, through the improvement of the labour market services for young people (age 18-29), to enable smooth and effective transition from vocational education or unemployment to the labour market. The effect hypothesis is that young people, inactive and informal employees according to the effective use of labour market services, initially find a dependent or independent employment.
Results achieved so far:
- The Career Guidance concept for lower secondary schools has been developed and will be implemented in 20 pilot schools during 2023;
- Over 150 students of lower secondary schools have participated in extra-curricular activities aiming the strengthening of student school structures as well as increasing their knowledge on career options;
- More than 30 school directors and quality coordinators have benefited from the professional development measures for better school functionality;
- Work Based Learning (WBL) has been organised in 11 vocational schools in 9 different municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo, and 5000 VET students grade 10-12 are prepared to start their practical work in private companies;
- 502 cooperation agreements relating WBL have been signed with companies operating in the sector of construction, retail, informatics and mechatronics;
- 1068 VET students out of 5000, have already started their practical work in these companies;
- The Education Strategy 2022-2026 has been developed by the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), with the support of GIZ;
- The guideline for the adaptation of the European Framework for Digital Competency to the Kosovar context has been developed by MESTI, with the support of GIZ;
- 560 jobseekers have benefited from Vocational training and other measures for sector specialization;
- 313 young people have benefited from On-the-job training/internships in companies;
- Around 600 young jobseekers have benefited from Career guidance and measures for the labor market entry.