Context
The Republic of Moldova has recorded average annual economic growth of more than four per cent since 2008. Although poverty in Moldova has been reduced significantly, the country remains one of the poorest in Europe. Only about 40 per cent of the working age population is actually employed. The lack of job prospects means that many Moldovans are seeking work abroad.
One of the main factors for low productivity, and which therefore acts as a significant barrier to investment, is the lack of a suitably skilled workforce. A significant mismatch exists between the needs of the labour market and the vocational skills acquired by graduates of vocational education and training (VET) courses. Curriculums in this area are often outdated and have few practical elements. One reason for this is the low level of social partner involvement in designing and implementing training measures.
With the project’s support, the education policy and strategic framework for demand-oriented VET was established in early 2018 with the adoption of the ordinance on the organisation of initial VET under the dual system.
Objective
The education policy and institutional framework have been improved in order to implement demand-oriented dual VET.
Approach
The project supports the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and the Environment, as well as several private sector actors, social partners and training institutions, in identifying common approaches to improving the framework for dual VET. The project provides advisory services and support in the form of capacity building measures.
The most important fields of activity include:
Policy advice to strengthen the framework for dual VET. The project advises the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research and its subordinate institutions on adapting or improving legal regulations, curriculums and professional standards, institutional structures and financing models for dual VET, together with the private sector and civil society.
Encouraging private sector involvement in dual VET initiatives. The project is working to strengthen the role of private enterprises in shaping VET to match their needs more closely. At the same time, the project is supporting chambers of industry and commerce in fulfilling their role as a competent body in dual VET. Business associations, social partnership organisations and sector committees are also given support in order to enable them to represent the interests of the private sector in national policy dialogue in an effective manner.
Improving the image of VET. The project assists actors involved in dual training models in identifying and raising awareness of successful examples, and in presenting these to their target groups, which include teachers, students and parents.
The project is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Results
The partner ministries and their subordinate institutions fulfil their role in shaping the framework for demand-oriented VET models. Six dialogue formats on dual VET, including one within the framework of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister of Moldova, have been set up.
The role of private enterprises in shaping dual VET has been strengthened. With support from the project, 49 companies are participating in initiatives and providing a total of 860 dual training places in the 2017-2018 school year – twice as many as in the previous school year.
The employability of young men and women is improved. According to a survey of the companies involved in dual VET, the recruitment rate of graduates remains consistent, at more than 50 per cent, which is considerably higher than in the traditional training system.