Vocational education and training for better employability of young people in Serbia

Context

Serbia is struggling with a high rate of youth unemployment. One reason for this is that the qualifications of young people aged between 15 and 35 often do not correspond to the requirements of the labour market.

Serbia’s vocational education and training system has therefore set itself the goal of meeting these requirements and training sufficient number of qualified workers. However, it still needs additional support to become fully functional and effective for the long term.

Objective

The qualification and labour market measures in selected regions are better geared to the needs of young people, and to the requirements of the labour market as a whole.

Approach

The project promotes six selected secondary vocational schools in the process of becoming regional competence centres. The schools receive support in offering high-quality formal (dual) education, expanding their offer to adult education and establishing a dialogue on youth employment with local stakeholders.

Moreover, the project advises the relevant institutions on improving the legal and regulatory framework for dual education and non-formal training. The lessons learned from the project implementation are transferred to national policy to further support vocational education and training reform and promote youth employment.

The project also includes the German-Serbian Initiative for Sustainable Growth and Employment, which pools and coordinates the activities of German-Serbian development cooperation. The Initiative anchors selected and piloted measures to promote sustainable employment. It ensures speed, flexibility and innovation throughout German development cooperation with Serbia.

Last update: April 2023