Title: Support to Vocational Education and Training , Montenegro

 

Type of project/activity : Technical assistance in the framework of the above CARDS project for Component 5: Improve the Certification and develop a National Qualifications Framework

 

Objectives :

The overall objective of the CARDS project is to support the Montenegrin government in the implementation of a flexible and integrated vocational education and training system for youth and adults, which meets the needs of the labour market. The main purpose of the project is to improve employability of secondary vocational school leavers and unemployed adults in key sectors that have potential for economic development in Montenegro . The objective for the specific component was to improve certification and develop a strategy for a national qualification network:

 

•  To establish through legislation and the accompanying regulations the processes, conditions and procedures for obtaining recognised qualifications.

•  To develop and legislate for a system for certificating the knowledge and skills obtained outside the formal education system and to decide whether that system will be an autonomous sub-system or an integral part of the vocational education and training system.

•  To link the formal and non-formal systems of validating the acquisition of knowledge and skills and to include in the legislation provision for the development of a national qualifications framework.

•  To define the roles and responsibilities of all the public authorities, institutions and partners involved in achieving objectives 1 and 2, as well as the mechanisms and procedures for their participation both in the development process and in the management and functioning of the future system.

 

Background :

Reforms in education have been underway in Montenegro for several years. New occupational standards and programmes were developed under the first CARDS programme, as well as programmes designed specifically for adults based on the same occupational standards. A need was identified to develop certification for adults that would give them nationally-recognised vocational qualifications as well as reviewing and re-thinking the levels attributed to VET courses in the perspective of developing a strategy for a national qualifications framework. Other needs included establishing more systematic processes and procedures for the development and updating of qualifications with social partner involvement. The assessment raised issues about the possibilities of progression, relevance and assessment.

 

Partners : n/a

 

Main activities :

The main activities included:

•  An assessment of the current situation focusing on: progression routes, relevance of qualifications to employment, levels, recognition and accreditation. The assessment was based on interviews with key actors as well as all available project documentation, all relevant documents from the previous project and any other relevant activities currently under way in Montenengro.

•  Setting up a working group of key actors from the beneficiary ministries and major partner organisations; Defining with the group the objectives for this component and developing a workplan.

•  Bringing in experiences from other European countries to assist in the process of thinking through the issues.

•  Assistance to the group in drafting a perspectives paper. The perspectives paper presents a proposal for legislation to establish nationally-recognised vocational qualifications in Montenegro .

 

Name of programme, funder or client :

The project is funded by the European Union's programmes in the Western Balkans – CARDS. The EIESP is contracted to the consortium of partners and in particular to AFPA.

 

Expected outcomes, reports/documents :
The main aim of the legislation is to enable individuals to obtain nationally-recognized vocational qualifications which will meet the needs of the young, as well as the adults, and support the development of lifelong learning strategy. It is part of the wider process of developing a National Qualification Framework. The legislation will create strong links between formal, non-formal and informal education through the establishing a common base for qualifications.

 

For more information: Jean Gordon Gordon@dauphine.fr