Project description

Title: Reform of the vocational education system as a contribution to employment promotion in Montenegro
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Montenegro
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Education and Science
Overall term: January 2006 to December 2011

Context

Montenegro is in the process of rapprochement with the European Union. Tourism, a fast-growing industry, is the main driver of the country’s economic development. Positive growth is also forecast for the construction industry and the electrical and automotive sectors of the service industry. However, there is a lack of qualified skilled workers - a need that is not yet adequately met by the vocational training system, which is currently being reformed. The private sector is not sufficiently involved in planning and realising the vocational training system, and training does not reflect market needs. Existing training curricula are not designed to equip trainees with professional competences and skills. The aim is to better meet the need for competent, employable skilled workers.
The project corresponds to the national poverty reduction strategy and the Montenegrin Strategic Plan of Education Reform 2005 – 2009. Both strategies recognise the need for a reform of the (vocational) education sector, for quality improvements and alignment with the demands of the labour market, and for development that conforms to EU standards.

Objective

The employability of vocational school graduates and participants in further-training measures has been improved.

Approach

The project works closely with the Vocational Education and Training Centre. The institution receives organisational development support and its staff are given further training. Specialist and management personnel in the VET sector, teaching staff and school managers receive in-service training that is in line with modern training standards and meets the needs of the business sector. Designed as model initiatives, the support measures are tailored to the service and manufacturing sectors of the tourism industry and the electrical engineering, metalworking (including automotive technology) and construction industries. Reformed curricula, better-trained teaching and management personnel, more modern facilities and closer cooperation between training centres and the private sector are helping to improve the practical knowledge and skills of vocational trainees and job seekers and increase their chances of finding employment.

Results achieved so far

A new training programme was developed and three others completely reformed with active input from private sector representatives. These modernised programmes concentrate on competence acquisition and are based on an action-oriented approach. The didactic methods and the equipment in seven pilot schools were fully modernised to ensure greater hands-on orientation. Some one hundred teachers were trained to apply the action-oriented approach, which benefits the trainees in that they now receive training that is relevant to their work processes. The introduction of a quality management system will ensure that the modernisation measures will remain effective in the long term.