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At the recent Annual Regional Conference organised by the Regional Challenge Fund in Tirana, a session was convened by the RCF Technical Advisory Committee to gather insights and perspectives from key stakeholders in Vocational Education and Training (VET). The focus was on shaping the funding policy of the Regional Challenge Fund for the upcoming open calls, with a spotlight on supporting projects that promote green and digital transition, gender equality in VET, and regional cooperation among VET providers.
The session brought together a diverse group of VET stakeholders, including VET policy experts, decision-makers, project managers, and donor representatives from the Western Balkan 6 region. It provided an opportunity for regional exchange and sharing of experiences and lessons learned in developing national VET frameworks.
Following an informative presentation by Mr. Frieder Woehrmann and Ms. Jelena Manic Radoicic on the outcomes of the previous open call, participants engaged in group discussions on key topics such as Green and Digital Transition, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion in VET Programs, and Regional Cooperation in Human Capital Development. Discussions revolved around essential questions guided by workshop facilitator Ms. Irena Topalli, with the conclusions drawn set to influence the RCF’s position and funding strategies.
Specific recommendations regarding promoting green and digital transition in vocational training, emerged from the discussions, including the importance of training trainers, fostering partnerships for knowledge transfer from the private sector, and involving licensed private providers in training programs.
For advancing gender equality and social inclusion in VET, suggestions encompassed modularising the VET system, integrating the private sector in curriculum development, and recognising Prior Learning to enhance the VET system’s inclusivity.
Lastly, to align national VET policies with regional and EU strategies for human capital development, the session highlighted the significance of collaborative regional projects, leveraging EU funding opportunities, organising study visits, and fostering networking among VET policymakers and providers in the region.
The RCF looks forward to continuing these valuable discussions in the next session of the Technical Advisory Committee at the upcoming annual regional conference next year.
The Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) is a financing facility designed to increase youth employability and boost the competitiveness of enterprises in Western Balkan 6 by funding investments in selected cooperative training projects that are implemented through partnerships between vocational training institutes and the enterprises. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development commissioned 64.43 million EUR for the RCF, and the Swiss Government, represented by the SDC Swiss Development Cooperation, co-financed an additional 10 million EUR. The funds were commissioned to the KfW Development Bank and executed by the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6-CIF), a joint initiative of chambers of commerce from the region.