Context
In the Republic of Moldova, an average economic growth rate of over 4% has been recorded over the last 10 years. Poverty has been significantly reduced in the country. Irrespective of these develop-ments, Moldova continues to be one of the poorest countries in Europe. Only around 40 % of the em-ployable population is in employment. The creation of new jobs is still lagging. Many Moldovan citizens seek employment abroad. At the same time, companies encounter difficulties to fill existing vacancies with qualified workforce.
A substantial barrier to investments is the low productivity originating in a lack of qualified workforce according to labour market needs. This is particularly relevant with regard to qualified specialists for a sustainable economy. Professional skills of VET graduates do not meet the requirements of the labour market. Reasons for this are outdated curricula and an imbalanced ratio between theoretical and prac-tical education, as well as the low level of social partners’ involvement in shaping and implementing vocational training measures.
In January 2018, with the projects’ support, the Government adopted a decision regulating the organi-sation of initial dual VET in RM. This creates a binding normative basis for dual VET, with clearly de-fined apprenticeship relations as well as mandates of state, companies and representative bodies of the economic sector.
Objective
The system of demand-oriented dual VET for the promotion of ecological, economic and social devel-opment in Moldova is strengthened.
Approach
The project supports the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, as well as several private sec-tor 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:
- Strengthening capacities of state, private and civil society actors to acknowledge and carry out their roles within the dual VET system, as defined through the improved and consolidated institutional and normative framework.
- Support dual partners to conceptualise and elaborate decision templates to be adopted by competent bodies; demand-oriented consolidation of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms.
- Capacity Development measures for strengthening HR and institutional capacities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Moldova as both competent body for dual VET and a service provider for companies expressing interest or already involved in dual VET.
- Measures to enhance dual initial training offers in order to correspond to quantitative and qualitative requirements of the labour market.
- Create the foundations for encouraging green initial dual VET with the scope to promote ecological and sustainable businesses.
- Dissemination of information and promotion of dual VET with a green orientation by means of image and media campaigns. The establishment of regional support structures will ensure outreach to target groups in remote areas, including disadvantaged groups of population.
Results
Several responsibilities related to VET are transferred from state to the private sector, represented by both dual partner companies and the CCI. Moreover, dual VET is mainstreamed into the existing VET system, as a viable alternative to the traditional, school-based VET.
The role of private enterprises as engine of dual VET is strengthened. With the projects’ support, al-most 70 companies provided over 1500 apprenticeship places in the school year 2018-2019.
The employability of young men and women is improved. The recruitment rate of graduates remains consistent, at almost 60 per cent, considerably higher than in the traditional training system.