Development of short-term Adult Education (AE) programs for the Centres of Competences (CCs) and Vocational schools in Kosovo

The Institute for International Cooperation of the Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V. (DVV International) and the Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education (AVETAE), on 5 July 2022, held an informative seminar within the project “Development of short-term (modular) adult education programs and use of these programs within the six Competence Centers (CCs) and vocational high schools (VET) in Kosovo”.

Participants in the informative seminar were representatives of the six CCs and those of selected VET schools.

The acting director of AVETAE, Mrs. Fikrije Zymberi and the director of the office of DVV International in Kosovo, Mr. Ramadan Alija, have provided information about the project, emphasizing its purpose. According to them, the development and implementation of new AE programs will enable the increase of inclusive access to adult education programs, in particular for marginalized groups and other adult groups, excluded from the education process in Kosovo.

The representatives of the CCs and VET schools have presented the data on the current situation, the needs for changes and the implementation of AE in these institutions.

They have discussed regarding the challenges for conducting the research on the preliminary state of the technical and professional capacities of the six CCs and eight selected vocational schools from the eight main regions in Kosovo (Pristina, Podujeva, Prizren, Peja, Ferizaj, Mitrovica, Gjilan and Gjakova), and also regarding the challenges for the development of programs for short-term courses and their implementation.

In the end, the participants gave concrete recommendations, among which were: the drafting of modular programs based on labor market requirements; greater recruitment of instructors who will help develop skills and prepare candidates for the AE process; raising the capacities of schools and centers of competence through staff training for andragogic knowledge (according to the “Curriculum globALE” program), equipment support; drafting of the unique pedagogical documentation for AE, etc.

Moreover, the development of new AE programs will be based on standards validated and approved by the National Qualifications Authority (NQA) and in accordance with the National Qualifications Framework in Kosovo.