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LuxDev, Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency

• 2022
• • 9 August
  • By Renea BULA
  • 
  • Kosovo Office KSV/020
  • Education, vocationnal training and employment
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  KOSOVO - Project KSV/020 supported technical school “Skender Luarasi” wins the first place of the creative challenge

  “The environment, nature and everything living around us is the greatest wealth we have inherited… unfortunately we are abusing and destroying it, in turn disrupting the biological balances thus jeopardising our future on this planet.”

  This is a statement from the students of the “Skender Luarasi” technical school who were awarded with the first place of the creative challenge 2021 from the BONEVET institution. The creative challenge was launched in 2019 and is a competition designed for 10^th and 11^th grade high schools with the main goal of using technological devices. Students design and prototype solutions to everyday problems by combining various innovative and technological means. Teams go through three rounds and are evaluated at each round before arriving to the final product.

  “Skender Luarasi” managed to win the first place of the challenge among 36 national schools competing. The institution is one of the main VET schools supported by project KSV/020. The project provided support to the school through capacity development activities, purchasing of equipment to accommodate the new IT profiles developed by the project. The school also implemented the technical profiles updated by the project and will be receiving equipment to facilitate the practical learning part for these profiles.

  This year’s challenge was entitled “Frymo” meaning “Breath” and aimed the construction of stations measuring air quality through the use technological equipment such as the Arduino Kit and the Sensor Kit which explore the vast space of electronics and programming. The competition was organised in three rounds giving students the opportunity to learn how projects are done as well as the importance of teamwork as the students were evaluated as a group. As simple as it seems, this indeed was a challenge in itself as the students had to step into the role of engineers to find solutions whilst simultaneously managing the overall flow of work.

  Fundamentally, the challenge stimulated creative thinking as the students were designing a whole new product which at the end had to be functional as well. Throughout the rounds creative thinking was practiced, solutions to electronic and technical problems were found and the students learned to use the latest programmes in designing three-dimensional objects.

  The KSV/020 project is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Education and Science and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.  

  
  

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• • 7 March
  • By Saranda Sadiki
  • 
  • KSV/017
  • Health
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  KOSOVO - State of the art hospital beds for General Hospitals

  The KSV/017 project - Health Support Programme in Kosovo - Phase II aims to continue to support the General Hospitals in Prizren and Gjilan in their efforts to improve healthcare services. Along with the infrastructural work, the project will supply the surgery department in the Hospital of Prizren and the pulmonology department in the Hospital of Gjilan with a significant number of beds to be used in newly renovated premises as part of the project intervention.

  The project provided 63 hospital beds, 31 for the pulmonology department and 32 for the surgery department. In addition to facilitating patient accommodation in the above-mentioned departments, the project anticipates that the provision of high-quality beds will not only help raise the quality level for the hospitals, but it will also play an important role in lowering adverse events such as falling out of beds, as well increase the chances for a speedy recovery.

  The beds will be fully equipped and ready for patient use upon the inauguration of the renovated departments in the upcoming weeks. This is another milestone achieved by the project towards the improvement of the hospital premises, contributing toward increasing accessibility of quality services for the citizens as well as preparing the Hospital of Prizren to adhere to international standards for surgery service provision areas.

  The KSV/017 project is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

  

  

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• 2021
• • 30 December
  • By Blerta Avdiu
  • 
  • Kosovo Office KSV/017
  • Health
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  KOSOVO - Alignment of project activities with the Ministry of Health for 2022

  At the end of 2021, a workshop was organized by the “Health sector support programme – Phase II” in cooperation with the Ministry of Health (MoH) in order to align activities for 2022.

  All this year long, the project will assist the MoH’s staff to strengthen their leadership capacities. How? Through different activities specifically oriented towards the legal and strategic management departments, with the purpose to build an adequate framework to support the separation of functions between providers and purchasers. On the MoH's side, a new health sector strategy will be created.

  Also, the project will continue to support the “Strategic Management Department” by developing the internal regulations and policy documents. With a proper use of the “Division for Quality and Safety of healthcare services” within the respective department, the MoH will be able to develop new quality improvement tools that will increase the quality of service provision.

  

  The KSV/017 project is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Health and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.  

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• • 22 December
  • By Renea Bula
  • 
  • Kosovo Office KSV/020
  • Education, vocationnal training and employment
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  KOSOVO - The project, Support to vocational education and training reform in Kosovo, KSV/020 at the KosICT tech festival

  This October, the KosICT tech festival held its 10th edition to bridge the gap between the local and international markets for Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The festival brings together local, regional and international experts to share their experiences and knowledge with the audience comprised of software developers, ICT enthusiasts and experts, C-level executives, academia representatives and students. Certainly, the ICT sector in Kosovo is in rapid development, and the festival aims to respond to this development by bringing together all the stakeholders in the industry and foster a unified collaboration between them.

  With the presence of project KSV/020 in the ICT sector, its participation was deemed essential for demonstrating the commitment of vocational education and training to adapting to the changing labor market, especially regarding information technology. The Project supported the organisation of the Job Fair whereby six of the supported schools participated and presented their value proposition along with the ICT profiles that they are offering. The management of the school, teachers and students had the chance to attend the event and interact with company representatives for future collaboration opportunities.

  A number of the project KSV/020’s interventions were presented to the public during the event, starting with the development of five qualification sets in the ICT sector and their implementation in six vocational schools.

  This project showcased the business model concept as one of the main tools for fostering collaboration between vocational education and training schools and the private sector. Career guidance information system – Busulla.com boasts over 300,000 users and is the leading online platform for the provision of career guidance. Certainly, the achievements and interventions in the ICT sector will continue through Project KSV/801 with the development of cloud based testing system, as well as a tracer study information system, all whilst partnering with local, regional and international experts.  

  These achievements did not go unnoticed, as the Project KSV/020 was honored during the event. This award pays tribute to the Luxembourg Cooperation projects whose long-term efforts, dedication and sustained commitment have supported the vocational education and training sector. The project was awarded for the commendable achievements and significant contributions in the national reform of the national technical and vocational education and training system and in the development of the ICT and digital sector in Kosovo.

  At the event, it was stated that:

  “This award represents the successful work done by all LuxDev Projects in the technical and vocational education and training  sector and serves as a catalyst for foster further reforms and changes in the sector with a focus on ICT. It also reflects the synergy between the LuxDev team, the relevant institutions, and the private sector, which has contributed to enhancing the teaching and learning experience in the vocational education and training sector in Kosovo for more than ten years.”

  With the award, other stakeholders in the sector to use similar innovative approaches to working in partnership with businesses and public sector organisations to enhance student employability and increase workforce skills.

  The KSV/020 project is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Education and Science and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.  

  

   

   

   

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• • 21 December
  • By Hana Bacaj
  • 
  • KSV/801
  • Education, vocationnal training and employment
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  KOSOVO - Capacity development activities at national level for vocational education and training tracer study

  In the framework of the graduate tracking system, the European Union support to vocational education and training, professional requalification and occupation project, KSV/801, conducted several trainings for capacity building of vocational education and training institutions for the implementation of tracer studies.

  In order to further establish the tracer studies implementation support model, the KSV/801 project prepared a training programme involving relevant staff members of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo , and the Agency for vocational education and training and adult education to support the effective utilisation and monitoring of tracer studies implementation. Moreover, the the KSV/801 project has developed and implemented a capacity building programme for vocational education and training institutions in implementation of tracer studies. Vocational education and training  schools and vocational training centers are responsible to perform operational measures at school level to best utilise the implementation of tracer studies. The objective of this programme was to build the capacities of the key actors at central and local level in the implementation of tracer studies.

  The training was done in five regions and covered directors of all vocational education and training schools and vocational training centers, as well as the staff of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and Employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo. The training was divided into two parts;

  • to inform relevant stakeholders about the methodology and implementation of the tracer study and responsibilities of vocational education and training institutions in this regard.
  • a hands-on training to provide a broad overview of use and management of tracer study information system.

  At the end of these training sessions, all participants received certificates for the successful completion of these training.

  “These training are just the beginning of a long journey toward the full-operationalization of the National graduate tracking system, respectively tracer studies. It was a great pleasure for our project to start this initiative. Tracer studies are widespread in the vocational education and training sector in the region because institutions are interested in feedback from their former students to improve their study programmes and to show new applicants how their graduates have managed the transition to employment.”

  The training programme materials will be transferred to the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation along with a roadmap to enable the continued delivery of the training programme.

  This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of LuxDev and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.  

  

  

   

   

   

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• • 21 December
  • By Hana Bacaj
  • 
  • KSV/801
  • Education, vocationnal training and employment
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  KOSOVO - Coach and mentor, the management of the schools on implementation of industrial liaison unit

  In the last quarter of 2021, the European Union Support to Vocational Education and Training, Professional Requalification and Occupation project (ESVET PRO) conducted the capacity development activities for the implementation of the industrial liaison unit . As the name implies, this unit aims to facilitate the establishment of relations with industry representatives to ensure the alignment of the vocational education and training offer with the labour market needs.

  The capacity development activities were developed across the three vocational education and training schools supported by the ESVET PRO project:

  • Lutfi Musiqi in Vushtrri;
  • Feriz Guri dhe Vëllezërit Çaka in Kaçanik; and
  • Adem Gllavica in Lipjan.

  The main purpose of these activities was to show the importance of including the private sector as part of the core management within the vocational education and training schools and their influence in strengthening the quality and attractiveness of the vocational education and training offer. The training covered the following topics:

  Mapping partnership needs and setting up a partnership strategy

  Project collaboration with the school management mapped the current partnerships and scored the partnership performance. The participants reasoned on the next steps that the schools need to take with regards to partnerships and what could be done to enhance more prosperous partnerships.

  Managing the Industrial Bodies

  Given that the inauguration of industrial bodies was completed during the second and third quarter of 2021, the school management and the private sector identified the importance of having the private sector involved in the middle-management of the schools. With this respect, ESVET PRO Project supported and coached the management of the schools and the private sector in the metal working, heating/cooling/water and sewage and electrical installation profiles. Majority of partnerships are exemplar because the schools have started to receive direct and tangible benefits within a short period of time.

  Labour market information: its importance and the implementation within the school context

  Project KSV/020 implemented by LuxDev has previously conducted the labour market information for six sectors, including 12 occupations. The findings were discussed with the three supported schools with focus on areas in which schools need to adapt their offer. In addition, the schools were taught on the methodology to map market trends and conduct labour market information in the future by using qualitative and quantitative methods.

  The Student Voice - mapping the student incentives and running the study

  During the second quarter of 2021, ESVET PRO project analysed the student incentives and prepared a report based on a sample of 355 students from the selected three schools. These studies will be used for the implementation of business model approach and the creation of strategies and marketing materials. During these capacity development activities, the management of the schools was trained on the methodology used for this research, so that the schools will continue to do these studies periodically. The schools were also supported on developing the methodology, data collection, data input in the system, data analysis and report writing.

  Improving vocational education and training schools’ performance in line with labour market demand requires big strategic moves.  Every big move starts with a first step. The capacity development initiatives are an important step in the long road to making the business model approach a reality. Further activities will be organized with the schools in the coming weeks.

     

  

  

  This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of LuxDev and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.  

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• • 30 September
  • By Daniele Passalacqua and Renea Bula
  • 
  • Kosovo Office KSV/020
  • Education, vocationnal training and employment
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  KOSOVO - Enhancing the cooperation between vocational education and training institutions and the private sector

  Creating relationships between schools and the various actors of the communities in which they operate in is essential in enhancing student learning. These partnerships provide varied benefits which increase school capacities and make the overall educational experiences more interactive for students. In June 2021, the Support to vocational education and training reform in Kosovo project, KSV/020, formalised five memoranda of understandings between Meister training tenter and five vocational education and training institutions from the municipalities of Prizren, Vushtrri, Ferizaj, Suahreka and Gjilan - an initiative that will lead to the transformation of the vocational education and training system to a dual one, one of the firsts in Kosovo.

  The goal of these partnerships is to establish cooperation between the company and the vocational education and training institutions to advance the practical learning skills of students by offering them professional practice within the company. The partnership will facilitate the proper implementation of the qualification set for the profile of “electronic technician” developed in cooperation with European international partners from the private sector. The parties involved will have different responsibilities which include the transfer of skills between the teachers and school staff towards professional development activities, co-organisation of symposiums, conferences and short courses, proposals on adjusting the occupational standard, curricula and teaching and learning materials to match the latest industry trends and practices.

  

  In general, the public vocational education and training schools in Kosovo face obstacles in the implementation of the theoretical, and especially the practical part of the profile. This challenge arises due the lack of equipment within schools and lack of expertise in using and maintaining the needed machineries.  Therefore, an important component of this partnership is that students will use the equipment located within the company’s premises which will facilitate students’ professional practice. Ultimately, this will allow students to conduct their practice in the presence of industry professionals and acquire the necessary skills in the workplace.

  To commemorate such an important milestone, an event formalising the signing of the memoranda of understandings was organised. Part of this event were representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Agency for vocational education and training and adult education, the Project, Meister training centre as well as representatives from the municipalities and vocational education and training school directors. The attendees praised the initiative and pointed out the relevance of engaging with businesses to enhance and enrich the delivery of education. They firmly believed that more companies and schools will follow through the same path, especially once the benefits of such partnerships start becoming tangible.

  All in all, these public-private partnerships are of immense importance as they optimise the vocational education and training offer whilst building the world of work into education. Furthermore, they lead to work experience opportunities that improve the prospects of young students when seeking employment.

  The KSV/020 project is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Education and Science and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.  

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• • 30 September
  • By Daniele Passalacqua and Renea Bula
  • 
  • KSV/020
  • Education, vocationnal training and employment
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  KOSOVO - Development and implementation of qualification sets for technical profiles

  One of the main goals of the Support to vocational education and training reform in Kosovo project, KSV/020, is to improve the vocational education and training quality through the development of qualifications sets corresponding to the latest trends in the labour market. With the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, the project has developed qualifications sets for four technical profiles:

  • the occupational standards, curricula;
  • teaching and learning material; 
  • didactic guidelines, and supporting material for teachers.  

  

  The selection of these profiles was based on labour market analysis and the identification of priority occupations which the project did in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation.

  In the curricula development process, experts from the industry and private sector made sure to create a model of integrated curricula (theoretical and practical).

  Furthermore, the teaching and learning material , the guidelines and the supporting material are the first of their kind to be developed for these profiles.

  The teaching and learning material encompasses extensive information, both descriptive and visual, reforming teaching and learning methods, and ultimately optimising the vocational education and training offer. 

  On August 31, 2021, the chief technical advisor of the KSV/020 project met with the representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation and vocational education and training school directors to officially hand over the qualification sets for four technical profiles.

  All participants praised this initiative. Herein, the vocational education and training school directors expressed their appreciation for the support the KSV/020 project has provided to them in developing new qualification sets based on the contemporary advances to meet new labour market demand.

  The representative of the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation  also praised the continuous support that the project has provided to the Ministry during these years, especially in reforming the vocational education and training quality.

  All this work would not have been possible without the contribution of all the relevant stakeholders; therefore, the chief technical advisor of the KSV/020 project expressed his appreciation to the MESTI and the schools for their close cooperation throughout this process. He further stated that:

  “Even though we are submitting qualification sets for four profiles, the support of the project will continue through tailor-made capacity development activities for teachers and training with international and local experts. All of this will be finalized with the provision of laboratory equipment to vocational education and training schools as part of the overall plan to improve the  quality”.

  Finally, as a result of this teamwork, the developed qualification sets for the technical profiles will be available for all vocational education and training schools nationwide starting from the new academic year 2021/2022.

  The KSV/020 project is co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Education and Science and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.  

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• • 30 September
  • By Daniele Passalacqua and Hana Bacaj
  • 
  • Kosovo Office KSV/801
  • Education, vocationnal training and employment
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  KOSOVO - Operationalise recognition of prior learning as active labour market measure

  The European Union project, Support to vocational education and training, professional requalification and occupation, ESVET PRO has been supporting the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo with technical and financial support, in establishing a legal framework and operational arrangements to include recognition of prior learning as a complementary active labour market measure. Kosovo’s active labour market measures promote labour market integration by reducing job-finding barriers and increasing employment probability.

  More specifically, ESVET PRO has provided technical support to the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo to revise the regulation on active labour market measures (No. 01/2018). This regulation implements the following active labour market measures:

  • vocational training (through vocational training centres );
  • on-the-job training;
  • wage subsidies;
  • internship scheme;
  • self-employment and promoting entrepreneurship; and
  • public works.

  Consequently, the goal was to include recognition of prior learning as part of the active labour market measures mentioned above and operationalise it through the two related manuals:

  • the operational manual for training and re-training; and  
  • the operational manual for employment services provision.

  For this process, ESVET PRO provided specialised expertise for the revision of the two manuals and the provision of training to the directors of VTCs on the implementation and operationalisation of these manuals.

  In June, project ESVET PRO, EU representatives, the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo, vocational training centres directors and other important stakeholders met to celebrate an important milestone : the revision and the update of two manuals that make recognition of prior learning fully operational as active labour market measure.

  The chief technical advisor of the project ESVET PRO, Daniele Cristian Passalacqua, highlighted that “this ceremony constitutes only one of the agreed activities as part of the memorandum of understandings, co-signed between the project ESVET PRO and the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo. Our cooperation aims to support the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo and vocational training centres to fully operationalise recognition of prior learning as an active labour arket measure at national level”.

  
  Daniele Cristian Passalacqua (chief technical advisor of ESVET PRO) and Stergios Tragoudas (programme manager-EU policies-education) discussing regarding the importance of fully operationalizing recognition of prior learning as an active labour market measure.

  The European Union representative, Stergios Tragoudas, expressed his gratitude to the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo for their commitment and professionalism in collaborating with ESVET PRO, a project funded by the European Union and implemented by LuxDev. Mr Tragoudas stated that this event marks an important milestone for Kosovo’s vocational education and training system. He hopes that the ESVET PRO project and the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo will continue to bring greater outcomes to promote quality education and lifelong learning for all in Kosovo.

  The director of the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr Drin Haraqia and the head of the vocational education and training department, Ms Jehona Rexha, thanked the ESVET PRO project for the support and assured that the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo  would continue its commitment to the organisation of future joint activities.

  The event was followed by a training delivered to all directors of vocational training centres on the implementation of the manuals. The project ESVET PRO will continue to support the employment agency of the Republic of Kosovo and vocational training centres in successfully implementing the recognition of prior learning component throughout Kosovo.

   

  This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of LuxDev and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.  

   

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• • 30 September
  • By Blerta Avdiu
  • 
  • KSV/017
  • Health
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  KOSOVO - General hospitals of Gjilan and Prizren perform the evaluation of their strategic plans 2017-2021

  For the first time since the establishment of the general hospitals of Gjilan and Prizren, several decades ago, these were equipped with the necessary technical and financial assistance by the Health sector support programme in Kosovo (Phase II) project, KSV/017, for the drafting of Gjilan and Prizren general hospitals' strategic plans 2017-2021 and the implementation of the activities foreseen in the respective plans.

  During this period, the strategic plans provided a framework for the management and staff to align their programme initiaves in the service planning process. In addition, the drafting process itself and the skills acquired over the years were very useful in guiding and preparing the hospitals’ staff in managing the pandemic more strategically, which subsequently led to the provision of better services and treatment of Covid-19 patients.

  As the end of the 2021 approaches, the project in close collaboration with the staff of the hospitals, will perform an evaluation of the implementation of the strategy with a twofold purpose:

  • to assess the extent to which the strategic objectives have been achieved; and  
  • to increase capacities for proper monitoring and evaluation of the strategic documents.

  The outcomes of the evaluation and the lessons learnt will pave the way for the design of the new institutional development plans for the upcoming period 2022-2026.

  The project KSV/017 was co-funded by the Government of Kosovo and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by the Kosovo Ministry of Health and LuxDev.

   

  

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