Technical Assistance Projects in VET
Republic of Moldova
Aurelia Vartic
VET projects consultant
LED Moldova
Chisinau, 11/07/11
Moldovan VET sector after 1998
 little experience in determining skill needs and
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developing standards
little cooperation with businesses
outdated curricula
poor investment in the VET sector
aging teaching staff
obsolete equipment
lack of sector attractiveness to students and their
parents
First EU support in VET sector
 Tacis project “Reform of the vocational education
and training system of Moldova” (1998-2000)
 experiments with more decentralized schools
 development of the multifaceted school, providing
four years of secondary education and thus
 ensuring potential access to higher education
Recent and current players in VET
 Sweden
 Switzerland
 Liechtenstein
 Austria
 Germany
Support to the Labour Market Authorities and
Vocational Education Services in working towards
improving the Labour Market in Moldova
 Financed by: SIDA
 Implemented by: Hifab International
 Project duration: 01/01/2006 – 30/12/2010
 Budget: approx. 1,580,000 EUR
 Project goal: reforming the VET system
 establish a firm cooperation between education,
employment, regional development authorities, and
social partners around a newly established national
centre for VET Development
Specific attention was given to vulnerable groups on the
labor market
Moldovan Occupational Standards,
Assessment and Certification (SOMEC)
Financed by: SDC
Implemented by: INBAS & IFCP
Project duration: 01/03/06 – 31/03/10
Project budget: 2’000.000 CHF
Project goal:
- develop occupational standards (OS)
- build up and institutionalize a national system of assessment
and certification of vocational competences.
 Major achievements:
- National capacity built in OS and assessment
- National Council on Occupational Standards, Assessment and
Certification (OSAC) has been established by Government
- eight OS (draft) based on DACUM methodology
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Strengthening of Vocational Education and
Training in Moldova (CONSEPT)
 Financed and implemented by: LED
 Project duration: 2008 – 2014 (phase I & II)
 Project budget: phase I: 1’290.000 EUR
 Project goal: Strengthen a number of VET schools
 In supporting the reforms of VET, project activities focus
on:
- Organizational development
- Staff development (instructional and occupational
skills) together with TUM
- Equipment supply
Synergy of donors input
 SIDA/Hifab –development of VET policies, labor
market needs analysis, teachers training, guidance,
actions for vulnerable groups, social dialogue, etc.
 SDC/IFCP - development of OS and assessment
 LED/CONSEPT – strengthen the school level by
capacity building and modernization of workshops.
 Joint pilot activities had been implemented
Agricultural Schools as Centers of Competence for
Regional Education and Training (MOLAGRI)
 Financed by: ADA, ME of RM, KulturKontakt Austria
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(impl)
Project duration: 01/12/04 – 30/08/13
Project budget: 560.000 EUR
Project goal: improve the ability of school leavers to
develop business activities based on small and medium
sized family-farmsteads.
In its two beneficiary schools the project works on:
- adjusting the school program to the needs in the
region;
- making school a center for regional development in
agriculture;
- developing curricula on grape-growing/winemaking and
legumiculture
“VET school develops as a training provider
for WSS in Moldova”
 Financed by ADA
 implemented by IFCP
 project duration – 01/01/10 – 31/12/12
 project goal “Two VET institutions provide demand-driven
initial and further training in occupations relevant for WSS”.
 Major activities:
- occupational profiles for plumber and electrician
- update curricula for the 2 occupations
- procure necessary equipment
Training Firms (ECO NET Moldova)
 Financed by: ADA
 Implemented by: KulturKontakt Austria
 Project duration: 01/09/06 – 30/12/13
 Project goal: To provide the innovative, practically-
orientated teaching method “Training Firm”
 Focus on secondary business and vocational
education institutions.
Moldovan Employment and Entrepreneurship
Education and Training Activity (MEEETA)
 Financed by: LED
 Implemented by Winrock Moldova
 Project duration: oct. 2008 – 2013 (Phase I & II)
 Project budget: 2’036.706 USD
 Project goal: Helping young people to get employed or
self-employed by:
- Revision of entrepreneurship curriculum in VETS;
- Teacher training;
- Training of young people for employment;
- Training of young people for self-employment.
Strengthening initial and continuing training
of handcrafts in Moldova
 Financed by: BMZ
 Implemented by: CCI Moldova & CC Koblenz
 Project duration: Jul. 2007 – 2012 (phase I & II)
 Project goal: Increase workers’ skills according to
the labor market demands
 based on German dual system
“HIV/AIDS Prevention in Eastern
Europe” Moldova component
 Financed by: GIZ
 Implemented by: GFA & CMB
 Project duration: 01/01/09 – 30/11/10
 Project goal: To support the HIV/AID prevention in
VET system
 Curriculum, along with teacher’s book and student’s
book, for a Healthy Life Style course was developed.
European Training Foundation
 ETF has been assisting Moldova for about 10 years to reform
the education, training and labor market systems
 coordination with other donors in the VET sector, searching for
synergies and sharing tools under the Mobility Partnership.
 labor market demand analysis, reviewing education and
training system and support the social partnership
 latest analysis carried out in Moldova:
- Torino Process (21/01/11)
- A Study of the Moldovan VET System and its Relevance to
Labor Market (01/06/05)
- The Challenges of Lifelong Learning Report (01/06/05)
Lessons learned
 All relevant stakeholders and decision making
bodies are to be on board; participatory approach is
a must;
 Policies/strategies should reflect the economic
development of the country, its constitution and
culture;
 Policies cannot simply be transplanted from another
country;
 Policies/strategies should not stand alone, but
should be part of a well-designed package of
measures for their implementation.
Lessons learned
 Policies should be reflected in annual and medium-term
plans, and budgets of government
 Activities supported by donors should be well coordinated
with national partners
 Products proposed to be developed have to be in line with
EU standards but also adjusted to national context
 Projects should have an exit strategy and the national
counterpart should take ownership of the projects’ products