Kosovo

DVV International has been operating a country office in Kosovo since 2005.

Although the level of education in Kosovo has increased in recent years, improving the quality of education and the commitment to greater educational equity remain long-term tasks, both of which are crucial for the country’s further development. Adult learning and education (ALE) is not an independent pillar. Rather, within the education system, it acts as an interdisciplinary component which is supported by a number of stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, the Agency for Vocational and Adult Education, the Employment Agency and the National Qualifications Authority. In addition to vocational schools, colleges and competence centres, which largely represent the formal sector of initial vocational training, the non-formal public vocational training sector is mainly represented by eight vocational training centres which offer training and retraining for registered jobseekers. There is no separate public budget available for ALE that goes beyond vocational training.

Main focus of work

• Improving the framework conditions for ALE: Through education and advisory services for and cooperation with government agencies, DVV International’s work in Kosovo aims to ensure that non-formal, holistic and not exclusively vocational adult learning and education is anchored and financed as an independent area in national and local education strategies.
• Strengthening ALE centres: Local adult learning and education centres are enabled to provide high-quality, wide-ranging educational programmes through targeted organisational development with Curriculum institutionALE.
• Professionalisation of ALE teachers: The Curriculum globALE developed by DVV International is being systematically implemented at the University of Pristina to improve the methodological competence of ALE teachers.
• Expansion and qualitative improvement of ALE programmes in municipalities: Together with local state and civil society education providers, DVV International is developing and piloting needs-oriented education programmes in various parts of the country, especially for disadvantaged target groups.

Partners

In addition to the Ministries of Education, Youth and Labour, important partners include the non-formal network for adult learning and education in Kosovo (“ALE Network Kosovo”, ALE NK), which includes the University of Pristina as well as various ministries, training providers and non-governmental organisations. At the local level, DVV International cooperates with ALE centres run by civil society associations in the cities of Prizren and Peja.