Gender Sensitivity Report on Skills Gap in the Agro-Processing, ICT and Tourism Sectors in Albania Ref: Project Unit: Risialbania – Partner for Growth
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Institute for the Promotion of Social & Economic Development Gender Sensitivity Report on Skills Gap in the Agro-processing, ICT and Tourism Sectors in Albania Ref: Project Unit: RisiAlbania – Partner for Growth July 2014 Experts: Delina Nano Manuela Mece Anila Bashllari Contact: [email protected] Table of Content 1. Executive Summary 3 2. Methodology of the research 5 3. Legal and Framework of education system related to skill development 7 4. The Vocational Education System 10 TARGETED SECTORS: DEMAND AND OFFER OF SKILLS AND 13 QUALIFICATIONS I. AGRO-PROCESSING: 13 I. a Sector overview 13 I. b Skills Demand Analysis 14 I. c Skills Offer 17 I. d Skills Gap Analysis 25 I. e Recommendations for interventions 27 II. INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY: 29 II. a Sector overview 29 II. b Skills Demand Analysis 32 II. c Skills Offer 35 II. d Skills Gap Analysis 43 II. e Recommendations for interventions 49 III. TOURISM: 52 III.a Sector overview 52 III.b Skills Demand Analysis 53 III.c Skills Offer 57 III.d Skills Gap Analysis 62 III.e Recommendations for interventions 64 Annexes: References List of interviews 2 1. Executive Summary Albania has made significant progress measured in terms of economic growth and development and aspiring towards EU accession. Despite the government efforts to create a friendly environment for business development, there are several constraints that inhibit business potentials. One of the identified fields of intervention to minimize and neutralize these constraints is bridging labor demand and supply for potential sectors of the economy such as agro processing, tourism, ICT and other services. The transition period towards market economy did affect the structure of education system in Albania, given higher priority to general and university education while the system of vocational education was abandoned in notable ratios, contributing to less income generating employment and low level of required competences in the market. The Albanian Government that took office in September 2013 has defined as one of its priorities the modernization of the vocational education and training (VET) system in order to train jobseekers to get into jobs. VET is provided in Albania by public or private vocational schools, vocational training centers, companies or other agencies. In order to overcome the confusion of services offered between Vocational Secondary Schools (VSS) on one hand, and Vocational Training Centers (VTC) on the other hand, the government has decided to transfer the responsibilities for VET under the Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth (MoSWY). The transfer shall be concluded latest by September 2014. Today there is a high number of VET schools with a low number of graduates and a high number of university graduates unable to find a job, resulting in high level of youth unemployment. This phenomenon has a negative impact on young people, their future employment prospects and for the potential growth of the economy. While Albania has taken important steps towards adjusting VE and VET system with European requirements, it is still far behind having an efficient system. Existing VET results still too poorly equipped, without clear profile, identity and reputation as center of competence in respective occupational areas. Post secondary vocational programs are still absent contributing to less qualified labor force and inflexibility to find new professions. This research is based on the analysis of private sector needs, characteristics of identified target groups as well as the quantitative/qualitative analysis of skills supply and current gaps along three priority sectors in Albania by identifying in details what are most needed required professions; how companies fill these positions; the discordance between what market needs and skill providers offer; the quality of their curricula and practicality; internship programs and how are students benefit from them; etc. 3 There are several fields of intervention identified to bridge the gap between market demand and supply for skills and competences, and for the purpose of this study grouped as market needs and supply (company level versus skills providers). The intermediary institutions, be those governmental, non-governmental, etc., which provide services and act as facilitators are taken into consideration for developing successful cooperation and bridge the gap. It is clear that our education system in general and VET in particular is far behind the sector development and there is an immediate need for interventions: - On private sector demand, the focus need to be given on institutionalizing the relationships between private businesses and skills providers in terms of developing internships; provision of feedback from business community to skills providers in order to reflect market needs in curricula; and need of awareness among non-ICT companies for ICT skills that can improve information and knowledge management within the firm, leading to more efficient business processes and better firm performance, making communication within firm faster and management of firm’s resources more efficiently. - On intermediaries and macro level, the focus need to be given on curricula modernization to meet labor market demand; Increasing flexibility (agility) through the establishment of a national boards for professional qualifications and restructuring of vocational education and training levels; Developing the competencies of VET instructors and establishing he licensing policies and procedures; Unifying public and private certification for approved VET profiles (drejtime) ; Improving and equipping the teaching facilities and extending provision of teaching materials with emphasis of promoting cooperation with local businesses to use the premises effectively; establishing and empowering different stakeholders inciting their interest and facilitating the cooperation to bring synergy among businesses and skill providers and policy makers. 4 2. Methodology of the research The analysis for this research was focused on the interaction between the private sector and public and private skill providers (schools, universities, training centers, associations, hr companies etc.) analysis of the channels used for this interaction, the companies’ level of satisfaction with the qualifications provided by training providers, by identifying the root main causes for the unsatisfactory existing collaboration between the private sector and the training providers. The research examined the opportunities on education and training offered to both young woman and men. More specifically the proposed methodology was developed through: Desktop Research: review of existing documents from various sources such as GIZ, ETF, UN, USAID, World Bank, IFAD, NSDI, ILO, AIDA, academic literature, government strategies, etc. to identify models of reentering the labor market through training and in- job formation, existing gender sensitive economic initiatives, strategies, policies, and existing gaps to better understand and identify the issues in this matter. Direct interviews with private enterprises in Agro-processing, Tourism, ICT. For the direct interviews were prepared semi structured questionnaire in English and Albanian language. Important element for the success of the interviews was the identification of the ‘key person’ inside the private enterprises which play a crucial role in hiring and managing the daily work of the employees. Direct interviews with stakeholders such as: Ministries, business organizations, development agencies, sectorial business organizations etc. These interviews aimed to collect practices and knowledge from local stake holders, business practices for skills development, needs and constrains of the targeted sectors. A semi structured questionnaire was prepared in English and Albanian language. During this interviews special attention was placed in validating some of the findings gathered from the interviews with the private enterprises. Direct interviews with public and private educational and training providers. For these phase were selected most representative of VET providers (private, public, non formal training providers such as some NGO) operating at different areas on country such as (Tirana, Durres, Lushnje, Fier). During these phase special attention was placed on the identification of mechanism of cooperation with the private enterprises which offer internship and/ or employment opportunities to youth following their courses. A semi structured questionnaire was prepared in English and Albanian language. Validation of the findings: The findings and recommendations were presented in a de- briefing workshop with RisiAlbania and two validation workshop in (1) Agro- processing; (2) Tourism (3) ICT.. 5 The Validation workshops brought together: private enterprises; business organization; central and local authorities; NGO, experts, academics, etc. The findings of the interviews and of the validation led to determine the main skill gap between the private sector and the skill providers and in defining some recommendations on how they can be supported in the future. As a result were held 69 interviews in total, 15 interviews with Tourism companies, 15 interviews with Agro processing, 11 interviews with ICT companies, 12 interviews with stake holders, 16 interviews with skill providers Period: 15 May to 18 June 2014. Length of the interviews: 60-90 min. 6 3. A snapshot of Legal and Framework of education system related to skill development Vocational or Professional