As Moldova is facing a high proportion (24.9%) of NEET (youth not in education, employment of training), the Liechtenstein Development Service has decided to support the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) in expanding and accelerating dual technical vocational education to include economically inactive youth.
Thus, on September 10, the project “Accelerating Dual Technical Vocational Education in the Republic of Moldova” was officially launched, project which is implemented by the Association “Education for Development” (AED), together with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova (CCI).
The overall objective of the project is to ensure that young people in Moldova benefit from market-relevant dual vocational education and training, significantly enhancing their employability prospects. The project will run from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2028 and has a total budget of EUR 1,78 mil.
The project is structured around three key outcomes:
1. Increased awareness of the benefits of dual education among potential VET students.
2. Improved responsiveness of VET institutions to market demands for dual education.
3. Increased engagement of the private sector in delivering dual education programs.
The project will intervene at regional and local level, targeting approximately 15,700 direct and indirect beneficiaries—including VET students, gymnasium graduates and non-graduates, NEET youth, VET schools, Centers of Excellence, companies, and their employees and instructors.
Key interventions will include:
- Targeted awareness campaigns to promote dual VET, featuring company visits, Dual Education Ambassadors, and career fairs.
- Capacity-building for VET schools and businesses, supported by TUM, including training on partnership management and professional development for instructors.
- Competitive grants, modern training equipment, and toolkits for selected students and VET institutions to foster new dual VET partnerships.
- Technical assistance to the Ministry of Education for integrating new modules into the Education Management Information System (EMIS) to track the progress of dual programs, students, and companies, including employment outcomes.
- Initiatives led by CCI to boost private sector involvement, such as a Dual Education Quality Award, an Instructors Club, and psycho-pedagogical training for company-based instructors.
The project aims to achieve a 15% increase in dual VET enrollment by 2028, engage at least 54 new companies in dual training, and improve youth employability, which will diminish the NEET rate, thereby accelerating the development of a skilled and competitive economy in Moldova.