Yesterday we had the pleasure to mark the inauguration of a new career center in Vitia, made possible as a result of a co-investment between SDC, EYE & The Municipality of Vitia.

This career center will provide counsel for hundreds of pupils, and gradually contribute to addressing the skills mismatch that has been a defining challenge for Kosovo's job market, affecting all layers of society. 

In 2020, as the pandemic unfolded, students all across Kosovo found themselves in uncharted territories, and their transition from school-to-work became particularly challenging as the labor market experiences enormous disruptions.

This year has shown us that now, more than ever, career guidance is desperately needed. We need career centers to teach students how to adjust to the uncertainty of 2020, to build confidence and empower them, to identify their skills, to facilitate employment, and to finally equip them with the ability to resiliently navigate the world of work. 

For Vocational Education & Training, career guidance is especially important as it improves the efficiency of education; strengthens ties with the labor market & the private sector; and increases enrollment.

Together with a range of local partners such as AVETAE, we have already established career guidance centers in 8 Vocational Education schools across Kosovo. This will be the 9th center, and we hope that this model can convince other schools and municipalities to enter into a similar cooperation for offering career guidance, even without external funding.