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On Wednesday, 9th of March 2022, the official start of the EU Twinning project “Further support to the implementation of the National Qualifications Framework”, MK IPA 17 SO 01 21 took place in Skopje, North Macedonia. The event was opened by the Minister of Education and Science of North Macedonia, Mr. Jeton Shaqiri who underlined the importance of the project for the country’s further progress towards implementation of the National Qualifications Framework and thus strengthening the education system in general. Honourable speakers who addressed the audience were Mr. Steffen Hudolin, Delegation of the European Union, H. E. Ms. Jūratė Raguckienė, Ambassador of the Lithuania for Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia, Mr. Hugo Bechtel, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural activities, France, H. E. Mr. Milan Predan, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia. The ambassadors pointed out that this project benefits not only North Macedonia but member states as well as it strengthens cooperation among the countries and contributes to the knowledge and sharing of best practices among the partner and member states.
The Project Leaders Dr. Agnė Kudarauskienė, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, and Mr. Borco Aleksov, the Deputy Head of Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia, emphasized that the project is building up on the achievements of the first phase of the Twinning and presented the aims and results to be achieved to further improve implementation of the National Qualification Framework. Ms. Natasha Janevska from the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia presented the labour market perspective and emphasized the relevance and importance of the Project for the employers and future employees.
The overall objective of the Project is further strengthening and operationalization of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) aiming to increase the employability, mobility and social integration of workers and learners.
This twinning project is expected to support the effectiveness of the NQF with special focus on:
- development and implementation of quality assurance (QA) process/procedures,
- transparency and governance of skills and qualifications in a lifelong learning perspective of general, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher education
- improving quality and better adaptability of education and training in line with the requirements from labour market needs, and
- linking formal, non-formal and informal learning and support the validation of learning outcomes acquired in different settings.
The project is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia and partner institutions from Lithuania, Slovenia, and France as Member States Partners. The leading member state in the project is Lithuanian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport co-operating with the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC), the Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre, European Social Fund Agency and French High Council for the Evaluation of Research and Higher Education together with the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training, acting as the Junior project partners.
This project is financed by the European Union and will be implemented within 27 months in 2021-2023. The budget of the project is worth € 1.500.000,00.
