“Emergency” vocational training programs Republic of Moldova, country exercise

Diagnosis, key issues Lack of motivational education at all levels (secondary, university, post-graduate) Brain drain, Rigid labor market Poor financing (public, private) Lack of leadership, entrepreneurial spirit Student-interest driven education instead of market driven Traditionally state-run education, no much changes in curricula

Education system, key figures Vocational 70 Colleges 47 Universities 36, incl. 16 state, 20 private 114 th students 137 qualifications 5,9 th teachers, 37% PhD, 6% doctors habilitat 24% public finance (out of requirements), <3% of GDP (2002) UNDP Human development index: 98 place out of 174 countries

Key causes of the problems Internal Conservatism in teaching methods, Big focus on traditional theoretical training Focus on knowledge, instead of skills Lack of team spirit External mismatch with real business needs Traditional perception of free education No demand for life-long education

“Emergency” vocational training programs: Objective of the intervention Develop skillful versatile workforce in the short term Key institutions: business, firms industry Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Education, Competitiveness and Productivity Center vocational training schools, Target groups: Students Firms, teachers

Proposed activities Reach Agreement with the Ministries Develop a “combined” training program, curricula soft skills at the institution Technical skills at the selected enterprises Training of enterprise trainers in soft skills Short Study visits abroad Visiting professors, coachers Benchmarking Licensing of the training institution Accreditation Invest in control & measurement labs (one per sector)

Cost estimate Total Cost: 15 mln euro, + 20% enterprise (customers) contribution Duration -5 years

Institutions involved Role of Ministry of Education, Economy: Adjust legislation, monitoring Other partners, donors: NGO’s, business associations - High performing teachers - practitioners

Results indicators Number of “trained workers” 5000/year initially Growing up to 15000/year in 5 years Schools: pilot – 10, gradually involving up to 50 1000 – teachers from the vocational schools 1000 – “enterprise” trainers

Background information Moldova Team members: Gheorghe Efros, Roman Lazu, Olga Ponomariov, Ion Tighineanu, Alexandru Ghiduleanov, Petru Gaugas, Liviu Oboroc Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, CPC, www.aria.md/cpc State University, www.usm.md Registration Chamber www.registru.md Academy of Science www.asm.md Youth for Progress www.youth-progress.org Facilitator: Maria Luisa Ferreira