ENTAIL - EntrepreNeurship and digiTal leArning for VET centres In aLbania and Kosovo

Entrepreneurship is vital lifelong learning competence for driving social and economic growth. Yet skills mismatch between employers' needs and students' preparedness in transversal skills hinder success. Over 40% of companies in Albania and 71.2% in Kosovo struggle to find employees with entrepreneurship and digital skills to keep up with rapid developments. Due to insufficient VET provision, the Economic and Investment Plan 2023 for Western Balkans and the Torino process 2022-2024 for Albania and Kosovo prioritise the increase of VET attractiveness, quality and relevance, and development of lifelong learning skills including digital capacity. In response, 2 NGO/ VET providers from North Macedonia (NCIDEL) and Cyprus (CARDET), 2 VET centres (AS-NASC, PRISHTINA REA) and 2 Chambers (CCIT, STIKK), from Albania and Kosovo, with a global social innovation organisation from Cyprus (INNOVADE) have come together for the project ENTAIL. ENTAIL aims to foster the entrepreneurial and digital learning transformation of VET centres in Albania and Kosovo, via an institution-wide approach, following national and EU directives. The aim is to build the capacity of VET leaders and educators to integrate entrepreneurship and digital learning via targeted strategic action plans and develop students' entrepreneurship and digital skills in an interconnected way. The partnership will form advisory groups with VET and industry members, conduct mixed research to deliver a comprehensive guide and curricula, with train-the-trainer schemes, blended study visits and shadowing, with individualised action plans tailored to the labour market demands, preparing more than 140 VET leaders and educators. Workshops and conferences will involve more than 200 VET stakeholders and establish networking hubs. The project’s activities and outputs will impact over 5000 individuals, addressing skill gaps and contributing to the Western Balkans' and Europe's competitive position in the global market.