Empowering Albania’s Youth Through Life Skills and Career Guidance

Empowering Albania’s Youth Through Life Skills and Career Guidance

Bringing together teachers, experts, institutional representatives and young people, the Forum on Life Skills and Career Guidance provided a platform for dialogue and exchange in the context of developing Albania’s new National Education Strategy 2027-2031. During the Forum, UNICEF in Albania officially launched and presented the “Building Skills, Shaping Futures – On the Path to EU Integration” project which is an initiative that aims to strengthen young people’s life skills, career readiness and opportunities for lifelong learning, supporting their successful transition to further education and employment, as well as their active participation in an evolving European society.

“Building Skills, Shaping Futures – On the Path to EU Integration”  is an 18-month project financed by the European Union (EU) and implemented by UNICEF and the Centre for Competitive Skills (CCS) under a Contribution Agreement with the Central Finance and Contracting Unit (CFCU). The project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE).

With a strong commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities, the initiative aims to integrate life skills into the upper-secondary education curriculum across 30 pilot schools in Albania, particularly in smaller cities and rural areas. The project will directly benefit 12,000-15,000 upper-secondary students through the development of the 4Cs—critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity—equipping young people with essential skills to navigate future learning, employment and life challenges. These competencies are essential for personal growth, resilience, and adaptability in an evolving labor market. The project also aims to develop and systematically integrate and implement a comprehensive career guidance model aligned with European standards to help students make informed career choices that align with their aspirations and the needs of the labor market, strengthening the links between education, skills development and the labour market.  Around 540 teachers and headmasters will be trained to deliver life skills education and career guidance, with support from accredited modules, digital tools, and ongoing coaching and mentoring. A nationwide network of life skills coordinators will be established to sustain the program’s impact. 

This initiative is a collaborative effort and brings together a range of partner institutions, including the European Union Delegation (EUD), Central Finance and Contracting Unit (CFCU), the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination (SASPAC), Agency for Quality Assurance in Pre-University Education (NQAAPE), National Agency for Employment and Skills (NAES) and several national agencies.

Together, we remain committed to aligning Albania’s education system with European standards and priorities, empowering young people with the skills, knowledge and competencies they need to embrace new opportunities, navigate 21st-century challenges and contribute to the country’s European integration.

Building skills means opening opportunities. Shaping futures means ensuring that every young person in Albania has the chance to realise their potential.