OeAD and ERI SEE Strengthen Regional Cooperation Through Continued Partnership in 2025

Throughout 2025, OeAD and ERI SEE continued to build on their long-standing partnership dedicated to improving the quality and relevance of vocational education and training (VET) in South-Eastern Europe. This year marked an important milestone with the successful completion of the regional project Enhancements in the quality of education and training in South Eastern Europe – EQET SEE, implemented by ERI SEE with the OeAD’s strategic support. The project contributed to the modernization of VET systems by developing regionally based occupational standards, qualification standards, curricula and teaching and learning materials, enhancing quality assurance (QA) processes, and promoting stronger links between education and labour market needs.

The collaboration was further highlighted at the ERI SEE regional EQET SEE project closing conference held in March 2025, where representatives of ministries, VET agencies, chambers of commerce and expert organisations reviewed project achievements and discussed future regional priorities. The results of EQET SEE provided a strong foundation for continued cooperation and underscored the importance of sustained regional efforts in VET modernization and quality assurance improvement.

As part of further development of VET, OeAD organised a regional validation workshop Matching VET to labour market needs for high quality education in tourism and agriculture in Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia in September 2025 in Tirana to refine the proposed project activities and ensure that they respond to the needs of both the education sector and the labour market. ERI SEE participated in the workshop as a potential future project partner, recognised in the region specially for its role in developing regionally based occupational and qualification standards. The workshop included two panel discussions on the implementation of practical training from the perspectives of the education system and employers, as well as a world café session addressing key themes essential for the further development of the proposal, with a particular focus on agrotourism as a priority sector for work-based learning in the future project.

Looking ahead, both organisations remain committed to deepening their cooperation and to jointly supporting regional initiatives that strengthen VET systems, improve quality assurance, and enhance the relevance of education for labour market needs across South-Eastern Europe.