ETF Forum on Quality Assurance in VET: Enhancing Career Guidance Systems in Serbia

Belgrade: From November 19 to 21, 2024, the Qualifications Agency hosted the ETF Quality Assurance Forum in Vocational Education and Training (VET). Organized by the European Training Foundation (ETF), the event brought together key stakeholders from Serbia and abroad to advance the quality of career guidance and counselling (CGC) services and to strengthen the competencies of career practitioners.

Over three days, participants engaged in panels and discussions to exchange knowledge and best practices in providing CGC. The forum placed a strong emphasis on quality assurance in this field and highlighted the pivotal role career practitioners play in supporting lifelong learning.

Representatives from the “Education to Employment” (E2E) project took an active role in five panels, presenting the project’s achievements in developing Serbia’s career guidance system. In particular, the results of the work of career practitioners in 11 Job Info Centers (JIC), which function as local support points for young people and employers.

The forum also facilitated rich international exchange, with experts from Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. During the final day, participants shared recommendations and insights, presenting innovative practices from their countries that could be adapted in Serbia.

The “Education to Employment” project remains dedicated to strengthening the CGC system in Serbia, both through policy development and practical implementation at the local level. By collaborating with all relevant stakeholders, E2E strives to enhance the accessibility and quality of career guidance services, enabling young people to be better prepared for lifelong learning and the labour market.