The topic of career guidance service at Universities, brought together on October 24, representatives from public and private Higher Education Institutions in Albania, experts of the field, private businesses, youth media and youth projects. This knowledge sharing and learning event on career services, concluded with the certification of the first group of 20 career counsellors who successfully completed the international training program – Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF).

The event was a good opportunity to discuss among stakeholders the current and future status of career guidance services in Albania and share the work that RisiAlbania, a project of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, is doing, to achieve qualitative orientation for Albanian youth in their academic and professional development and link them with the labour market.

“We are strengthening career guidance services at our university, with the support of RisiAlbania project, and right now we are at the momentum to offer more services like internships and proactive alumni networks. It is of paramount importance that these services are offered at pre-university level as well” – highlighted Prof. Dr. Edmond Rapti, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Representatives of universities and of private businesses (like recruitment agencies) discussed about synergies among the two, to support the transition of young people from education system to labour market, emphasizing the role that career centers have into orienting youth toward the right educational, training and career choices.

“I am happy to hand over certificates to motivated professionals who are helping students to find the job they are qualified for. Between these students and the competitive industries, stands an important link, the career service and today you represent the pioneers who are setting the foundation for qualitative career services in Albania” were the words of Mr. Stefan Joss, Director of RisiAlbania Project, during the certification ceremony.

Following the international training program (GCDF), and the raised capacities of their key career centers’ staff, universities working closely with RisiAlbania are strengthening current services and introducing new ones like trainings, career fairs, establishment of Alumni Network and more.