Regional dialogue brings together 50 stakeholders from four countries
On 16 October 2025, the final regional conference of the Balkan WBL Cooperation project took place in Sofia, hosted by the Modern Education Foundation. The event gathered over 50 representatives of ministries of education, national agencies, vocational schools, employers’ associations, chambers of commerce, and NGOs from Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, and Romania.
The conference marked the culmination of a two-year regional collaboration aimed at advancing work-based learning and dual education systems in the Balkans. Over this period, the consortium engaged more than 950 stakeholders through surveys, interviews, and consultation workshops, generating a comprehensive evidence base for policy dialogue and reform.
Key findings and policy priorities
In presenting the final project results, Petya Evtimova, Chair of the Board of the Modern Education Foundation, outlined the key lessons learned and the shared challenges that continue to shape the development of work-based learning across the four participating countries.
Ø Fragmented governance and limited coordination among institutions responsible for VET and WBL;
Ø Skills mismatches between training provision and labour market needs;
Ø Low employer engagement, caused by administrative barriers and insufficient incentives;
Ø Limited attractiveness and visibility of WBL pathways among learners and parents.
To address these challenges, the project’s final policy recommendations propose several priority directions for action, including:
Ø Establishing national coordination platforms and clear governance frameworks for WBL;
Ø Systematically integrating digital, green, and transferable skills into VET curricula;
Ø Providing financial and non-financial incentives for employers and mentors;
Ø Simplifying administrative procedures and strengthening quality assurance;
Ø Enhancing public awareness and career guidance, promoting WBL as an inclusive and future-oriented learning path.
These recommendations reflect the inputs of educational experts, VET practitioners, and employers who took part in the project’s regional dialogue process throughout 2023-2025.
Panel discussion: regional perspectives on progress and cooperation
A central highlight of the conference was the panel discussion titled “Improving the Quality of Dual Education through Regional Cooperation and Dialogue.” Moderated by Dr. Lachezar Afrikanov from the Modern Education Foundation, the session featured representatives of DELTA 360 (Greece), the Macedonian Civic Education Center (North Macedonia), the Municipality of Reșița (Romania), the Bulgarian Industrial Association, and Vocational High School of Transport and Energy “Henry Ford” (Bulgaria).
Panelists shared country perspectives on how dual education has evolved in recent years, what nurtures effective partnerships between schools and companies, and how new technologies and AI are shaping the future of vocational training.
The discussion highlighted that while progress is visible through stronger school-employer collaboration, pilot mentor training initiatives, and growing public recognition of WBL, further effort is needed to achieve coherent national systems and sustainable employer engagement.
Looking ahead
The conference concluded on an optimistic note, underlining that cooperation and mutual learning remain the strongest tools for systemic progress in vocational education. The Balkan WBL Cooperation project has laid the groundwork for ongoing regional exchange and policy coordination among key actors in the field.
