Educational Centre PRO DIDACTICA in partnership with National Association of Private ICT Companies (ATIC) intends to implement the project „Advancing quality in ICT vocational education in Moldova“. Among problems and challenges of the VET sector, one of the most important ones is the problem of quality of knowledge and practical skills of the young ICT specialists. In order to solve these problems we consider important to mobilize the potential we have and through an effective partnership between EC PRO DIDACTICA, Ministry of Education, vocational institutions and ATIC as representatives of IT companies to operate some changes in the system.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the harmonization of ICT education in Moldova with labor market demands. The project purpose is to support the qualitative improvement of content and process of ICT professional education in 5 institutions (colleges and vocational schools), thus fostering the improvement of quality of knowledge and practical skills of the young ICT specialists.

The expected results of the project are:

1. Improved, updated curricula for ICT specializations, relevant for market needs developed in beneficiary colleges with involvement of ICT companies’ representatives;
2. Improved practical skills of IT students updated to labor market demands through enrollment of trained students in private sector
3. Awareness about the possibility to get a Career in ICT at a VET institution raised

The project aims at improving several aspects in the sphere of vocational education and training in Moldova by creating/improving:

• a demand from the side of the industry for VET graduates as well as a demand for the choice of technical studies at VETs (ICT Career Orientation and inclusion of VET in the map)
• opportunities for VET students
• the gender balance presence in the ICT field by attracting females to technical specialties
• a market driven curricula for ICT and BPO companies
• sustainable cooperation models with the private sector to decrease the shortage in the ICT and BPO field

As a target group for the envisioned project, will be selected 5 institutions – 3 colleges (specialty: Informatics and Computers) and 2 vocational schools (specialty: Computer operator ) which will represent geographically all the country (North, South, Centre). Some of main expected results from the project are: improved, updated curricula for ICT specializations, relevant for market needs developed in beneficiary colleges with involvement of ICT companies’ representatives; ICT specialists from beneficiary colleges trained in methodology of active learning and IT topics; trained English Language specialists in modern approaches of foreign language teaching; upgraded computer laboratories in each beneficiary institution etc.

These will be a benefit for ICT young students, through creation the opportunities for them and the fortification of the institutions, access to modern laboratories (and example would be the innovation labs aiming at boosting creative ideas, already proving to be a successful model in many European countries), combined with clear profiles and programs for the students to be capable to integrate easily into the working field.

The expected results of the project are:

Expected result 1: Improved, updated curricula for ICT specializations, relevant for market needs developed in beneficiary colleges with involvement of ICT companies’ representatives

Expected result 2: Improved practical skills of IT students updated to labor market demands through enrollment of trained students in private sector

Expected result 3: Awareness about the possibility to get a Career in ICT at a VET institution raised

Expected Result 1. Improved, updated curricula for ICT specializations, relevant for market needs developed in beneficiary colleges with involvement of ICT companies’ representatives; (main managing partner – EC PRO DIDACTICA)

Activity 1.1. Initiation of project consultative Working Group

Activity 1.2. Project launched Round table with debates about assuring the coherence between the different levels of vocational system

Activity 1.3. Needs Assessment in beneficiary institutions, as well as in IT sector in order to refine project objective and intended results

Activity 1.4. Study visit for Working Group and VETs representatives

Activity 1.5.   The round table “Presentation of needs assessment and study visits results”

Activity 1.6.  Selection of ICT specialists-potential curriculum developers

Activity 1.7. Development and implementation of training program

Activity 1.8. Development of curricula

Activity 1.9. Piloting, revision and improvement of curricula

Activity 1.10 Round table “Curricula presentation and dissemination of piloting”

Expected Result 2: Improved practical skills of IT students updated to labor market demands through enrollment of trained students in private sector

Activity 2.1. Development and implementation of training program in active learning and ICT interactive tools  for the teachers (main managing partner EC PRO DIDACTICA)

Activity 2.2. Follow-up and certification in active learning and computer literacy, computer skills  according to the needs assessment (main managing partner EC

Activity 2.3. Development of additional services the VET can offer even after graduation (main managing partner-ATIC)

Activity 2.4. Introduction of courses needed for the market and lobby for the recognition of international standards (main managing partner- ATIC)

Activity 2.5. Development and implementation of training program in foreign language (main managing partner- EC PRO DIDACTICA)

Activity 2.6. Follow-up and certification in foreign language methodology (main managing partner – EC PRO DIDACTICA)

Activity 2.7. Development and implementation of English Language Program for ICT specialists (main managing partner – EC PRO DIDACTICA, partly ATIC)

Activity 2.8. Initial and final survey and testing of students English language skills (main managing partner- EC PRO DIDACTICA)

Activity 2.9. Initial and final and focus groups with students.( main managing partner- EC PRO DIDACTICA)

Activity 2.10 Internship programs (ATIC)

Activity 2.11 Upgraded computer laboratories in each beneficiary institution according to international and market standards (ATIC)

Activity 2.12 Certify 250 students in various areas according to the needs assessment (MS, IT Card, other technologies) (ATIC)

Activity 2.13 Final results conference (PRO DIDACTICA – ATIC)

Expected Result 3: Awareness about the possibility to get a Career in ICT at a VET institution raised (ATIC)

Activity 3.1: Broaden the existing concept of Career Orientation by including the promotion of IT vocational education in schools

Activity 3.2: Update of the information resource- career.ict.md with a separate division for VET schools

Activity 3.3.: Add up entrepreneurship events to promote this type of career as well through monthly meetings with entrepreneurs and participation at 2 entrepreneurship events.

Project Coordinator, Octombrina Moraru