Improving life skills through their integration into the upper secondary education curriculum and career guidance in the school system

Improving life skills through their integration into the upper secondary education curriculum and career guidance within the school system is a project supported by the European Union, as part of the action “Building Skills, Shaping the Future – On the Path Towards EU Integration”, a grant contract financed under the IPA National Programme 2022.

The project is implemented by UNICEF, in partnership with the Center for Competitive Skills, and foresees the implementation of a pilot program in at least 30 upper secondary schools, the development of digital modules for 21st-century skills, as well as the training of educational staff and career guidance professionals. In addition, the expected results and performance indicators are defined, serving as the basis for assessing the progress of the project.

More specifically, the activities to be carried out within the framework of the project include:

• Activities contributing to equipping young people in Albania with the skills and competencies needed to participate fully in economic and social life.
• Development of digital modules covering 21st-century skills and guidelines for their implementation through supporting e-learning materials.
• Technological equipment for at least 30 pilot upper secondary schools (at least 5 laptops, 1 smartboard, and 1 video projector) to facilitate the implementation of the project. These expenses may be eligible for funding provided that they do not represent more than 30% of the total budget and clearly contribute to the main objective of the action.
• Implementation of a pilot program in a minimum of 30 upper secondary schools in small cities across Albania, where blended/online training will be provided for the educational staff participating in the pilot program.
• Development of a career guidance model.
• Preparation of a guideline for upper secondary schools (grades 10–12) for the implementation of the career guidance model.
• Activities contributing to improving the competencies and skills of career guidance professionals and teaching staff within the upper secondary education system.
• Activities supporting learning and the exchange of experiences from European best practices, including exchange visits to similar institutions in European Union member states.

GRANT CONTRACTS AWARDED DURING March 2026