The 8th International Congress on Vocational Education and Training (VET), held in Switzerland, brought together global leaders to explore the evolving landscape of career development. Hosted by the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET), the University of Lausanne (UNIL), and HEP Vaud, the event focused on three key themes: the transformative power of work-study alternation, navigating career choices in a rapidly changing labor market, and the adaptability of the Swiss dual education model across diverse international contexts.

A highlight of the Congress was the participation of Dr. Olta Manjani, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation of Albania. In her address, she shared Albania’s journey in advancing dual VET, emphasizing both the achievements and the challenges that remain. Her contribution underscored the country’s commitment to aligning vocational education with labor market needs and fostering inclusive pathways for youth.

Helvetas Albania, through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)-funded RisiAlbania project, has played a pivotal role in youth employment for over 12 years. Its interventions span career guidance system development in municipalities such as Tirana, Elbasan, Lushnje, and Berat; enhancement of career services in public and private universities; integration of career education in pre-university curricula; and academic capacity building through the Master’s program in Professional Orientation at the University of Tirana. These efforts have helped institutionalize career services as a public good and improve access to career support for thousands of young Albanians.

In the area of skills development, Helvetas has partnered with leading non-public training providers to design innovative, market-driven courses in fields such as digital marketing, cybersecurity, and green skills. Through Sectoral Skills Committees in ICT and Tourism, Helvetas has facilitated public-private dialogue to ensure training programs are aligned with labor market demands. Over 1,975 young people—including women and marginalized youth—have benefited from these programs, with a significant number securing employment within six months of completion.

At the Congress, Helvetas also showcased global research contributions from its teams in Nepal, Mozambique, and the ASEAN region, reinforcing its role as a knowledge broker in international VET development. Albanian researchers Eralda Zhilla and Artemisi Shehu, supported by Helvetas, presented a compelling study on the role of VET in empowering low-qualified youth and promoting inclusion, further enriching the global dialogue with insights from the Western Balkans.

Key takeaways from the Congress included the importance of VET research in shaping policy and promoting student wellbeing, the effectiveness of emotional regulation technologies in reducing stress among VET learners, and the need for contextual adaptation when scaling the Swiss dual model. The event also highlighted the critical role of cross-sector collaboration between governments, academia, and development organizations in building agile, future-ready VET systems.