andi ceku, bkt, 3rd year student

Economics of TVETDual education in Albania: FASTIP’s bank management career

Interviews undertaken in three Albanian banks - June/July 2011

Hamburg, July 2011

Ansgar Cordier

with support of Dr. Gunnar Specht/Oliver Ahnfeld

2 | Content

Content

Challenges for the TVET sector in Albania• Gap between public TVET system and labor market needs

FASTIP – a new education model • Particularity of the FASTIP approach• Current facts and figuresStudents’ satisfaction with the FASTIP model• Reasons for studying at FASTIP• Individual experiences with FASTIP career

Employers’ satisfaction with the FASTIP model• Acceptance of the model• Short- and long-term benefits

3 | Preliminary

Core challenges for the Albanian TVET system

Shortcomings of the state-owned TVET system• Low capacity and low acceptance of public TVET system• Overall low reputation of vocational education• Graduates from TVET system face difficulties to pursue

further education

Deficiencies in the in-company training• No reliable intelligence about informal training• Private sector has no comprehensive TVET policy • Informality

The weak public TVET system is not intertwined with the private sector. Therefore, public TVET lacks in general practice and labor-market relevance.

4 | FASTIP – a dual approach

FASTIP: a new approach towards dual education

FASTIP started with its first cohort in 2008• as the “Faculty of Integrated Studies with Practice”

(FASTIP)of the University “Alexander Moisiu” in Durrës• offers a three-year career in Bank Management,

Hotel/Tourism Management and Management of SME’s with 180 credits points (ECTS)

• training model of FASTIP is unique in Albania and does not match with the common definitions of TVET: FASTIP offers education at university level but combined with company-based training (=50% of total work load)

• German Dual study approach (Duale Hochschule) was adapted and applied in Albania

FASTIP: three years of experience in teachingNumberof students

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2008-20112009-2012

2010-2013

BKTBanka CredinsRaiffeisen

FASTIP started with the teaching in fall 2008. Therefore, the first cohorte of students graduated in summer 2011, i.e. shortly after the survey was undertaken.

5 | FASTIP – a dual approach

Why did you choose to study at FASTIP?

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10

20

30

40

50

60

ReputationConducive

environment English tuitionWell-paid

employment afterstudies

Interesting workWork abroad

Total numberof students interviewed: 55

Studying in English with experienced teachers• English tuition by international professors plus a favorable

learning environment are FASTIP’s main attractors.

6 | Students‘ satisfaction

“What do you want to do after having completed your studies at FASTIP?”

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10

20

30

40

50

Employment abroadKeep on working at

same bank Pursue M. A.

Stopping the brain drain• For FASTIP graduates, working in Albania seems more

attractive than looking for employment abroad

Total numberof students interviewed: 55


“How did you know about FASTIP?”

Friends

Family

TV, Radio etc

WWW

“Information was very limited before I got registered. It was first word-to-mouth, but later I saw spots in the TV. The benefits are now clear. You get your tuition in English. You can easily find a job (...).”

Andi Ceku, BKT, 3rd year student


“The first thing that attracted me were that the lessons were given by foreign professors. Exchanging the ideas with the professors was very helpful for us. This was one of the major points that told me to go for it.”

“Why did you choose to study at FASTIP?”

Daniela Guza, BKT, 3rd year student

9 | Students about FASTIP

“You can really learn here important and interesting things, provided it is quiet. (...) I feel free to speak to professors. They are really helpful and supportive.”

“How about the tuition at FASTIP?”

Adela Haska, Banka Credins, 2nd year student

Enos Dauti, 22 years, BKT, 2nd year student

“School is not at all boring. First I studied psychology but I left the faculty for FASTIP. FASTIP gives you a real challenge that motivates me.”


“Listening to professor whose native language is English is a challenge. But we worked hard to catch up. ... It is hard to work on one subject for two weeks, to listen to one person the whole day. ... Professors were very open to us, expecting our questions and answering them.”

“When did you feel challenged at FASTIP?”

Daniela Guza, 21 years old, BKT, 3rd year student

Iva Dobe, Banka Credins, 3rd year student

“At the beginning it was a challenge because we were not used to deal with foreign professors. Also we had to familiarize with the program. (...) Our material is very complex. Every subject has to be studied during two weeks. ... And I felt it here during my first practice module that I could do the job very fast. So, it gave me confidence.”


“You came to the bank and you found an atmosphere of open doors. (...) They gave us assignments and we had to finish them like everybody else.”

How did you like the practical work?


Enos Dauti, 22 years, BKT, 2nd year student

“We had ten months in different branches and the head office of the bank. It was a great experience. The workers were very collaborative with us. They were ready to help us, ready to answer our questions and giving guidance.”

“It first glance the work in the bank seemed so difficult. (...) We had good assistance and so we could find out that working in a bank is feasible.”Daniela Guza, 21 years old, BKT, 3rd year student


“You see every procedure from the beginning to the end. This is very helpful.”

“Are FASTIP graduates different?”


Iva Dobe, Banka Credins, 3rd year student

“Compared to students from the faculty of economy we are more able to assess situations. This is mainly from the internationally experienced professors who transmit their experiences. We have to deal with case studies, we have to do presentations etc. ...“


“(...) the first module! We had to deal with a project. It was about the wages of the hospitals of Durres that should now be transferred through Banka Credins. I had to make the contracts with the employees. I contracted more than 700 customers. (...) The people complained about being forced to change their bank account too often. But I found myself in a position that I could convince these people.”

“What modules were the most inspiring ones?”

Adela Haska, Banka Credins, 2nd year student

Daniela Guza, BKT, 3rd year student

“The management play was very interesting. It was done by Sparkasseand we learnt a lot out of it. You had to decide about interest rates, you have the other competitors, you have to reflect your decisions. And when you are in a team you have to find a common solution.”


“Provided you had to start your studies at FASTIP again, what would you do different?”

“If I had to do it again, I would read more. ... This is important to get the most out of the studies.”

Daniela Guza, 21 years old, student at BKT, 3rd year, graduation in summer 2011

CV



“I think I have a special skill to catch things very fast. I shall make better use of my ability to tackle with difficult customers.”

Adela Haska, 20 years old, student at Banka Credins, 2nd year, graduation in summer 2012

CV



“Discussion with the students should be enhanced further. This would give the students more opportunities to defend their ideas in class.”

Iva Dobe,24 years old, student at Banka Credins, 3rd year, studied beforeeconomicsin Italy, graduation in summer 2011

CV


“How about the future fate of FASTIP?”

“Carry on with project. I think it paid well. The banks do not have to go on with their hiring-and-firing policy. (...) It was all right for me, so it should be all right for the others.”

Andi Ceku,25 years old, student at BKT, 3rd year, studied beforeeconomicsin the U.K.,graduation in summer 2011

CV


Employers’ perspective: why participate in the FASTIP program?*

19 | Employers’ satisfaction with FASTIP career

* Results of all banks.

Employers’ perspective: why participate in the FASTIP program?

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3

We do not need totrain and inductown personnel.

Participating in theFASTIP projectincreases the

reputation of ourcompany.

With FASTIP-trained personnel,

we can explorenew businessopportunities.

FASTIP graduatescan share their

valuableexperiences withall our personnel.

Every graduatewho wants to workhere will be offered

an employmentcontract.*

Banks interviewed

* The first cohort of 17 students graduated in summer 2011 and resumed working with their respective employer. One bank started its participation in the program only in 2010. Concrete details about what student might work further in the bank could not be provided yet.

20 | Employers’ satisfaction with FASTIP career

andi ceku, bkt, 3rd year student

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