Making the Best out of COVID-19 Measures: Albanian Vocational Education Boosts Distant Learning

19.03.2020
Due to COVID-19 educational institutions in Albania are closed. Skills for Jobs (S4J) has turned this inconvenience into an opportunity in boosting distant learning for students in professional education.

Together with the Albanian government, S4J customized a Moodle based online platform - ‘Mesovet.al’ - which has been made ready to compensate for the schools being closed. The platform serves as an all-inclusive temporary solution to replace classroom-teaching and to support independent learning of students and apprentices. Many students already use the platform; numbers are growing by the day. Special attention is put to support students in their last year of study. Most teachers have been promptly reacting to the call of developing and making on-line learning materials available for all Albanian students in preparation for their exams.

All learning materials are based on learning plans. Additional practical materials recommended by industry experts have been made available. This ensures that students’ training and education does not suffer. The platform is daily upgraded and can be used for free. Meanwhile, teachers have been trained to upload content and to maximise the use of the platform. Apprentices are also active contributors to the digital learning solutions by documenting workplace processes and procedures. These are of good use for entry-level students.

Currently, several courses on tourism and hospitality are ready. The materials are interactive and include theory, case studies, graphics, videos, quizzes, vocabulary, games, class activities, homework, links for further information etc., in order facilitate new ways of learning in this respect. ‘Skills for Jobs’ is soon launching new digital content on ICT and Electro-Technics.