CG International Project: Transforming Career Guidance in the Western Balkans
Zaragoza, May 2025 – The CG International – Capacity Building (2025-2026) Project is creating new pathways for career guidance across the Western Balkans. With a focus on Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, the initiative is equipping vocational education and training (VET) institutions with innovative tools, international best practices, and stronger connections to the labor market – all aimed at preparing students for global opportunities.
By the end of 2026, the project will be working closely with VET schools, policymakers, and career advisors to address persistent challenges in the region, including high youth unemployment, skills mismatches, and limited access to quality guidance services, especially in rural areas. Through a series of collaborative workshops and capacity-building sessions, CG International aims to bring together educators, employers, and public institutions to rethink how career counseling is delivered and how it can better support young people in their transition from education to employment.
Key findings from the project highlight several gaps (Find more in D2.1.- https://careerguidanceinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/D2.1-WB-Policy-Definition-Report.pdf):
- Career guidance services remain unevenly distributed, with rural communities often underserved.
- There is a shortage of trained career advisors and limited professional development opportunities.
- Career guidance is frequently treated as extracurricular, with weak integration into school curricula and insufficient links to real-time labor market data.
- Fragmentation among stakeholders (ministries, schools, NGOs, employers) hampers the creation of cohesive national strategies.
Despite these challenges, the project has identified promising pathways for reform. In Albania, recent legal changes and growing political support are paving the way for more structured and transparent career guidance systems. Kosovo’s digital platforms, like Busulla.com, are expanding access, though sustainability and consistent implementation remain concerns. Montenegro is focusing on national strategies and stronger public-private partnerships to align education with labor market needs and foster lifelong learning. Policy recommendations emerging from the CG International project include:
- Institutionalizing career guidance at all levels of education, supported by clear legal frameworks.
- Expanding and professionalizing the network of career advisors through targeted training.
- Integrating labor market information systems to ensure guidance services reflect current job market realities.
- Fostering multi-sectoral collaboration and international partnerships to share best practices and resources.
- Increasing investment in digital tools, infrastructure, and outreach to underserved communities.
The project’s interactive approach aims to enable stakeholders to co-create solutions tailored to each country’s context, while also encouraging regional cooperation. By piloting new models and gathering feedback from students, teachers, and employers, CG International is helping to shape more inclusive, responsive, and future-oriented career guidance systems.
Looking ahead, the next phase will prioritize:
- Developing national strategies with clear monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
- Scaling up successful models, such as Kosovo’s SBCC approach and Montenegro’s school-industry partnerships.
- Investing in the professional development of career advisors and digital innovation.
- Promoting inclusivity and personalized support to ensure all youth – regardless of background – can make informed, confident career choices.
With these efforts, the Western Balkans are poised to transform career guidance from a fragmented service into a strategic driver of youth empowerment, workforce development, and regional growth.
What is next in CG international?
Looking ahead, the CG International project will play a pivotal role in supporting these advancements through its comprehensive Capacity Building Programme for VET schools. This programme adopts a blended approach, combining online learning with hands-on mobilities and practical, on-the-field training led by EU experts. By engaging educators and career advisors in both virtual and real-world settings, the project ensures that participants not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical skills directly applicable to their local contexts.
Moreover, CG International will guide VET institutions in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro to develop their own tailored career guidance strategies, carefully adapted to regional and local realities. Through collaborative workshops, mentoring, and direct exchanges with European partners, schools will be empowered to create sustainable frameworks that reflect the unique needs of their students and communities.
At the same time, the project will boost internationalisation efforts across the three countries, opening new pathways for cooperation, knowledge exchange, and participation in European networks. By fostering cross-border partnerships and sharing best practices, CG International is helping to position the Western Balkans as active contributors to the evolving landscape of career guidance in Europe.
With these targeted actions, the CG International project is not only strengthening career guidance systems but also building lasting bridges between the Western Balkans and the wider European community.
Stay tuned and be part of the journey! Visit www.careerguidanceinternational.com to learn more and follow us on social media for the latest updates, stories, and insights from the CG International project:
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Article written by Iva Perkovic, Project Manager, Mundus.