FINAL REPORT - USAID Macedonia

(PgMP)® accreditations to earn revenue to support its sustainability. MyCareer initiated this training in April of
2012, training 35 candidates from Stopanska Banka, Ein-sof, SNV World, and Sigma SB.
Development of industry-led training and education programs
MCP piloted industry-led training and education programs to facilitate long-term collaboration between
education institutions and businesses to develop skills of future employees through formal education. These
training programs involved significant cost-share and collaboration with the client and local training institutions
in the design and delivery of training and relevant curricula. Examples are provided below:
Training of animation and visual effects developers using revolving fund. During FY2009, MCP developed a
revolving fund pilot aimed at training new recruits or employees to support business expansion and new
business ventures, investments and/or strategic partnerships. Trainees paid 10% of training costs upfront, the
company paid 20% and MCP Revolving Fund paid the final 70%. MCP also assisted in the design and delivery
of the program. Upon training completion, hired recruits (or their employer) were expected to repay the
Revolving Fund share (the 70%) within 6-8 months to replenish the fund. Trainees who were not employed
immediately did not have to repay the fund.
The revolving fund pilot involved went to training for 45 animators at fX3X, a leading digital and visual effects
company, in the use of new software and animation technologies. Following the training, 40 animators were
hired, and fX3X paid MCP back for the training cost.
New academic program for construction materials. This program was developed in partnership with KNAUF,
a German investor of construction materials, Municipality of Debar and its secondary school and MCP. Each
party has agreed to support the process and initiate the new academic program to be introduced in the high
school in Debar for students planning to pursue a career and employment in the construction sector. KNAUF
supported the program with content and expertise; the Municipality licensed the program with the Ministry of
Education and VET Centre. MCP supported the process by transferring expertise from the German company to
local institutions. Twenty-five students took part in the first semester of the program.
Modified curricula in partnership with Automotive cluster and local government: MCP facilitated a
partnership between RUEN IT, an automotive component manufacturer, local governments and secondary
schools in Stip, Kocani and Vinica, and the TVET Centre to update the curricula to reflect the latest practices
and machinery in the components manufacturing. The project assembled a group of experts from business
community, TVETs and schools to review the curricula and make necessary changes. RUEN provided teachers
with training in state-of-the-art machinery and practices and offered three-month internships to 10 students, one
of which received a full-time job upon completion.
LOTUS Taxi training. In the beginning of October 2009 the project supported LOTUS, a taxi company, to
establish a School for Professional Taxi Drivers and train future taxi drivers to improve their soft skills, which
are considered lacking for this profession in Macedonia. Some topics were: communications, regulations in
navigation, knowledge of streets and landmarks and use of radio stations and the meter. Close to 100 applicants
took part in the training, of which over 30 received offers of employment.
Workforce development working group
Many gaps impacting the quality of Macedonia’s workforce are systemic, stemming from policy weakness,
whereas in other cases, outdated curricula, educational practices, career development practices and even
employer practices play a role. MCP helped establish the National Workforce Development working group as a
forum to connect government, education and business stakeholders for a unified effort to address these gaps and
build a more qualified and globally competitive labor pool. Activities include lobbying for issues of common
interest, providing policy recommendations, and developing initiatives focusing on workforce development.
The project team also engaged the newly established HR association and AmCham Macedonia to plan a joint
working group meeting and avoid separate HR-focused activities. It is expected that in the future, the HR
Association will have a leading role in organizing working group meetings, whereas MCP and AmCham would
take care of the logistics and overall support of the events.
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