ECO NET in Albania

In Albania, the southernmost country in ECO NET, fourteen training firms work in four of the five public economic schools and some private schools. Locations in the country of the Skipetars are the capital Tirana, the two coastal cities of Vlora and Saranda, and Shkodra which is located on the lake of the same name in the north of the country. Eight of the training firms are members of ECO NET. Two training firms were established at the Tourism School Tirana in the school year 2004-2005 and one training firm in the Tourism School Durres is being set up.

In the year 2000, training firms emerged from the teaching offices which had been established with the support of the GTZ. These training firms' first contacts were principally with Germany. In 2001, the training firms became members of ECO NET and were thus able to build up business contacts with countries of the region such as Bulgaria and Romania. In Phase 2 of the project in 2003 and 2004, trade relations were significantly extended to involve other countries of the region. Trade with Austrian training firms was also initiated.

In September 2004 the training firms centre ALCT (Albanian Centre for Training Firms) was established at the Economics School in Tirana. It offers services such as a commercial register, a bank, advice and training. The setting up of the centre was an important element of Phase 2 to secure the sustainability of the network. The extension and improvement of the services offered will continue to be the focus of activities in the future.

The basis for electronic trade is secured and broadened by the creation of a homepage for the centre and the extension of the training firms' websites. IT courses round off training in this area.

Particularly interesting for the pupils as well as the training firm managers and the representatives of school administration is the participation in the national training firm fairs (traditionally in May).

Due to the small number of opportunities for foreign travel and personal contacts with other countries, the international fairs and the regional workshops with participants from all the project countries are highlights of the project for the schools involved.

A "train-the-trainers group" is working on drawing up a training concept and materials for new training firm managers. Due to the serious brain drain from which Albania is suffering greatly in all occupational areas, this measure is necessary for the stabilisation of the network, which is still small in international comparison.

Infrastructure for business management centres has also been bought in for the business centres in Shkodra, Vlora and Tirana, which in Albania has to include not just IT, but also inverters (accumulators) for the electricity supply.