Romania: mechanism on quality assurance and monitoring of IVET work-based learning

The aim of the mechanism is to ensure that the practical training provided to IVET learners facilitates the acquisition of both technical and transversal competences. The training should take place in an appropriate work environment, with adequate equipment, benefit from strong professional guidance, and align with labour market needs and standards.

The mechanism establishes a systemic, bottom-up approach by actively involving key stakeholders, including IVET teachers and schools, county-level school representatives, employers, social partners, and national authorities.

The new mechanism includes:

• a methodology for quality assurance and monitoring of WBL provided within IVET at provider premises;
• tools for quality assurance, assessment, and monitoring to be used by teachers coordinating WBL in cooperation with company tutors;
• quality assurance standards for WBL at both national (system) and local (company) levels;
• monitoring visits to company premises;
• a reporting system at local, county, regional, and national levels.

The mechanism will be piloted in the 2026/27 school year in 840 companies offering WBL, prior to its national rollout.

In March 2026, NCTVETD began training 420 teachers from 210 IVET providers. The training will continue until June 2026 and will allow teachers coordinate practical training at the school level, thereby improving the quality assurance and monitoring of WBL.

The development of this comprehensive mechanism took place within the project Increasing IVET relevance by anticipating labour market training needs (2024-2027), which is co-financed by the European Union through the Education and Employment Programme.