Lithuania: tailoring the VET network to boost employability in local economies

The plan was prepared in cooperation with employers, representatives of the municipal bodies, and VET institutions. Special attention was given to national and regional indexes, such as rapidly changing needs due to economic development, changing sector needs, demographic changes, and the Lithuanian investment environment trends.

Reforming to do more better

National priorities focus on better matching the VET offer – training places in local institutions – with labour market needs. This affects 16 VET institutions: smaller ones will be connected to larger ones with better resources; the resources needed will be accumulated in institutions implementing the programmes of the fourth industrial revolution (Pramone 4.0). In September 2022, the network is expected to count 44 VET institutions (57 in 2020/21).

Among the reasons that led to this restructuring is the decreasing number of young learners in initial VET programmes (26 106 learners in 2020/21 versus 25 021 in 2021/22, a decrease of 4.5%), a significantly growing number of adult learners studying in continuing VET (from 1 903 in 2020/21 to 12 777 learners in 2021/22, +671%), as well as the consistently growing gap between the largest and smallest VET institutions. The ministry aims at optimising the resources available, including any subsequent investments.

The reformation of the VET network aims to ensure that the conformity of VET programmes follows the changing labour market needs, and that their supply is related to national and regional economic, social and cultural development. The network follows a complex development process, analysing programmes of schools offering general and vocational education and training, as well as the types and purpose of VET schools in certain municipalities, regions or territories across the country.

The entire network of VET institutions has been analysed using: forecasts of demographic changes; forecasts of demand for certain professions and qualifications (international, national and regional contexts); accessibility of VET services; and needs of the State or municipalities to supplement the labour market with new specialists or to improve professional qualifications of current specialists (i.e. requalifying them).

The effectiveness of the reform and the quality of training provided will be assessed against a set of criteria: 

• share of the VET institutions that do not provide training in apprenticeship form> 0% (interim value until 31 December 2022: 34%);
• share of employed persons aged 20-34 with a VET diploma acquired in the last 1 to 3 years after graduation of VET programme> 80% (interim value until 31 December 2022: 67%);
• share of VET institutions offering programmes leading to qualifications in demand > 50% (interim value until 31 December 2022: 37%);
• share of VET learners seeking to acquire upper secondary education (matura certificate) together with VET diploma> 35% (interim value until 31 December 2022: 26%).

The results will be analysed and included in the final report of the master plan, expected in December 2024.

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Order No V-547 of 13 Apr 2022 on the approval of the master plan for the development of the network of the public VET institutions under the responsibility of the the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport