Integrating ICT in Vocational Education and Training: Expectations, Challenges, and the Path towards Modernisation

This paper examines the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in vocational education and training (VET) institutions, highlighting its significance in aligning education with the demands of a rapidly digitising world. The Council of the European Union recognises VET's role in equipping individuals with skills for digital and green transitions. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ICT adoption in education became imperative, accelerating the digital revolution within the sector. Albania, as an EU candidate country, has emphasised ICT in its national strategies, aligning with European frameworks to foster modernisation in VET. The research employs a quantitative methodology, utilising a questionnaire tailored to the Albanian VET context, to gather insights from public vocational schools and training centers, with a total number of n=46 institutions participating in the research. Findings reveal that VET institutions recognise ICT-supported modernisation as vital for improving teaching quality, management, communication, and students' transition to the labour market. Despite this, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, outdated devices, and limited digital skills among teaching staff impede the full realisation of ICT's potential. To address these barriers, the study recommends targeted interventions, including teacher training and infrastructure development. This research contributes to the discourse on digital transformation in VET, underscoring the importance of strategic investments in ICT for enhancing vocational education's quality and relevance in Albania's evolving educational landscape.© The Author(s) 2024. Published by RITHA Publishing. This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited maintaining attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and URL DOI.