The Role of Multilateral Institutions in Bringing Vocational Education and Training Reforms in Romania During the Transition Period (1989–1999): The Case of the European Union Phare VET Programme

Abstract

Regime change and opening of the market brought many opportunities as well as challenges to Romania. In terms of economy, growth stagnated, unemployment increased and a reverse movement of labour took place, from more productive manufacturing and services to agriculture. Need to reskill the workers to attract foreign direct investment was felt. Two multilateral institutions, World Bank and European Union (EU), stepped in. EU, through its Phare programme, played an important role in this reskilling by providing necessary funding and experience for the restructuring of vocational education and training. The article, based on both the primary and secondary sources, examines the role played by the multilateral institutions and argues that although Phare VET programme failed short of what it was intended in many areas because of some planning and operational shortcomings, it was quite a successful programme in terms of initiating curriculum development, introducing modularization, acquainting Romanian VET schools with modern equipment and pedagogy, and planted the seeds of social partnership in the field of VET.