Policy framework

Montenegro does not have a unique top-level policy that enables the transferability and recognition of skills and competences acquired through volunteering. However, there are some mechanisms in place. The Law on Voluntary Work specifies that volunteers should have a volunteer booklet (in Montenegrin: volonterska knjizica), issued by the local authority (Article 29). After the termination of volunteering, an organiser of volunteering enters information in a volunteer booklet about the period of volunteering service, the type of volunteering and training that the volunteer gained during volunteering.

If the contract on volunteering is concluded with a person who wants to obtain professional education and knowledge and skills to work in their profession, according to Article 12a of the Law on Voluntary Work, volunteering is recognised as work experience and as a condition for taking the qualification exam.

Existing arrangements

There is no mechanism for the recognition and validation of knowledge and skills that young people acquire through volunteering. There is only a possibility of verifying the knowledge and skills gained through non-formal education leading to a professional qualification, which is carried out by the Examination Centre of Montenegro.

The Youth Strategy stipulates that the procedures for the recognition of knowledge and skills should be simplified and easily accessible. It also specifies that information about the possibilities of recognising the knowledge acquired through non-formal education should be made available to various target groups.

The Youthpass certificate has been used by youth organisations. However, according to the findings stated in the National Youth Strategy it has been used rarely and, in general, it has not yet been recognised as valuable by the formal education or business sector.