The Proposal of the Strategy for Career Guidance and Counseling for the period 2025–2030 is currently in the process of adoption. The need for a comprehensive, lifelong approach to career development has emerged as a response to various socio-economic and technological changes shaping modern society. These shifts have significantly transformed traditional education and employment pathways. The contemporary concept of a career differs from the conventional understanding, where it was once perceived as a linear progression from the first job to retirement, a career is now seen as a dynamic and multifaceted process that encompasses not only employment and income but also lifelong learning and personal time.A career today is understood as the interaction of an individual’s professional and personal roles, including how a person balances paid and unpaid work, learning, and other life responsibilities. Career guidance and counseling should empower individuals to adapt to increasingly dynamic life conditions and to manage multiple life roles, not solely related to employment. It plays a crucial role in three key areas: education, the economy and employment, and social inclusion. To ensure career guidance is accessible to all citizens—from early childhood to adulthood, an intersectoral approach is essential. This includes cooperation among relevant ministries and institutions, and the equal involvement of all target groups: students, teachers, parents, career counselors in the Employment Office of Montenegro and educational institutions, youth, adults, employed and unemployed individuals. This strategic document aims to ensure such coordination and collaboration.The importance of strengthening and further developing this cooperation has been increasingly recognized. As Montenegro continues aligning its education, employment, economic, and social development policies with the European Union, the need to define priorities, measures, and actions has become evident. These are essential to provide individuals with the support needed to identify and develop their abilities, knowledge, and skills for successful learning and career management.In the last two decades, two strategic documents have been developed as key results of public policy efforts in this area:·         Lifelong Career Orientation Strategy in Montenegro 2011–2015·         Lifelong Career Orientation Strategy in Montenegro 2016–2020·         Strategy 2016–2020 (PDF)These strategies define career guidance as:“...a set of activities that enable individuals, regardless of their age or life stage, to assess their own abilities, competencies, and interests, to make decisions regarding their education, training, and qualifications, and to manage their life paths in learning, work, and other settings where these competencies are acquired and/or used.”In line with the Strategy, one of the central goals is to train 800 career counselors, with the aim of enhancing institutional capacity and ensuring the consistent and efficient provision of high-quality career guidance services within both the education and employment sectors.The Strategy for Career Guidance and Counseling 2025–2030 represents the third national strategic document addressing this policy area. The growing awareness of the importance of career guidance and counseling for individuals and society has been accompanied by legislative changes. For example, the Law on General Education identifies career orientation as one of its objectives. The Law on Vocational Education sets goals including the acquisition of knowledge and skills necessary for life and work, personal development, and further education. Institutions responsible for monitoring labor market needs and providing information and counseling to jobseekers and employers are also identified in relevant legislation.Career guidance is recognized as a legally mandated employment activity, defined as a labor market service that includes professional procedures to assess an individual’s potential for occupational choices, career change, and career decision-making, aligning individual needs with labor market demands.The Law on the National Qualifications Framework also identifies institutions responsible for tracking labor market needs, informing candidates and employers, and ensuring access to qualifications and lifelong learning, which are essential for career development.Within the employment system, career guidance is governed by the Law on Employment Mediation and Rights During Unemployment and the Rulebook on Active Job Seeking. These legal provisions define career orientation as part of the preparation for employment, contributing directly to personal development and improved employability.A systemic approach to career guidance is crucial because it intersects with education, employment, economic, and social policies. The purpose of the Strategy is to:·         enhance employability,·         increase the efficiency and effectiveness of learning and working,·         support social inclusion,·         reduce early school leaving, and·         promote equity in education.To this end, the Strategy defines a single overarching strategic goal that addresses all core areas of public policy:„By 2030, develop and implement a comprehensive framework for career guidance and counseling, based on data collected from all educational and employment institutions, aimed at reducing school dropout rates, strengthening the alignment between the education system and the labor market, increasing motivation for learning and achievement, and supporting a smoother transition into the workforce“.In the context of education and employment, several key legal frameworks regulate the fundamental rights and services aimed at enhancing human capital and labor market integration:Labour Law of Montenegro  - explicitly prescribes the right to education, professional training, and advanced training, thereby promoting lifelong learning and improving individuals’ employability.Within the employment system, the area of career guidance and support for the unemployed is regulated by:·         Law on Mediation in Employment and Rights During Unemployment·         Rulebook on Active Job SeekingAccording to these legal acts, career guidance is recognized as a crucial activity in the preparation for employment. It is defined as a labor market service comprising a set of professional procedures aimed at identifying the potential of unemployed individuals in choosing or changing occupations and making decisions related to career development. This service facilitates the alignment of individual competencies and aspirations with labor market demands.Law on Youth -  governs the establishment and implementation of youth policy, outlining the measures and activities undertaken to improve the social position of young people and create conditions for meeting their needs across all areas of interest, including education, employment, activism, culture, and other key aspects of youth development.The ministries that are responsible for operational guidance and counseling in Montenegro are:·         Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation  https://www.gov.me/cyr/mps ·         Ministry of Sports and Youth https://www.gov.me/cyr/ms ·         Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare https://www.gov.me/cyr/mrs In Montenegro, there are Centers for Career Information and Counseling. The purpose of these centres is to prepare information that can be useful when planning a career. CIPS also provides advisory services and, in cooperation with schools, conducts workshops for students and parents. CIPS is a place where users can get free information that can be useful in career planning. Counselors at CIPS help service users make career decisions. Link: https://www.zzzcg.me/me/aktuelno/5-cips-centri-za-profesionalno-informisanje-i-savjetovanjeThe Employment Office of Montenegro plays an important role in career guidance. The Employment Office plans and coordinates supply and demand on the labor market. As an organizational institution on the labor market, the Institute, by continuously monitoring and recognizing social and economic trends, significantly contributes to the improvement of the efficiency of the labor market in meeting active and expected needs for personnel. Through the implementation of various educational activities, the transition from school to the world of work is facilitated for the unemployed, the employability of unemployed persons is increased, especially those who have difficulty finding employment: young, elderly unemployed persons with inadequate knowledge and qualifications, persons with disabilities, etc.More detailed information about service providers  -  https://www.zzzcg.me/me/p-53/usluge-za-trazioce-posla. Non-formal education is described in more detail in A guide through the system of non-formal education in Montenegro.  Link:  https://www.gov.me/dokumenta/eb22ea17-47aa-45db-82bb-1bbebe19a1fa).  Target groupThe target group of these measures consists of young people who are still within the education system or are in the process of transitioning from education to the labour market. In addition, the NEET population (youth not in education, employment or training) represents a specific group that will be more actively included through the Youth Guarantee initiative.FundingFor the full duration of the Career Guidance and Counseling Strategy 2025–2030, a general financial projection has been developed based on previous experience of the relevant institutions and standard cost planning methodologies.Funding for the implementation of planned activities will be secured through the national budget of Montenegro and donor support, ensuring the stable and sustainable execution of the strategic goals throughout the strategy period.Additionally, under the Growth Plan for Montenegro, a dedicated allocation of €4 million is foreseen to support the development of career guidance and counseling services. Within the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, a specialized department will be established to monitor and coordinate the implementation of activities defined by the Career Guidance and Counseling Strategy.Quality assurance

ZOPT d.o.o. (Company for Employment, Adult Education, Organisation and Implementation of Professional Rehabilitation), headquartered in Podgorica, has been operating since 2006 as a key provider of adult education, professional rehabilitation, active labour market measures, and social inclusion programmes across Montenegro.

Its services are designed for a diverse range of beneficiaries, including youth, adults, seniors, employed and unemployed individuals, long-term unemployed persons, and people with disabilities (PWD) - specifically targeting those who lack the necessary knowledge, skills, competencies, or qualifications to enter, remain in, or progress within the labour market.

ZOPT is structured into three core centres operating across multiple cities in Montenegro:

• ZOPT Centre for Education and Training – a licensed adult education provider (by the Ministry of Education and Science of Montenegro);

• ZOPT Centre for Professional Rehabilitation – accredited by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to provide professional rehabilitation for PWDs;

• ZOPT Centre for Occupational Health and Safety – authorized to perform professional occupational health and safety tasks.

Quality assurance mechanisms

ZOPT maintains a robust quality assurance framework rooted in national legislation and international standards, particularly ISO 9001:2016, ensuring continuous process evaluation, staff development, corrective and preventive actions, and service innovation. Key mechanisms include:

• Career guidance and counselling as a standardized process within all programs (active labour market policies, professional rehabilitation, adult education);

• Internal quality management systems, including a quality manual, organizational procedures, and internal audits;

• Compliance with legislation in education, employment, and professional rehabilitation;

• Qualified staff, including experts in adult education (andragogy), employment support, and rehabilitation services.

Monitoring and evaluation

ZOPT implements comprehensive monitoring tools to ensure service quality, effectiveness, and user satisfaction. These include:

• Participant satisfaction surveys and follow-up evaluations;

• Individual career planning and mentoring;

• Tracking participant activity, job placement outcomes, and post-employment support;

• Employer satisfaction assessments and partnership evaluations;

• Program performance monitoring and evaluation reports.

Key quality indicators

Service quality is assessed through clearly defined indicators, such as:

• Participant and employer satisfaction;

• Number of enrolled and successfully employed participants;

• Programme impact (employment rates, retention);

• Growth of employer networks and stakeholder collaboration;

• Evaluation by education coordinators and expert teams.

Outcomes and feedback

The outcomes of quality assurance processes are based on multi-level feedback:

• Participant feedback (verbal, written, questionnaires) during and after the program;

• Employer feedback on employee performance and workplace integration;

• Feedback from commissioning institutions (e.g., Employment Agency of Montenegro – ZZZCG), NGOs, and project partners;

• Family feedback on participant experiences.

Strategic orientation and innovation

ZOPT’s key strengths lie in its:

• Experienced management and interdisciplinary teams;

• Learner-centred, flexible teaching methodologies;

• Modern training facilities and audiovisual equipment;

• Collaboration with institutional partners and enterprises;

• Continuous development of inclusive education and employment programmes.

ZOPT is also active in the development of new educational models, social entrepreneurship, creative/artisan programmes, and labour market research, particularly targeting vulnerable groups and youth facing employment barriers.

Link: https://zopt.me/o-nama/

Quality assurance in higher education – the role of AKOKVO in Montenegro

The Agency for Control and Quality Assurance of Higher Education (AKOKVO) is the leading national body for external quality assurance in Montenegro’s higher education system. It was established in 2017 under the Law on Higher Education with the mandate to manage the evaluation and certification of higher education institutions and study programmes in accordance with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

AKOKVO ensures that Montenegrin higher education remains aligned with European principles, providing credibility, transparency, and consistency in its quality assurance processes.

AKOKVO is responsible for the following:

• Accreditation of study programmes, including initial and re-accreditation procedures;

• Re-accreditation of higher education institutions;

• Accreditation of lifelong learning programmes;

• Periodic quality control reviews at the request of the Ministry of Education or the institutions themselves;

• Conducting research and analysis related to quality assurance and higher education policy;

• International cooperation with peer agencies and regional/international networks in the field of higher education quality.

AKOKVO operates according to clearly defined values that underpin its mission and ensure impartiality and trust:

• Transparency – by publishing all evaluation rules, criteria, procedures, and results;

• Independence – in its decision-making regarding programme and institutional evaluation, free from external influence;

• Cooperation – by working closely with higher education institutions to implement ESG standards and by maintaining active collaboration with European organisations and quality registers;

• Integrity – by ensuring fairness, professionalism, and objectivity in all interactions with stakeholders.

Montenegro began its journey toward quality assurance in higher education in 2003, upon joining the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The implementation of the ESG framework became a formal obligation in 2010. Prior to the establishment of AKOKVO, accreditation procedures were conducted by the Ministry of Education, while decisions were made by the Council for Higher Education, comprising prominent academic experts.

AKOKVO was formally established by the Government of Montenegro in November 2017, and it began full operations in September 2018. Since then, it has become the central institution for managing and overseeing external evaluations in higher education, while also engaging in policy-oriented research and international benchmarking.

AKOKVO ensures external quality control primarily through the evaluation of academic programmes and institutions, guided by criteria based on the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). The Agency continuously strengthens its operational capacity to ensure full compliance with ESG, with a strategic focus on:

• Enhancing stakeholder engagement;

• Promoting institutional accountability and innovation;

• Supporting strategic development of the higher education sector;

• Facilitating international recognition of Montenegrin qualifications and institutional credibility.

By striving for alignment with ESG, AKOKVO is actively working towards membership in the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) and registration in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR). These achievements are essential for advancing academic mobility, internationalisation, and recognition of Montenegrin diplomas within the European Higher Education Area.

In addition to regulatory functions, AKOKVO engages in research activities that inform national higher education policy and contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality assurance system. Its analytical work strengthens institutional practices and provides a knowledge base for legislative and strategic reforms.

Link: https://akokvo.me/o-nama/