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1. Policy Framework

2. Existing arrangements

Policy Framework

Nationwide, the skills recognition is regulated with the Law on Volunteerism. More particularly, article 19 states that: “The organizer of volunteering is obliged to keep records for the volunteering of all the volunteers. The manner of keeping records referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be prescribed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.” It contains information about the type and duration of the service, as well as for the type of training provided to the volunteer during the service.       

The Republic of North Macedonia does not have an institution specialized in identifying and validating prior learning, acquired through non-formal and informal learning. The realization of this activity is necessary from the aspect of the modern tendencies in the field of education and from the aspect of the need for validation of all activities that young people and adults undertake in order to acquire education, especially in the informal and informal sectors.   

The Republic of North Macedonia became Erasmus+ Programme Country in 2004. Designated institution for implementation of Erasmus+ programme is National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility. The National Agency administers the opportunity for young people to volunteer abroad and young people from EU member’s states, to volunteer in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Existing arrangements

In Republic of North Macedonia, skills recognition is recognized through Volunteer card. The form and content of the volunteer card, is regulated with Regulation of the form and contents of the volunteer card, issuing and registering of data. The organizer issues a volunteer card, which is considered a public document. It contains information about the type and duration of the service, as well as for the type of training provided to the volunteer during the service. The organizer of voluntary work is legally entitled to issue a voluntary card. The main responsibility for monitoring the functioning of the system of skills recognition is the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. The inspection is performed by the State Labor Inspectorate. In non-formal settings, non-governmental organizations provide recognition documents according to their internal procedures and regulations, thus there are differences between the recognition documents provided from various subjects and the Republic of North Macedonia lacks a national standardized system for verification or recognition of volunteer assignments, except volunteer card. Currently in Republic of North Macedonia there are no possibilities for young volunteers to obtain ECTS or ECVET credits through volunteering.

Concerning the validation and recognition of skills in Republic of North Macedonia, the National Agency for European Educational Programmes and Mobility is responsible for implementation of Europass as National Europass Centre regards the acquisition of skills in formal setting, as well Youthpass National Coordinator for implementation of Youthpass regarding the validation and recognition of non-formal learning.