New green skills internships to prepare students for future growing job markets

To bolster skills in growing job sectors, secondary schools for vocational education and training (VET) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with six public institutions to support the development of green skills of students through practical instruction.

The new partnerships between VET schools and public institutions are a result of collaboration between UNICEF, the Ministry of Education and Science and the VET Centre with financial support from the private sector Nelt Group and Sweden.

This initiative is timely, as jobs in energy technologies, environmental protection and sustainability are among the fastest-growing jobs and green skilled employees are increasingly outperforming others in hiring rates, according to the latest World Economic Forum – Future of Jobs Report. 

“As environmental challenges grow, so does the need for a professional workforce able to help advance climate resilience and sustainability. By fostering a deep understanding of environmental issues and providing opportunities to adolescents to develop practical skills, we empower the next generation to build a sustainable and resilient future,” said Silvia Chiarucci, UNICEF Deputy Representative.

According to UNICEF, youth unemployment in North Macedonia stands at 28.6 percent, double the overall unemployment rate of 13 percent. Among other things, the disparity highlights a skills mismatch and while there are promising efforts to improve VET, there remain substantial gaps between the skills taught and those demanded by the job market. The new green skills internship opportunities aim to bridge gaps by providing students with practical experience, making them more competitive and better prepared for careers in rapidly growing fields.

“Learning becomes truly valuable once the student steps outside the walls of the school and faces the real world. For this reason, practical education – especially when conducted in real-life conditions, in institutions and companies – represents a key segment in the process of forming a quality, capable, and competent workforce,“ said Besnik Zendeli, Director of the Vocational Education Training Center

“Through collaboration with UNICEF and state institutions our goal is to bridge the gap between learning and employment, thereby contributing to sustainable development and a better future. With an investment of $330,000 from Nelt Group, the skills of 500 students from 20 vocational education and training schools will be enhanced through practical instruction and summer internships”, said Sasko Blazevski, Executive Director of Nelt ST, emphasizing that Nelt Group deeply believes that continuous education and development of skills for the 21st century are crucial for both society and the economy.

The public institutions that joined the collaboration include the Hydrometeorological Bureau, the Seismological Observatory at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the National Railway Transport, the National Railway Infrastructure, the Public Cadaster and the National Post.

Thanks to partnerships with NELT Group and Sweden, UNICEF has been supporting the Ministry of Education and Science and the Vocational Education Training Center to develop green curricula, facilitate training of teachers and mentors and facilitate practical instruction to ensure that all VET students can learn about the environment and climate through the lens of their profession.

It is expected that more partnerships will follow, with over 40 scientific and public institutions expected to open their doors for students and offer meaningful hands-on experience that will better prepare them for the evolving demands of the job market.

About NELT Group and UNICEF:

NELT Group and UNICEF implement a strategic partnership aimed at empowering children and young people with essential competencies for the 21st century. Representing the most extensive collaboration to date between UNICEF and a Serbian company, this initiative represents NELT Group committing US$ 1.3 million over three years. The three-year partnership between NELT Group and UNICEF will focus on strengthening education systems in Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Angola in 2026 – some of the markets where NELT Group operates. By enhancing these systems, the partnership aims to ensure equitable access to quality education and skills development for every child.

About Nelt Group

Nelt Group is one of the most successful business systems in the Adriatic region in the fields of logistics, distribution, and brand management. As an international group, it employs 5,500 people across 14 companies in 10 markets in Europe and Africa. Its leadership position and the success achieved over 30 years of operations are the result of continuous investment in employee education and development, innovation, and the implementation of new technologies. An inclusive and open corporate culture is the company’s hallmark.