OECD Presents Evaluation and Recommendations on Higher Education and Vocational Training in Lithuania
Lithuania is recognised for its well-developed quality assurance system in higher education and vocational training, the increasing diversity of its study and training programmes, and its investments in strengthening the competencies of academic and vocational teaching staff. This is the overall assessment of Lithuania’s higher education and vocational training systems presented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
On April 10, in Vilnius, the results of a nearly two-year OECD project entitled “Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education in Lithuania” were presented. The project involved an in-depth analysis of the country’s education system and offered recommendations on how to further improve the quality of studies and vocational training.
“We must strive for a higher education system where trust replaces control, and where academic and research institutions are empowered to contribute to societal progress through reduced overregulation and administrative burden. In our Government’s implementation plan, we have committed to developing a new model for external study evaluation in line with OECD recommendations and to creating a system for recognising and assessing the didactic competencies of academic staff,” said Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Sport Regina Valutytė.
According to OECD experts, Lithuania is taking appropriate measures in response to demographic shifts and in its efforts to improve the quality and relevance of education for society. Among the positively evaluated actions are the optimisation of the network of higher education and vocational institutions, the introduction of new forms of study and training, such as short-cycle programmes, and the implementation of a performance-based public funding model.
The OECD recommends further reducing the regulatory burden on the delivery of studies and vocational training. In the field of higher education, it suggests developing a national qualification framework for academic staff, along with the establishment of centres that would support institutions in the coordinated development of teaching competencies.
The organisation also advises Lithuania to develop a post-secondary education strategy that would promote stronger links and collaboration between vocational education, higher education, and the labour market. Additionally, it recommends creating a centralised information system for students, providing relevant data about labour market needs and the quality of study programmes.
In vocational education and training, the OECD recommends continuing to improve the external evaluation system, strengthening the links between annual monitoring indicators and external assessment, and developing an apprenticeship monitoring system. To ensure that vocational education remains responsive to changing labour market demands, regular labour market analyses are also recommended.
The OECD project engaged key national institutions responsible for the quality of higher and vocational education, including the Centre for the Development of Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training and the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education, as well as representatives from higher education institutions, students, and employers.
The project analysed Lithuania’s quality assurance systems and challenges, and explored international examples that could be applicable in the national context.
Last updated: 20-05-2025
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