Young people choosing dual education at the Ionel garment factory receive a salary and accommodation, as the system, which combines apprenticeship with vocational education, is seen by the company as an important instrument for filling vacancies, Ionel’s HR manager Aliona Colesnic said during an IPN debate on Friday.

The factory has been implementing dual education since 2022, as its beneficiaries receive both a stipend and a salary. The company sources students from the Căușeni vocational school and also has signed cooperation agreements with the vocational schools of Leova and Ștefan Vodă.

“Staff turnover is not very good and we have to admit that dual education is the only source that offers the possibility to fill our vacancies. We work with vocational schools, with the Center of Excellence, we advertise, we participate in career fairs. At the job fairs, we inform young people that we have dual education in which work can be combined with study. 70% of the study program takes place at the factory. This is a huge benefit for both the students and the company. We prepare them for employment. After their studies, many young people from dual education stay to work at the company. The company makes an effort to support these young people”, said Aliona Colesnic.

She added that the state partially compensates the expenses incurred by the company for training young people. Aliona Colesnic expressed her hope that the law on dual education will be amended so that young people make a commitment to stay at the factory even after completing their studies.
 
The European Union implements in Moldova a program supporting businesses to adopt dual education in the period September 2023-August 2024.

The debate titled “European support for the Moldovan industry” was the fourth installment of IPN’s “Benefits of EU accession” Series, funded by the Soros Moldova Foundation.