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The Torino Process was launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2010 and is a biannual participatory analytical review of the status and progress of vocational education and training (VET) in the ETF partner countries. The aims are to acquire current knowledge about policies and their outcomes in a country, and to strengthen ownership, participation and the evidence base of policy formation.

This regional report analyses key trends for further [vocational education and training] VET system development in four countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These countries are covered by the [European Union’s] EU’s Development Cooperation Instrument. The document draws on the 2012 Torino Process reports from each country. Each of the four countries that participated in the 2012 Torino Process underwent an [European Training Foundation] ETF-led assessment using the five building blocks of the analytical framework: the vision for VET; its efficiency in terms of addressing demographic, economic and labour market needs; how VET addresses social demands, including social inclusion; the quality and efficiency of initial and continuing VET delivery; and how initial and continuing VET systems are financed and governed, including their institutional capacities for change.

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In the [European Training Foundation] ETF partner countries, a wide variety of initiatives are taking place to improve governance and shape [vocational education and training] VET policies, by increasing the role of sub-national authorities, social partners and civil society organisations. This trend is in line with the European effort to enhance the role of sub-national authorities in the policy cycle, and to increase the autonomy of vocational schools and training centres. There is a growing recognition of the benefits of multilevel participation in the VET policy cycle, and the contribution of such an inclusive process to the development of integrated and comprehensive policies - policies through which VET can play a key role in promoting the welfare of a country. Effective multilevel governance is based on inclusive vertical and horizontal interactions between stakeholders and is linked to the increased effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, transparency, accountability and performance of VET policies and systems. Sub-national entities, or regions, are well positioned to identify human capital needs and opportunities. The participation of the regions in the management of VET has the potential to stimulate economic growth at regional and local levels, and enhance the matching of regional labour supply to market needs.

The present working paper is based on analytical work conducted by the ETF in 2012 and broad consultation with ETF partner countries that included a pilot study on good multilevel governance in VET. The study was conducted in six partner countries, namely Azerbaijan, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Tunisia and Ukraine, and its purpose was to map and assess the involvement of VET stakeholders across different functions of their national VET systems. The partner countries' performance was then compared against a set of principles and indicators of good multilevel governance developed by the ETF.

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[Vocational education and training] VET has become more relevant in the political agenda of the Republic of Moldova, since the previous Torino Process reporting in 2010. There have been two prominent signs of it: the government included VET among the priorities for [European Union] EU support in 2011; and in the same year the new National Development Strategy 2012-2020 has set the alignment of skills to the needs of the labour market, through quality education and training, as the top of seven national strategic priorities. There are two strategies relevant for VET: the Consolidated Strategy for Education Development 2011-2015 (CSED); and the VET sector strategy 2012-2020. The latter emphasises the need for better matching between the labour market needs and the education system. The strategies underline the importance of getting entrepreneurial spirit into the schools.

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Since the last review carried out with the Torino Process in 2010, the situation in the economy registered a modest growth after the global crisis. However, the economic structure is still dominated by low productivity. Most of the workforce in Armenia is employed in labour-intensive sectors of the economy where low skills are required. Beyond the considerable waves of migration from the country in the past, Armenia is currently confronted with demographic challenges which influence the education and training policies within its lifelong learning perspective. There are few indications that the vocational education system managed to come closer to the labour market needs but reforms continued in the country aiming at increasing relevance and quality of [vocational education and training] VET.

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The European Training Foundation (ETF) has a long-standing interest in the relationship between international migration and human capital in the European Union's neighbourhood region. This key relationship is central to any consideration of migration and economic development and is of vital importance to labour markets, particularly in countries with high rates of emigration or immigration. This report provides an initial comparative overview of the data from Armenia and Georgia. It analyses the results of two countrywide surveys implemented between October 2011 and January 2012 involving interviews with 8,000 respondents (both potential migrants and returned migrants). The ETF surveys focused particularly on the connection between qualifications and labour migration. They provide data on the qualifications of both potential and returned migrants, whether these qualifications were used while working abroad, whether new qualifications were added during the stay abroad, and to what extent the qualifications of returned migrants are being used in the domestic economy and labour market. This data is used to assess the extent of brain gain, brain drain and brain circulation, three key factors in the evaluation of the overall cost and benefits of migration.

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Since independence in 1991, Georgia has faced a series of crises which have had a huge impact on the economy and migration patterns. Estimates put the unemployment rate at around one third of the population. Youth unemployment is also high and tends to be even higher among urban and better educated young people. Migration offers a solution to unemployment and underemployment. Around five per cent of households depend on remittances supplied by migrants. This survey examined both potential and returned migrants. It found that almost one third of the adult population of Georgia are potential migrants and nearly half of returned migrants expect to migrate again. A positive outcome of migration is that nearly 10 per cent of returned migrants received training whilst abroad, thus increasing the skill level. Show less

In view of the recent international trend towards rediscovery of work-based learning (WBL) and the current situation in partner countries given below, an in-depth examination of the literature on WBL would appear to be necessary at this time. A clearer understanding is needed of the great potential of WBL, the major benefits it can offer, and the obstacles that may hinder its implementation. The aim of this report is to help policy makers and social partners in the partner countries of the European Training Foundation (ETF) to engage with this type of learning for the first time or to improve existing WBL-related policies and practices in vocational education and training (VET).

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The Torino Process was launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2010 and is a biannual participatory analytical review of the status and progress of vocational education and training (VET) in the ETF partner countries. The aims are to acquire current knowledge about policies and their outcomes in a country, and to strengthen ownership, participation and the evidence base of policy formation.

This Torino report 2012 is based on the 2010 report and on the initial evaluation report of the Employment, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (E-TVET) Council on the performance of the Jordanian E-TVET sector for 2010-2011. Jordan's goal for the E-TVET sector is to increase employment, reduce the country's dependence on expatriate labour and upgrade the quality and relevance of education and training in line with labour market requirements. E-TVET reform is focusing on the rationalisation of the E-TVET system, on private sector involvement and on improving the image of E-TVET careers and education and training programs. The E-TVET Council, under the patronage of the Minister of Labour, manages the reform through planning, policy making and coordination at national level.

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The Torino Process was launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2010 and is a biannual participatory analytical review of the status and progress of vocational education and training (VET) in the ETF partner countries. The aims are to acquire current knowledge about policies and their outcomes in a country, and to strengthen ownership, participation and the evidence base of policy formation.

Democratic political change took place in early October 2012 in Georgia, resulting in a new parliamentary majority and coalition government that took office ready to implement a program featuring education and training development and employment promotion as important priorities. The Georgian program of economic reform from 2004 has resulted in impressive economic growth and an improved business climate but, despite a decade of robust economic growth, the country continues to face the important challenges of low job creation and persisting high unemployment combined with low productivity self-employment in agriculture, underemployment and high poverty incidence, especially in rural Georgia. Labour market indicators have not improved during the decade of high economic growth either. The unemployment rate increased by six percentage points between 2000 and 2010; from 10.3 per cent in 2000 to 16.3 per cent in 2010 (with a small drop to 15.1 in 2011). Oddly, the increase has been highest among the population with higher education (above 20 per cent), youth (nearly 37 per cent) and the urban population (more than 27 per cent).

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The Government of Uzbekistan has a vision for vocational education and follows a co-ordinated approach to economic and social transition with the national authorities playing a key role in steering the development process. During the past two years the vocational education sector’s vision with respect to policy and implementation has been largely stable with developments mainly being related to the continuing implementation of the national reform process established in 1997 under the National Programme for Personnel Training initiative (NPTT). Important developments include the completion of the infrastructure of professional colleges for upper secondary vocational education planned as part of the NPTT, measures to improve the quality of teaching and the maintenance of the education system’s ability to absorb the large youth cohort. Both the business community and the national authorities have identified the development of a national qualification framework as [a] potential new policy initiative that could support links between the vocational education sector and the business community.

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