Torino Process 2016-17: Southern and Eastern Mediterranean

This regional report on the 2016-17 Torino Process in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region analyses the outcomes of the 2016-17 Torino Process national reports from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia from a regional perspective. The report places a particular emphasis on progress from a dual perspective: it takes the latest round of the Torino Process (2014) as a benchmark but also considers overall progress since the first round of the Torino Process in 2010. The report includes the substance and results of the discussions held at the Torino Process SEMED regional conference (Rabat, February 2017).

An analysis of the findings of the 2016-17 Torino Process in the SEMED region reveals the complex constellation of factors, light and shade that determine the development of countries in the region. Since the Torino Process began in 2010, the region, particularly the Arab Mediterranean countries (AMCs), has undergone fundamental and often convulsive political, social, demographic and economic changes. This environment has put technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at the forefront of policy agendas in these countries, particularly in relation to huge challenges such as youth unemployment, social cohesion and economic competitiveness. At the same time, this environment has created difficult conditions for the implementation of reforms in some countries. Depending on the country, it is difficult to identify real progress in some areas when the situation is compared to the latest benchmark, the 2014 Torino Process. However, a different scenario emerges when the situation is examined in a wider perspective and compared to the 2010 Torino Process, where progress is visible across countries in most areas of this analysis.

Countries in the SEMED region have made crucial progress in developing their visions for skills and human capital. TVET is an integral part of these visions. The formulation of strategies to embody these visions is also very dynamic in nature. The priority now is shifting towards the challenges of implementation. Considerable progress has been made in raising awareness of the key role that governance issues play in the success of reforms. The importance of coordination, participation and the regional and local dimensions has found a place in the national policy agendas. While progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to change the traditionally centralised structures of most of these countries in order to address the existing challenges.

The importance of the role that TVET can play in addressing economic and social demand has also evolved enormously since the 2010 Torino Process. Countries in the region have now identified youth unemployment as their biggest challenge and have initiated a range of actions to pilot solutions that can offer an answer to this critical problem. Despite this move, the impact achieved by these pilots is not yet the desired one, so more sustained efforts are needed. On the subject of internal efficiency in TVET systems, all the countries continue to make strenuous efforts to improve the quality of the outputs of their TVET systems, albeit at a slow pace of implementation. In terms of social inclusiveness, awareness is growing about the importance of TVET in providing different responses to the needs of different target groups. However, there is still much work to be done to best meet the aspirations of individuals and society

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