EU-supported Vocational Skills Week Launched in Georgia
On April 24, the week-long celebration started with a high-level conference at Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel, opened by Giorgi Amilakhvari, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia; Pavel Herczynski, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia; Kelly C. Degnan, U.S. Ambassador in Georgia, Mariam Lashkhi, Member of Parliament, Education and Science Committee and Giorgi Pertaia, President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Pawel Herczynski: “The importance of skills and education for sustainable economic development cannot be overstated. It's our goal to help thousands of Georgians to develop new skills and find or create long-term employment. We fully support the government’s ambition to push forward visionary education reforms in the true European spirit. Throughout this week, we will have a chance to observe the accomplishment of the Skills4Jobs program, not just in Tbilisi but also in the regions, by attending an array of events organised by the Skills4Jobs grantees''.
Giorgi Amilakhvari, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia: "Today we opened the Skills Week, an important annual event to discuss the challenges and opportunities in this field, as well as the development and accessibility. Our task is to increase access to vocational education throughout the country in order to train a qualified workforce. We are actively working with our Western partners. I would like to thank each one of them for their important contribution to the development of vocational education. Vocational education is the direct and shortest way to employment, and that’s why it is our main priority."
The skills ecosystem survey findings and priority directions for further development were presented on the event's first day. The progress of Vocational Education and Training (VET) reform was discussed and analysed by international experts working closely with the Georgian partners to modernise Georgia’s VET system, ensuring that skills development in Georgia reflects the best international and European practices.
The weekly conference is attended by international and local experts, policymakers, government officials, the international donor community and the representatives of vocational educational institutions.
The topics to be discussed throughout the week includes:
- Policy Dialogue and Reflections on the Employment and Employability of Georgian VET Graduates
- Sectoral Forum - Private Sector Engagement in Skills Development
- Inclusiveness in VET & Targeting NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training)
- Transforming VET institutions to support reforms
- Student Services: Non-formal Education in VET & Vocational education in schools
In addition to conference sessions held in Tbilisi, the EU-funded grant projects are organising various events (such as career fairs, exhibitions, talks, presentations, and workshops) in the regions of Georgia, namely in Adjara, Guria, Kvemo Kartli, Shida Kartli, Kakheti, Imereti and Samegrelo.
Detailed information regarding the activities planned within Georgia’s Vocational Skills Week is available on the Vocational Skills Agency’s Facebook page.
The Georgian Vocational Skills Week is an initiative of the Vocational Skills Agency supported by the EU Skills4Jobs Programme to bring all stakeholders together to celebrate successes in advancing the skills agenda to meet social and economic development needs and promote skills development.
