Identifying Key Occupations of the New Economy in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan (March 2001 to Spring 2002)

Type of project/activity:

technical assistance

Objectives:

To support vocational education and training (VET) reforms in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan by developing approaches for improving the links between labour market needs and VET. To develop staff capacity to identify changes in existing and emerging occupations, identify the consequences for training and updating classifications.

Background:

In Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan the development of VET is a priority, with national programmes for its development, new legislation, new classifications of occupations and substantial donor-funded activities to ensure that the reforms meet international standards. Training standards need to be developed for new and changing occupations and vocational education should be more closely related to the needs of the labour market.

Partners:

EIESP (project leader), NEWIDIEM, UK, and National Observatories of Uzbekstan and Kyrgyzstan

Main activities:

A pilot methodology was agreed, using a "skills economy" approach which seeks to achieve the best match among the needs of individuals, businesses and the vocational education and training system and allows economies of a very different nature to place their labour market approach within a framework of economic development and better social conditions. The approach focuses on deficiencies and gaps, as well as shortages. A study visit was organised to Wales (UK) in July 2001 to provide experience for four project staff members of a current EU approach in gathering and using labour market information to understand and plan for changing skills needs. Dissemination seminars were organised in Bishkek and Tashkent (autumn 2001) to present the project and the study visit to key actors and agencies in each country. Questionnaires were developed and enterprise surveys carried out in about 20 enterprises in each country, in selected sectors, to test the approach and examine a first set of results. The survey tools were then modified for further piloting and will be available in the Manuals. Training seminars (February & March 2002) were organised to train a larger group of staff from employment services to use the approach. Following the training, the new survey tools will be re-piloted on a broader geographical and sectoral basis through a small number of enterprise surveys undertaken by each trainee in his/her own districts/regions. The outcomes and conclusions will be available in the Manual.

Programme and funder:

The project is funded by the TACIS programme through the European Training Foundation and co-funded by EIESP and Newidiem

Expected outcomes, reports/documents:

Tested and piloted survey tools; pilot survey results on new and changing occupations in the sectors selected; staff trained in collecting and analysing labour market information on changing needs; publication of a Manual for users which will be available by summer 2002 in Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz and later in English. Research analysis reports on the survey results will also be available in the above languages.

For more information, please contact Jean Gordon gordon@eiesp.org