Workshop with Local Stakeholders

Workshop with Local Stakeholders on Results of the

ETF “Torino Process” 2010 Review

13 July, 2010, TSAGHKADZOR, “Kecharis” Hotel

 

The European Training Foundation (ETF) is an agency of the European Union based in Turin, Italy. It was established in 2008 to contribute to the development of the education and training systems of the EU partner countries. The mission of ETF is to help transition and developing countries to harness the potential of their human capital through the reform of education, training and labour market systems in the context of the EU's external relations policy.

The “Torino Process” is a participatory review of progress in vocational education and training policy launched in 2010 by ETF with the aim of building the capacities of national stakeholders in assessing the reform of VET. The Torino Process will be carried out every two years by all partner countries with the support of the ETF.

The objective of the “Torino Process” is to provide a concise, documented analysis of vocational education and training (VET) reform in each country with the aim of:

  • support countries’ evidence-based policy-making, with a view to improving the contribution of VET to sustainable development, and in particular competitiveness and social cohesion;
  • serve as a basis for the design of the ETF’s support strategy to these countries; 
  • provide the ETF’s recommendations to the European Commission for EU external assistance.

On 13th of July a workshop with local stakeholders organised by “Global Developments” Fund with the financial and technical support of ETF took place in Tsaghkadzor with the aim to present the outcomes of the review of Armenian VET and come up with suggestions and recommendations, which might contribute to the success of on-going VET reforms in Armenia.

Around 40 people including the representatives from EU Delegation to Armenia, RA Ministry of Education and Science, RA Ministry of Labour and Social Issues, from social partner organisations such as Republican Union of Employers of Armenia, RA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Trade Unions, as well as from main donor organisations such as UNDP, British Council, dvv international, and VET colleges participated.

Representatives of the key players, Mr. Onno Simons, Char Chargռ d'Affaires i.a., EU Delegation to Armenia; Mr. Robert Abrahamyan, Adviser to the RA Minister of Education and Science; Ms. Sona Harutyunyan, Head of “State Employment Service” Agency, Ministry of Labour and Social Issues; and Ms. Milena Corradini, ETF Country Manager for Armenia, made welcome speeches presenting to the audience their agencies’ visions of the VET reforms in Armenia, their contribution and the future plans. 

A number of topics related to the progress of VET reforms, such as problems and constrains, resources for development of VET, employment and VET, Social dialogue at national and institutional level, education and business cooperation, were discussed during the workshop.

The “Assessment of progress in vocational education and training in Armenia” report produced by Ms. Milena Corradini, will be reviewed based on the workshop’s recommendations and suggestions and will be disseminated among the stakeholders in Armenia and EU member and partner countries. 

The four regional ETF studies will be available at the beginning of 2011. The cross country report including findings of all countries with which ETF cooperates, will be published in spring 2011.