New VET project in Azerbaijan

AARHUS TECH is member of the consortium that was awarded the contract for the Tacis project Vocational Education and Training Reform Strategy and Pilot Implementation in a Selected Region in Azerbaijan. The consortium is led by the British Council, and the German consultancy company PEM GmbH is the third partner. The project started on 21 August 2008 and will end in February 2011.

The purposes of the project are:

1. Improvement of policy making capacity, strategy and action programme for VET modernisation;
2. Development of a replicable model of partnership in delivering competence based vocational education and training.

ATC provides the key expert in VET policy and programmes design whose main tasks are to enhance national capability in VET policy making and lead the work of national experts in the development of a VET modernisation strategy and an action plan for its implementation.

The main activities will be as follows:

1. Capacity building for VET strategy and policy development at national and local level;
2. Preparation of guide for VET strategy and policy development;
3. Drafting of mid-term strategy and action plan in consultation with VET stakeholders;
4. Preparation of recommendations for the future external support for the implementation of the strategy;
5. Establishment of an effective partnership at local, regional and national levels for the development and approval of competence based standards, curricula and learning materials for the tourism sector;
6. Preparation and conduction of labour market needs assessment in the pilot region and prepare recommendations for tourism sector training on the basis of the results;
7. Development of competence based standards, curricula and learning materials for the tourism sector;
8. Training of teachers and trainers in competence based training and assessment methods;
9. Initiation of pilot curricula and recommendations for the replication of such a partnership model to other regions and economic sectors;
10. Assistance in the preparation of equipment tender, evaluation of tenders, and installation of the equipment;
11. Awareness raising activities.