Critical analysis to improve VET

The ETF held a seminar in Baku, Azerbaijan on 27 November 2012 to discuss and validate the Torino Process policy analysis. The event was attended by government representatives, educational authorities and other local and international stakeholders. Following the assessment led by ETF in the previous edition of the Torino Process, Azerbaijan carried out a self-assessment exercise. The ETF supported drafting the new chapter on governance which opened up many issues for discussion.
Namig Mammadov, head of the vocational education and training (VET) department in the Ministry of Education, who led the seminar and introduced Torino Process 2012, emphasised that the critical comments in the report were meant to support the VET improvements in Azerbaijan. Mr Mamadov said that the vast economic development achieved by Azerbaijan in the past decade has created different expectations of vocational education.
The 2007-2012 State Programme for Vocational Education and the Employment Strategy have helped to support initiatives to turn VET into a more modern responsive system. The effects of these measures are only starting to become evident with newly developed occupational and educational standards, modern curricula and refurbished schools.
‘Still more changes are needed,’ said Arjen Deij, ETF expert and country manager for Azerbaijan. ‘This includes measures in the area of governance, building more bridges with employers, and enabling schools to respond better to the local and regional developmental needs.’
Rza Zulfuqarzade from the EU delegation in Baku explained that despite the difficulties, the EU is looking upon ways to help the VET system to meet these challenges. One of the clearest messages of the Torino Process report draft is the necessity to strengthen the country’s capacities to implement reforms at all levels.