81282807-Professional Education for Economic Growth Sectors in Central Asia

Even before the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region, the socio-economic situation of broad social strata in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan was difficult. Currently, around 12.4 % of the population live below the respective national poverty line. The Central Asian countries are confronted with high unemployment, especially among young people. Despite the national economies' high demand for skilled workers, even young people with completed professional qualifications often fail to find adequate employment. Not only because of the economic impact of the pandemic, but also due to an average population growth of 1.8 % per year, it can be assumed that youth unemployment will present the Central Asian states with growing social and economic challenges in the future. Women will be particularly affected. Since almost 30 % of the workforce in Central Asia is still employed in agriculture, the processing of marketable foodstuffs plays an important role as a growth sector. Alongside textile products, food is one of the product groups with the highest export growth. The need to train qualified specialists is correspondingly high - not only in the field of food processing, but also for the procurement of raw materials, storage, distribution, etc. There is a high demand for the development of know-how in the field of logistics in all Central Asian countries, which extends across agricultural and the entire industrial sector. The technical cooperation measure "Professional Education for Economic Growth Sectors in Central Asia" (PECA), commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, promotes the modernization of professional education in Central Asia. It thereby focuses on the food processing industry and the logistics sector. Working both at the level of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and of higher education (HE), the measures of the Project aim at - the introduction of international quality standards, - improved labour market orientation and integration of the business sector in vocational education and training, - the establishment of dual or cooperative approaches, i.e. the combination of learning within the real work situation and school-based learning, and - regional harmonization of professional education systems in Central Asia. The methodological approach of the Project rests on two pillars: a) the promotion of reforms of the normative regulatory framework for professional education in the partner countries, and b) the development and introduction of employment-effective qualifications at different levels in the areas of food processing and logistics. PECA"s overall objective can be summarized as follows: The capacities of professional education systems in Central Asia to provide qualified specialists and managers for economic growth sectors in the region are improved. To create the necessary legislative basis for a modern professional education system, the responsible ministries in the partner countries are advised on the drafting of corresponding laws, regulations, etc. At the same time, PECA uses cross-border cooperation as a resource to advance the modernization of professional education systems in Central Asia and to ensure their regional compatibility. Concrete experiences gathered at national level, are exchanged and shared for the purpose of mutual learning. PECA also has a strong focus on promoting new employment-effective qualifications. The participating TVET and HE institutions in all four partner countries will receive support on the introduction of several educational programmes in the fields of food technology and logistics. Furthermore, PECA - in close cooperation with professional associations and other industry organizations in the region - will foster the development of demand-oriented short-term qualifications for company personnel.