Tashkent, July 13, 2021 - “Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan” project funded by the European Union and implemented by UNESCO conducted Implementation Phase Launch Meeting with the main objectives (i) to discuss the technical details of the planned implementation activities in 2021; (ii) to initiate the function of the Technical Working Groups; and (iii) to collect expert advice on the project activities including parallel initiatives and similar activities.
The meeting brought together government officials from the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, the Delegation of European Union to Uzbekistan, Director of UNESCO Cluster office in Almaty and Representative to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO, project stakeholders, members of the academia and representatives from other international organizations participated at the event.
In his welcoming speech Mr Komiljon Karimov, First Deputy Minister of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education said: “Government of Uzbekistan pays great attention to the education at all levels, particularly to Technical Vocational Education and Training since it helps to develop important skills and enhance the living standards in rural areas through better employability by preparing girls and boys with relevant skills for the needs of sustainable, diversified and modernized agriculture”.
“We believe that the new project will improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of the vocational education and training system to match the requirements of the modernised agriculture sector and contribute to the recent reforms initiated by Uzbekistan, which has taken big and ambitious steps in upscaling and strengthening the education system”, said Mr Francois Begeot, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan.
Ms. Krista Pikkat, Director of UNESCO Cluster office in Almaty and Representative to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and Head of UNESCO Tashkent office a.i said that: “EU-UNESCO partnership will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals related to Education, Gender equality, economic growth and employability (SDG 4, 5, 8). The project will be implemented by UNESCO within the period of 2020-2024 in four selected regions of Uzbekistan: Karakalpakstan, Khorazm, Bukhara, Surkhondaryo”.
This meeting is also dedicated to the World Youth Skills Day. In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15th of July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. UNESCO and EU support national skills development reforms, which has a positive impact on the skills development, economic growth and youth employability in the country.
Source: UNESCO in Tashkent
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