ILO Workshop on the Validation of Informal and Non-formal Learning for Refugees
The workshop “Validation of Informal and Non-formal Learning for Refugees” was held in Ankara on 17 May 2017 under the Project “Improving Labour Market Integration of Syrian Refugees and Host Communities in Turkey” implemented by the ILO Office for Turkey.
17 May 2017
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The event was organized jointly by ILO Office, European Training Foundation, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Including representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Professional Competence Authority, General Directorate of Lifelong Learning, authorized certification bodies, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and United Nations agencies, participants to the workshop found the opportunity to discuss the issue of assessment and certification of earlier qualifications and learning of Syrians now under temporary protection within the framework of national occupational standards.
In his opening speech, Numan Özcan, the Director of ILO Office for Turkey stressed that besides humanitarian assistance, providing opportunities of subsistence and decent work for Syrian refugees is becoming more and more important, and pointed out to the activities of the ILO Office in contributing to refugees’ access to sources of income and labour market, formal and decent jobs. Özcan said, “An important component in this contribution is to ensure the recognition of competencies acquired earlier but not documented as well as skills gained in the process in Turkey through vocational training or working within the framework of competencies. This step is also important in terms of strengthening links between training and employment and facilitating transition to working life.”
In her speech, Lida Kita from the Country Desk for Turkey and Israel of the European Training Foundation said the skill validation model to be developed by the ILO will be the model for Turkey benefiting both Turkish citizens and Syrian refugees.
Metin Karaman, Vice-President of the Vocational Qualifications Authority underlined that the on-going work will strengthen the link between training and employment, and as an institution they are ready for any relevant project and cooperation.
Another speaker in opening Hasan Yılmaz, Deputy Director General of Lifelong Learning said the training of Syrians in Turkey is an important issue per se adding that work relating to the integration of refugees into the existing education and training system is successfully in progress.
Sadettin Akyıl, General Director of International Labour Force said legislative arrangements have been made for enabling refugees to make their living independently of aid, and they are engaged in collaborative work with relevant public institutions and international
organizations including ILO in the first place to develop plans for the future.
In her presentation Prof Füsun Akkök presented detailed information concerning the validation of non-formal and informal learning for refugees as well as phases and methodology in the process of validation adopted in seeking a model. Prof Akkök pointed out that such a large population fleeing war is mostly composed of young persons that should be included in labour force. Prof Akkök added: For placing these people who left behind their diplomas and other certificates in better jobs their earlier learning must be validated and certificated; this proves in Turkey is developing within a system, but there is yet no work launched to include Syrians as well in the system. Consequently the present workshop that brings all relevant parties together and lays the ground for communication, cooperation and coordination is crucially important in regard to the kind of model to be adopted by the country.
Following Akkök’s presentation there was a panel discussion “Validation of Informal and Non-formal Learning for Refugees in Turkey: National and International Perspectives”. Moderated by Nicholas Grisewood, ILO’s senior technical specialist in the field of crisis migration, the panellists were Osman Seçkin Akbıyık from the Vocational Qualifications Authority; Mirjam de Jong, qualification systems specialist of the European Training Foundation; Andy Gibbs, international specialist from the European Training Foundation and ILO’s national expert Prof Füsun Akkök.
In the afternoon session of the workshop participants expressed their opinions and suggestions on the development of a model for the validation of non-formal and informal learning of Syrians, assessment and certification of their skills, and conducting this work in compliance with the existing system of competencies.
In his opening speech, Numan Özcan, the Director of ILO Office for Turkey stressed that besides humanitarian assistance, providing opportunities of subsistence and decent work for Syrian refugees is becoming more and more important, and pointed out to the activities of the ILO Office in contributing to refugees’ access to sources of income and labour market, formal and decent jobs. Özcan said, “An important component in this contribution is to ensure the recognition of competencies acquired earlier but not documented as well as skills gained in the process in Turkey through vocational training or working within the framework of competencies. This step is also important in terms of strengthening links between training and employment and facilitating transition to working life.”
In her speech, Lida Kita from the Country Desk for Turkey and Israel of the European Training Foundation said the skill validation model to be developed by the ILO will be the model for Turkey benefiting both Turkish citizens and Syrian refugees.
Metin Karaman, Vice-President of the Vocational Qualifications Authority underlined that the on-going work will strengthen the link between training and employment, and as an institution they are ready for any relevant project and cooperation.
Another speaker in opening Hasan Yılmaz, Deputy Director General of Lifelong Learning said the training of Syrians in Turkey is an important issue per se adding that work relating to the integration of refugees into the existing education and training system is successfully in progress.
Sadettin Akyıl, General Director of International Labour Force said legislative arrangements have been made for enabling refugees to make their living independently of aid, and they are engaged in collaborative work with relevant public institutions and international
organizations including ILO in the first place to develop plans for the future.
In her presentation Prof Füsun Akkök presented detailed information concerning the validation of non-formal and informal learning for refugees as well as phases and methodology in the process of validation adopted in seeking a model. Prof Akkök pointed out that such a large population fleeing war is mostly composed of young persons that should be included in labour force. Prof Akkök added: For placing these people who left behind their diplomas and other certificates in better jobs their earlier learning must be validated and certificated; this proves in Turkey is developing within a system, but there is yet no work launched to include Syrians as well in the system. Consequently the present workshop that brings all relevant parties together and lays the ground for communication, cooperation and coordination is crucially important in regard to the kind of model to be adopted by the country.
Following Akkök’s presentation there was a panel discussion “Validation of Informal and Non-formal Learning for Refugees in Turkey: National and International Perspectives”. Moderated by Nicholas Grisewood, ILO’s senior technical specialist in the field of crisis migration, the panellists were Osman Seçkin Akbıyık from the Vocational Qualifications Authority; Mirjam de Jong, qualification systems specialist of the European Training Foundation; Andy Gibbs, international specialist from the European Training Foundation and ILO’s national expert Prof Füsun Akkök.
In the afternoon session of the workshop participants expressed their opinions and suggestions on the development of a model for the validation of non-formal and informal learning of Syrians, assessment and certification of their skills, and conducting this work in compliance with the existing system of competencies.