Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, 11 April 2019 - Experts and resource persons from the countries-beneficiaries of the G20TS Project: Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russian Federation, the Project team headed by Chief Technical Advisor and Project’s expert discussed the achievements and outstanding challenges in their countries’ VET systems, as well as the activities and pilots implemented under the G20TS Project: these are pilot on TVET strategic planning, pilot on TVET governance, pilot on analysis of the demand for the skilled labour force and other VET sector -related interventions being implemented by Government and donor organizations (i.e. ADB, GIZ, EU) in the Project Countries. Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are smoothly implementing pilots on TVET strategic planning, TVET governance, analysis of demand for the skilled labour force, development of occupational standards and qualifications.

During the meeting experts reviewed the possibility of creating a working group to consider the feasibility of adopting a unified approach to development of occupational standards, qualifications and assessment tools, as well as the possibility of adopting a coordinated approach to development of occupational standards and qualifications in the Eurasian economic union (EAEU) (Armenia, Belorussia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russian Federation). Under this Agenda item the representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation informed that on 14-15 March 2019 Belorussia hosted the session of the technical group of experts, during which drafting of recommendations about the unified principles to development of occupational standards in the CIS countries was discussed by the CIS executive committee.

At the end of the meeting, its participants noted that such experts’ meetings help to keep each other updated on the Skills Development -related developments in the neighbouring countries and to collaborate more closely on improving the effectiveness of the TVET systems in the Project Countries. It was agreed to arrange such expert meetings on a more frequent basis, as feasible.