In the context of a fact-finding mission to Belarus carried out by the ETF in April 2008, the possible future scenarios on the modernization of the system with a potential EU assistance were discussed.  With the aim to deepen the knowledge of the current developments and to respond to the stakeholders’ interest in EU developments, the ETF has carried out an update report on education and training in Belarus in addition to an education policy seminar which was organized in July 2008 as a way to fight isolation and to create a space for debate on EU developments and education policy making between State and non state actors, also acting as a facilitator. The report was finalised and made public at the end of 2009.

On the basis of the results and feedback on 2008 activities and upon the EC request, the ETF’s intervention strategy for 2009 – 2011 is meant to keep up a dialogue in the country. Interventions and activeness will depend on the political situation and priorities set by the EU. In 2009 the ETF has supported the preparation of the joint UNESCO and CIS conference on TVET and Sustainable Development which was organized in Minsk in May for the Ministers of Education. The Belarusian government has expressed an interest to host a regional follow up conference in 2011 and invited the ETF to cooperate. The ETF works on a joint conference concept on Skills and Sustainable Development and other international partners’ interest to collaborate will be explored in the future.

The Black Sea Employment Review has been extended to Belarus in the context of the Eastern Partnership and the review report on labour market and employment has been finalised.

Belarus has been invited to participate in the ETF National Qualifications Framework project in 2009. A dissemination conference of this long-term ETF project was organised in Minsk in June 2009. Belarusian partners showed a strong interest towards the modernisation of their qualifications system using the experience of other countries and expertise which the ETF has in this field. Possibilities for future work in this area could be explored provided that resources will be made available for cooperation with Belarus. Another education policy area is the development of professionally and practice oriented tertiary education by upgrading the secondary VET and bringing it closer to higher education and making it thus a more attractive alternative for students with greater employability prospects.

In 2010 the ETF has been engaged in the Torino Process and Education and Business study. Belarusian experts and stakeholders will be invited to participate in relevant ETF activities or thematic conferences.  National seminars have been organised in 2010 in Belarus which provides opportunity for the Belarusians to be informed on EU developments in education and training. Belarus will also be involved in the ETF activities regarding the Eastern Partnership initiative.
For 2011, as mentioned above, the ETF is working on a joint conference concept on Skills and Sustainable Development upon the Belarusian government expression of interest.