Over the past years the ETF has positioned itself in Ukraine as a key international agency in supporting the development of effective policies for modernization of the country’s vocational education and training system, as well as facilitating Ukraine's own policy development by bringing in best international practices and expertise. In joint policy analyses with the European Commission and the World Bank a number of key challenges for Ukraine have been identified which the ETF has been working on and will continue contributing to Ukraine’s education and training policy development also in 2011. The key challenges of these policy analyses have been identified as follows:
1. Skills mismatch including both qualitative (relevance and balance of different types of skills) of and quantitative aspects (Imbalance of demand and supply);
2. Public confidence in national qualifications system (transparency in procedures, relevance and acceptance);
3. Governance issues such as: o Cost efficiency; Optimisation of resources and networking o Lack of incentives for improved performance and financial management o Management and leadership of education system (at different levels) o Decentralisation – increasing institutional autonomy, accountability and responsibility o Overregulation – from controlling environment to trust;
4. Labour market information systems;
5. Access to lifelong learning opportunities.
The same issues came across in the Torino Process analysis which Ukraine carried out as self-assessment in 2010. The following priorities remain key areas for modernising VET as part of the overall modernisation of Ukraine’s education and training system:
• improving quality and relevance of VET – which will build on the continuation of NQF related activities and empowerment of social partners in VET planning and policy development; • Anticipation and matching of skills demand – which continues demand analyses and identifying policy measures to reduce the imbalance of supply and demand for improved planning of delivery and increasing employability of young people • Improving efficiency and attractiveness of VET provision through better and more cost-efficient use of financial and institutional resources The 2011 ETF programme in Ukraine will focus on all these areas which build on the activities started in 2009 and 2010. The ETF is going to support the government led inter-agency working groups which aim to formulate consolidated opinions and proposals on the above topics for policy planning and implementation. The ETF will support the working groups with policy advice, analyses, exchange of international experience, development of technical tools and guidance materials and capacity building/ training of government officials and social partners. The ETF will continue working closely with the EU Delegation and the Commission services with a view to contributing to the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agenda.