Azerbaijan is continuing measures to improve the quality and efficiency of its education system as a whole. Vocational education has so far benefitted less from these reforms than higher and in particular general secondary education, but is gradually gaining importance in spite of a comparatively low education budget and limited implementation capacities. The Education Act of 2009 has established a framework for reform in which there is more attention to lifelong learning and the role of vocational education in the education and training system of the country is likely to evolve from the compulsory curriculum and school-led approach of the last fifteen years to new forms of cooperation with the private sector. Some elements of these changes have become clearer recently, others are to be developed. Links with enterprises are improving; school facilities have been partially upgraded and occupational standards and modular curricula are being piloted.
As in previous years ETF support to Azerbaijan is built mainly around a number of corporate and regional project initiatives, linking as well with on-going VET reforms and EU assistance in the country. It is our intention to strengthen the synergies between the ETF corporate and regional initiatives and our support for national VET reforms. The proposed implementation plan is the result of consultations with the main stakeholders and the EU Delegation in early December 2011.
In line with the ETF WP 2012, ETF support in 2012 will focus on 1. The Torino Process 2012 2. Follow up on NQF, VET legislation and possible other policy developments 3. Assistance to the implementation of the Twinning Project on TVET in Agriculture
and the following regional activities 4. Continuation of the LLL regional project, 5. Follow up of the SBA assessment 2012, 6. Participation in a regional event on Green Skills