30 years, 30+ stories: Jordan, striving for excellence in vocational education and training
The ETF has been supporting the country develop education and training to improve employability since 1998, complementing the work of the EU and cooperating with bilateral and international donors.
Jordan takes its name from the famous river that runs along the country's western border before flowing into the Dead Sea. According to the most recent data from the Jordanian Department of Statistics in 2022, the population of the semi-arid country is around 11.3 million. Two years prior, an estimate suggested that Jordan was hosting nearly 3.5 million refugees, primarily Palestinians and Syrians.
Historically, migration has played a crucial role in the Jordanian economy, although only one-seventh of the migrants are economic expats. Nevertheless, migrant remittances accounted for a substantial 10.5% of GDP in 2022, although this figure has halved as a percentage of GDP since the early 2000s (on average down to 20%).
Another key feature is that the population is concentrated in the three largest cities: three quarters live in the capital Amman, Zarqa and Irbid. This demographic composition, coupled with the country's young average age (over one-third of the population is under the age of 15), presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities.
Jordan is classified by the World Bank as an 'upper middle-income country', the fifth largest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of the population continues to experience multidimensional poverty, including one fifth of the children and particularly those belonging to marginalised groups, such as Syrian refugees, according to UNICEF data.
Jordan has typically enjoyed a close relationship with the European Union. The EU and Jordan have been connected through an Association Agreement signed in 1997 and entered into force in 2002. Jordan was also the first Mediterranean country to be granted "Advanced Status" in its partnership with the EU in 2010.
The ETF's coordinating role and the outcomes of the Torino process
Over the last decades, the ETF has been providing the government with expert input and policy advice to inform the development of its policies and strategy. It has also been working with the EU Delegation in Jordan to ensure the effective design and implementation of its interventions. Additionally, the ETF has been cooperating with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which focuses on the tourism sector in Jordan, to address issues of social inclusion and skills development.
It results in a harmonious triangular relationship between the government, the EU Delegation and the EBRD, all of which communicate with the ETF.
A major achievement in the ETF monitoring of the vocational education and training (VET) system in the country was the assessment report of the Torino Process 2022-24, prepared in line with the strategic plans set out in the Jordan National TVET Strategy 2023-2027, under the coordination of Ayman Alwreikat, Director of Accreditation and Quality Assurance Directorate at the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission of Jordan.
The Torino Process report indicates that there is room for improvement in the quality and relevance of learning for students with a migrant background. This is an area where the VET system can ensure that the skills and knowledge provided are closely aligned with the needs of all learners. On a positive note, the VET system in Jordan performs well in the area of innovation, particularly in supporting access and participation for first-generation migrants.
The ETF's role in the past and priorities for the future
Former Minister Munther Masri, one of the first partners and a member of the ETF Advisory Forum for Jordan in 1999, pointed out many years ago. 'The strength of ETF involvement in labour market information analysis in Jordan is in the way it goes beyond just collecting data. The ETF helps us to develop not just the capacity to collect information, but also to manage and use it. The ETF helps us find the expertise to start utilising this data in a meaningful way. Contrary to common practice, we don’t just get access to the limited expertise of an organisation or country. In fact, the ETF functions as a conduit to whatever expertise there is available in the European Union. The links established with peer organisations in, for example, Ireland and Spain, are invaluable to us.'
Over the years, this knowledge-sharing approach has indeed led to increased cooperation between the government and international and bilateral donors from EU Member States. Many of them are active in the field of TVET and employment. A mapping of donor interventions in 2016 found that 38 employment and skills development projects were underway in Jordan, with funding of €335 million contributed by a dozen agencies, and initiatives continue to date.
'There is currently a significant presence of bilateral and international donors operating in Jordan with a focus on vocational education and training. Consequently, the ETF's role is also to provide expertise in order to assist in harmonising and adapting these efforts,' states Florian Kadletz, ETF country liaison for Jordan.
A recent case in point is the ETF's ongoing study of the learning approach of Tafakur, a participatory training method based on dialogue, reflection and questioning, implemented in two adult education centres. Takafur was developed and implemented by DVV International, the German Adult Education Association and funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in Germany.
The EU is funding a € 65 million programme entitled Support to Quality of Education and Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to support the implementation of Jordan’s Strategic Plan on Education. The programme aims to support quality and access to education and improved governance and management – a key issue to increase the coordination between the Ministries of Education, Labour and Higher Education, as highlighted by the former ETF country liaison for Jordan, Mounir Baati. This will further enhance Jordan's progress in linking education and employment for sustainable economic and social growth.
Despite the many improvements to Jordan's VET system, the Torino Process report identifies many areas of intervention where the ETF can offer its expertise to the government. A very recent development is the request from the Jordanian network of the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) for the ETF to assist in the development of a framework for excellence criteria in Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVES) in the country. The aim is to improve the quality of vocational training, increase employability and enhance the international recognition of CoVES. These initiatives underline the government's confidence in the ETF's role in developing mechanisms that will lead to a more skilled and competitive workforce.
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