The government of Kyrgyzstan has set out a new development model with ambitious medium- and long-term goals. The country wants to become a digital hub on the Great Silk Road, based on a new economy in harmony with the environment, producing high added value and being attractive to business and investors.
The National Development Strategy 2018–2040 aims for Kyrgyzstan 'to be included in the group of countries of the world with above-average income in terms of gross national product (GNP) per capita' (Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2018). The strategy also sets out new priorities in human capital development for the next two decades.
Seen in this context, the ETF assessment comes at an important point. It can assist with the prioritisation of reforms and the design of actions by providing input for policymakers in the domain of education and training.
The ETF assessment process includes an extensive phase of desk research. It draws on information not only from the Torino Process national report (the National Reporting Framework – NRF) prepared by a team of national experts[4]The Torino Process national report 2018–2020 was prepared from April to November 2019 by a team of national experts from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic; the Agency for Initial Vocational Education and Training under the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Labour; and civil society organisations with a role in VET. The national team collected evidence and organised focus group meetings with stakeholder groups. The report was validated with the national stakeholder community in January 2020. It can be found at: https://openspace.etf.europa.eu/trp/torino-process-2018-2020-kyrgyzstan-national-report. Any NRF information used in the assessment is clearly attributed.
, but also the analysis set out in other relevant studies and the preparation of an issues paper that contains an overview of the themes discussed in the present assessment. The assessment has been finalised in consultation with the ETF country and thematic teams working with Kyrgyzstan and with national stakeholders in the field of education and training.
This effort coincides with the EU's new Central Asia Strategy and preparations for the next generation of the financial framework for the EU external action 'Neighbourhood and the World' 2021–2027.
As with other ETF assessments, this paper is not meant to be exhaustive. The national report for Kyrgyzstan covers a broad selection of issues related to human capital development and use, while the focus here is on the challenges that the ETF recommends addressing as a matter of priority.