The primary goal of the Azerbaijani government is to speed up economic diversification, maintain rapid growth in the non-oil sector regardless of the level of oil and gas revenues, increase competitiveness and expand expert opportunities. The Strategic Roadmap for Vocational Education and Training (VET) 2016–2025, adopted by the government of Azerbaijan in December 2016, sets out the short-, medium- and long-term vision for VET development. A comprehensive framework to improve the system sets the objectives to ensure radical improvements in a number of aspects of VET, such as to create a new positive image for VET; establish a management structure for VET providers based on an improved public–private partnership; create a rationalised and optimised network of public VET providers; increase the attractiveness of the VET system to the private sector; and create and establish 10 VET schools that will be equipped with high-end technology in their VET profiles.
One of the priorities for European Union (EU) assistance to Azerbaijan is supporting skills development with a particular focus on VET, aiming to help the country to have a better match between the skills of the labour force and the needs of employers. There are ongoing EU programmes that are important for human capital development in Azerbaijan.
The EU Annual Action Programme (AAP) 2014 contributes with a total budget of EUR 19 million to the sector. The objectives of the programme relate to enhancing the quality and relevance of the education system, with a focus on higher education and VET, increasing the attractiveness and labour market relevance of all levels of VET, and strengthening civic participation, governance and inclusiveness of the education system. Support to workforce planning and skills anticipation worth EUR 1.2 million will be financed under the AAP 2016, and the support will begin in early 2020. In the pipeline is EU support through the AAP 2018 Education for Employment programme with a total budget of EUR 14 million.
This European Training Foundation (ETF) assessment comes at an important point as the country prepares for the implementation of the AAP 2018 Education for Employment programme. Azerbaijan also participates in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) multiannual programme. Launched in 2009 as a joint policy initiative, the EaP aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the EU, its Member States and its six eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. In May 2020, all six EaP countries and the EU will launch the third phase of the initiative and agree on the new ambitious work plan, revising the 20 Deliverables for 2020. It will aim to bring tangible benefits to the lives of citizens across the region. In this context, cooperation between the EU and its six EaP countries will focus on working towards stronger economies, stronger governance, stronger connectivity and stronger societies.
The assessment process included an extensive phase of desk research based on responses to a standardised questionnaire, the National Reporting Framework (hereinafter national Torino Process report), and the preparation of an issues paper with an overview of themes to be discussed in the present report, which were then finalised in consultation with the ETF country and thematic teams responsible for Azerbaijan. An advanced draft of the ETF assessment was circulated to national stakeholders and international partners and discussed at a consultation meeting to verify the findings and recommendations.
Like other ETF assessments, this paper is not meant to be exhaustive. The national report covers a broad selection of issues around human capital development and use, while the focus here is on challenges which the ETF recommends addressing as a matter of priority.