Skills for Employability is a British Council programme that promotes cultural relations; its central purpose is to develop international partnerships for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. It addresses the demand for skills in a global economy so that national educational and training systems are better able to respond to labour market demands and learner needs. Its overall aim is to support economic and social development by skills and enterprise training, and to provide opportunities for the next generation.

Building international partnerships

We focus on building strong relationships with industry and employers, governments and training providers around the world.

Through Skills for Employability we engage the UK’s leading policy-makers and agencies for skills and enterprise with their counterparts overseas. The programme provides a framework for cultural exchange that will:

			position the UK skills sector as a partner for engagement with ministries, skills agencies and training providers
			work with employers and industry
			focus on skills gaps and industry standards
			address unemployment and social exclusion
			foster enterprise and innovation
			provide high-quality training solutions
			establish long-term partnerships in education and training
			promote global citizenship
			provide opportunities for individuals in English  and skills for work

International dialogue on skills for a global economy

We work in four main areas to deliver the programme:

			Policy dialogue: we run local, regional and international seminars, workshops and forums, which tackle core issues in skills reforms in a global economy, with ministries, skills agencies, employers and institutions
			Partnerships for skills development: we facilitate international partnerships for skills development between organisations, ministries, skills agencies, and corporates. These cover a range of type and theme, such as engaging with industry and employers, partnerships in particular sectors, the development of occupational standards, quality assurance and benchmarking, innovation in design, enterprise skill, English and skills for employability.
			Enterprise and technology awards: we organise national competitions for young people with our partners overseas and in the UK that focus on enterprise challenges technology awards and awards for young entrepreneurs. These are allied to national skills campaigns to raise the profile and prestige of careers in skills.
			Professional networks: we build the international networks for professionals in skills development by means of seminars and workshops and e-networks.

Partnership within the project

Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia
Ministry of Labour and Social Issues of Armenia
National Assembly of Armenia
National Institute of Education
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Armenia
DVV International
Adult Education and Life Long Learning Association
ETF
Global Development Fund
USAID CAPS Project
UNDP Armenia
American Chamber of Commerce of Armenia
Eurasia Partnership Foundation
Yerevan State Armenian – Greek College of Tourism, Service and Food Industry
VET Colleges’ Directors Association
National VET Agency of Armenia
Union of Employers of Armenia
Youth Professional Orientation Center at the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

For more information about the project, please contact Skills for Employability Country Project Manager Narek Tovmasyan