Reform of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector is recognised as a high priority by the Uzbek government and by donors and international organisations. Since 2002 we have been working in partnership with the Ministry of Higher and Specialised Secondary Education (MOHSSE) to explore ways of improving the existing VET system by making training and qualifications more relevant to the current needs of business and industry.

Study visits to the UK

In January 2003, with the support of the UK Department for Education and Skills, we organised a study visit to UK for key VET policy makers and shapers. This visit allowed them to gain experience of the UK VET system and to see for themselves the close partnership, which exists between academic and industry bodies.

The Pilot Demonstration Project

Following the study visit we, in co-operation with MOHSSE, designed a Pilot Demonstration Project involving five vocational colleges with the aim of building close partnerships between each of the colleges and a specified business or industry. A small team was selected in each college. These teams received specific training from UK experts in the design and delivery of competence-based training and assessment.

Training needs analysis studies

Each team carried out a training needs analysis and skills specification and then began to work on developing a practical skills development module for targeted groups of students or employees. These modules were piloted within the colleges and objectively assessed.

At a project conference in May 2004 teams presented the contents of the modules they had developed. Proposals were made for further extension of the modular programme and recommendations for the dissemination of results.

In 2005 we plan to continue our close co-operation with MOHSSE to extend the partnership-based curriculum development approach to other colleges and to further develop the competence-based model of training.

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