On 4 and 26 July two interactive webinars on new models of career guidance were conducted within the framework of UNDP “Unleashing Employment and Income Generating Opportunities for Youth in the Regions of Armenia” project, funded by the Russian Federation, and jointly implemented with the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (MESCS).

The webinars were chaired by Karine Simonyan, the Project Coordinator, and hosted by Armenuhi Poghosyan, Acting Head of the TVET Department of the MESCS, Haykuhi Gevorgyan, Director of the Professional Orientation and Capacity Development Centre of the National Institute of Labour, Tatevik Gasparyan, Director of the National Center for VET Development, with participation of more than 40 career guidance experts from different TVET colleges across Armenia, colleagues from UNDP Office in Russia, international and local field experts.

Mrs. Simonyan in her welcoming remarks said that UNDP always pays a high attention to youth employment and sees career guidance and professional orientation among key policy measures to bridge the existing gap between labor market supply and demand sides.  

During the webinars, the partner ministries presented the key areas of the national development strategy and planned activities in the sector. The official opening and stage-setting part were followed by the presentation of Pavel Luksha, an international expert in the field of career guidance and professional orientation, as well as Ekaterina Loshkareva, WorldSkills international expert. The international experts shared analytical data about changing landscape of career guidance and professional orientation globally, highlighted successful development strategies in career orientation and guidance implemented across the world and particularly in Russia, shared recommendations on the WorldSkills toolsets, as well as practical recommendations for Armenia in the field of career guidance and professional orientation.

Alternative career building models with possible implementation scenarios underlining their advantage and disadvantages, as well as various ways of youth engagement in Armenia were discussed.  

During the group work following the presentation, the invited participants discussed the most applicable career guidance initiatives for Armenia by splitting into the flowing three thematic groups: future skills anticipation; creation of opportunities for professional discovery; and development of skills for future resilience.

The findings of the webinars will serve as a base for the project to initiate practical steps in the field addressing current challenges of career guidance and professional orientation.