On 19 February, 2021, at the conference hall of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a special training and capacity building programme for the WorldSkills expert community in Uzbekistan will be launched.

Currently large-scale reforms are being carried out in Uzbekistan. These reforms are aimed towards human capital development, improvement of the quality of tertiary and vocational education and courses on professions demanded in labour market for the general population, taking into account the trends of the market, as well as the introduction of a qualitatively new system for training qualified personnel.

In this regard, the adopted Presidential Resolution №PP-4804 of 11 August, 2020 ‘On additional measures aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship, increasing labour activity and vocational training of poor and unemployed citizens, and employment of the population’ is of particular relevance and importance.

In particular, the Resolution implies the organization of the WorldSkills standards-based competence assessment of graduates from the ‘Ishga Markhamat’ monocentres and vocational training centres. It also addresses the issuance of Skills Passports to graduates who have successfully passed assessments. These passports are recognized both in our country and abroad, which will undoubtedly contribute to broadening employment opportunities and professional growth.

In order to comply with the Resolution, UNDP together with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is implementing a number of events that are designed to contribute to the building and development of professional competencies in accordance with WorldSkills standards.

WorldSkills is an international movement whose fundamental mission is to create conditions for the professional self-fulfilment of people around the world.

WorldSkills International is an international non-profit association, which aims to raise the status and standards of vocational training and qualifications around the world, and increase the prestige of blue-collar occupations by organizing and holding international competitions. WorldSkills was founded in 1946 and currently has 85 member countries. Uzbekistan joined the association in 2019.

The Association for the Development and Promotion of Blue-Collar Professions (WorldSkills Uzbekistan) is the national operator of WorldSkills.

The event will include a presentation of the planned initiatives and experience of the Russian Federation, as well as a discussion on the improvement of the professional skills of young people, in which representatives of the expert community, business and non-governmental organizations will participate.

The initiative will result in the creation of the WorldSkills Uzbekistan expert community, which will directly participate in the creation of our country’s first system of professional training and independent assessment of applicants' competencies according to WorldSkills standards, followed by the issuance of Skills Passports.

In addition, this initiative provides for the institutionalization of the system of independent assessment of competencies through the creation of a Competence Assessment Centre (CAC) and a Vocational Training Centre (VTC), according to WorldSkills standards, on the basis of the ‘Ishga Markhamat’ monocentre.

The event will be attended by representatives of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the Association for the Development and Promotion of Blue-Collar Professions (WorldSkills Uzbekistan), the Agency for the Development of Professional Skills (WorldSkills Russia), the Embassy of the Russian Federation, UNDP, and also sectoral ministries and departments of Uzbekistan. The representatives of the Agency for the Development of Professional Skills (WorldSkills Russia), regional Vocational Training Centres and other relevant organizations will participate online via Zoom. 

Certificates for the status of a WorldSkills Uzbekistan expert will be awarded at the event to the most successful participants of the training and assessment.

This initiative is implemented within the framework of a joint project of UNDP and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations ‘Promoting Youth Employment in Uzbekistan’ as financed by the Government of the Russian Federation.