The EU-funded project “Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan” which is implemented by UNESCO, has been supporting the operationalization of the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) in Agriculture and Irrigation sectors. At the opening ceremony of Irrigation Sector Skills Council equipped by the project high-level officials, such as Minister of Water Resources, Director of Institute of Employment and Labor Market Research, Head of Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union in Uzbekistan, UNESCO Representative in Uzbekistan and other project stakeholders participated at the event.
SSCs in Uzbekistan were defined and established for 29 sectors in December 2020. Recognizing the important role entrusted to them by the President of Uzbekistan with Presidential Decree 4939, the project has been working to enhance the capacity of SSC through knowledge transfer workshops, where experts have shown different good models of SSC, as well as the lessons learned in other countries. Recently, the project has been developing the national occupational standards in agriculture and irrigation sectors, where agriculture and irrigation SSCs are proactively involved.
In his welcoming address, Minister of Water Resources Mr Shavkat Khamraev stated that “Every year in the autumn-winter season, training courses to improve the qualifications of middle and lower managers are organized at the ministry. The fact that today's opening ceremony of the Sector Skills Council and the center for the training of leading personnel in the field of water management coincides with the week of these training courses is a proof that our aspirations are in harmony with our international partners. We would like to show our gratitude to their continuous support”.
Mr. Mindaugas Kacerauskis, Head of Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of European Union in Uzbekistan, said that “The project is aligned with major initiatives of the Government of Uzbekistan, such as the Presidential Decree “On additional measures for further improvement of the Vocational Education System”, the Uzbekistan Agriculture Modernization and Development Strategy 2020-2030. EU will remain committed to supporting the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan in the area of education reform, and especially in the development of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for agriculture and irrigation. During his recent official visit of President of the European Council Mr Charles Michel to Uzbekistan and a high level meeting with the President of Uzbekistan Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev, there was a joint statement where the Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening an open and constructive dialogue and partnership between Uzbekistan and the EU, as well as promoting further expansion of regional cooperation and connectivity based on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect, trust and compliance with fundamental norms of international law in order to transform the Central Asia to a region of peace, security, stability and sustainable development. Launching of the first Sector Skills Council at the Ministry of Water Resources is a great example of effective cooperation between various actors and we wish that this partnership would be sustainable and continues beyond the project timeframe.
Ms. Sara Noshadi, UNESCO Representative in Uzbekistan informed participants that “UNESCO supports technical vocational education and training development reforms, which eventually should bring a positive impact on development of skilled human capital and lead to economic growth as well as employability of young women and men in rural areas of Uzbekistan. The project continues to further support the SSC by facilitating the knowledge exchange with other countries, through study tour and by inviting international experts to Uzbekistan to reach wider audiences including SSCs for other sectors”.
