This document summarizes information from the Torino Process 2014 Eastern Europe Regional Conference. The key points are: 1) The Torino Process is a participatory assessment of vocational education and training (VET) policies that aims to build consensus around VET reform and measure progress. 2) Countries in the Eastern Europe region have made progress in developing more comprehensive VET strategies linked to national development goals that emphasize quality, relevance, and lifelong learning. 3) Ongoing VET reforms seek to improve internal efficiency through quality assurance mechanisms, qualifications frameworks, and teacher training, but challenges remain around governance and using evidence to inform policies.

1. TORINO PROCESS 2014 EASTERN EUROPE
REGIONAL CONFERENCE
TBILISI, 3 – 4 DECEMBER 2014
SIRIA TAURELLI

2. EASTERN EUROPE REGIONAL CONFERENCE - DECEMBER 2014

3. TORINO PROCESS 2014
THE TORINO PROCESS
3
THE TORINO PROCESS IS
a participatory process leading to an evidence-based analysis of VET policies in a given country.

4. TORINO PROCESS 2014
PURPOSE
TO BUILD CONSENSUS
on the possible ways forward in VET policy and system development, including:
•determining the state of the art and vision for VET development in the country
4
AND
•after the 2012 edition, an assessment of whether countries are achieving the results they want and measuring progress in the reform implementation.

5. TORINO PROCESS 2014
PURPOSE
5
•To develop a common understanding of VET vision, priorities and strategy and exploring options for implementation.
•To develop awareness, analysis capacities and policy prioritisation tools.
•To monitor the implementation of long-term strategies and to contribute to impact-oriented policy making.
•Opportunities for capacity development and policy learning within and among partner countries and with EU.
•Results inform ETF’s support strategy and the EU’s external assistance.
•Countries are empowered to coordinate donor contributions.

6. TORINO PROCESS 2014
FOUR PRINCIPLES
6
01
Ownership of both process and results by partner country stakeholders.
02
Broad participation in the process as a basis for reflections and consensus building/policy learning.
03
Holistic approach, using a broad concept of VET for both young people and adults and adhering to a system approach, including links to economic and social demands.
04
Evidence or knowledge-based assessment.

7. VISION FOR THE VET SYSTEMS
10 YEARS OF REFORMS, ONGOING PROCESS.
NEWER AND COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES, LINKED TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES: QUALITY, RELEVANCE, ATTRACTIVENESS, PARTNERSHIP WITH LABOUR MARKET ACTORS, AND LIFELONG LEARNING.
HOLISTIC VIEW ON VET: CLEARER IN MOLDOVA, RUSSIA AND UKRAINE.
ATTRACTIVENESS IS THE SHORT/MEDIUM-TERM GOAL: ALL COUNTRIES
UNIFORM QUALITY: GEORGIA, RUSSIA.

8. SUSTAINED GROWTH OF GDP

9. SERVICES INCREASE THEIR VALUE ADDED TO GDP

10. GENERALLY HIGH PARTICIPATION IN LABOUR MARKET

11. EMPLOYMENT RATES VARY BETWEEN 40% – 65%

12. UNEMPLOYMENT: FROM RATHER LOW TO HIGH
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
AM
AZ
BY
GE
MD
RU
UA
EU-28
Source:National Statistical Offices; Eurostat Note: AM - population aged 15-75; RU - population aged 15-72; UA - population aged 15-70; BY - administrative data, population aged 16-59 (m) and 16-54 (f)
Unemployment rates (15+) - last available year
Total
Female

13. YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT MORE THAN THE DOUBLE
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
AM
AZ
GE
MD
RU
UA
EU-28
Source: National Statistical Offices; Eurostat
Note: AM - population aged 15-75; RU - population aged 15-72; UA - population aged 15-70
Youth unemployment rates (15-24) - last available year
Total
Female

14. YOUTH NOT IN EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR TRAINING

15. ADDRESSING ECONOMIC AND LABOUR MARKET FACTORS
BRINGING VET CLOSER TO THE DEMANDS, PROVIDING HIGH SKILLS.
FROM 2012, A WIDER AND MORE COHERENT RANGE OF ACTIONS:
•EDUCATION AND BUSINESS COOPERATION
•SKILLS ANTICIPATION
•ENTREPRENEURIAL LEARNING
•CAREER GUIDANCE
•STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

16. DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS ARE AS EXPECTED

17. SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY PREVAIL AMONG EMPLOYED
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Armenia
(2012, 15-
75)
Azerbaijan
(2013)
Belarus
(2012, 16-
59 (men)
and 16-54
(women))
Georgia
(2012)
Republic of
Moldova
(2013)
Russian
Federation
(2013, 15-
72)
Ukraine
(Ukraine,
15-70)
25.2
6.7
2.5
8.3
18.5
3.8
4.9
67
77.1
70.1
62.9
56.1
38.7
66.2
ISCED 0-2
ISCED 3-4

18. 25% - 50% OF UPPER SECONDARY STUDENTS GO TO VET
24.4
28.2
35.4
44.3
48.0
48.5
46.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
AM
UA
MD
BY
AZ
RU
EU-28 Average
Share of VET students in Upper Secondary Education (%) - 2012

19. ADDRESSING DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL FACTORS
AGEING POPULATION
MIGRATION
WELL EDUCATED POPULATIONS, HIGH LITERACY RATES
LACK OF COMPLETION AMONG VET STUDENTS TO BE MONITORED
POVERTY IN ARMENIA, GEORGIA, MOLDOVA
DISABILITY IS A STRONG BARRIER TO ACCESS EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

20. ADDRESSING DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL FACTORS
MORE AWARENESS AND MEASURES IN PLACE
VOUCHERS AND OTHER DEDICATED MEASURES FOR POOR FAMILIES
PLANS FOR INTERNSHIPS
PLANS FOR INCREASED FLEXIBILITY
PLANS FOR UPGRADING INFRASTRUCTURE
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROVIDE CVT, PLANS FOR MORE
PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTING VALIDATION OF NON-FORMAL INFORMAL LEARNING

21. EDUCATION EXPENDITURE
Education Expenditure (Last available years)
AM
AZ
BY
GE
MD
RU
UA
Public expenditure on education as % of GDP
3.3
2.4
5.1
2.0
7.1
4.3
6.2
Public expenditure on education as % of total government expenditure
13.7
7.2
12.8
6.7
18.3
24.5
19.2
Public expenditure on VET as percentage of the total spending on education
M
5.2
10.8*
4.1
M
8.8*
M
Notes: * including vocational (initial) technical and secondary specialised education; M: missing data.
Sources: The World Bank, NSO, UIS, TRP, MoE.

22. INTERNAL EFFICIENCY OF THE VET SYSTEMS
QUALITY ASSURANCE MECHANISMS
QUALIFICATIONS AND NQFS:
•DIFFERENT IMPLEMENTATION STAGES: FROM INITIAL PHASES TO REVIEWS AIMED AT IMPROVING
•OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS THE FIRST OPERATIONAL STEP IN ALL COUNTRIES
•PILOTS OF MODULAR CURRICULA START
•NORMATIVE SIDE OF NQF ADVANCED FROM TORINO PROCESS 2012
TEACHERS AND TEACHER TRAINING: THE CHALLENGE

23. VET GOVERNANCE
THE INTENSITY OF MONITORING, ASSESSING RESULTS AND IMPROVING POLICIES HAS INCREASED
HIGHER COMPLEXITY AND PERFORMANCE IN MANAGING VET SYSTEMS
EXPERTISE ON EVIDENCE: DOES IT FEED INTO POLICIES?
EMPLOYERS, TO LESS EXTENT EMPLOYEES, PARTICIPATE MORE IN VET DIALOGUE
EMPLOYERS INVOLVED IN IMPLEMENTATION IN AT LEAST 3 COUNTRIES
SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN VET: NEED FOR MORE PRACTICE

24. VET REFORMS ARE ONGOING COMMONALITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN THE REGION DISCUSSION: KEY PROGRESS AND PRIORITIES