The FINANCIAL — The European Union and the Government of Georgia summarise four years of cooperation to develop a modern employment and education system in Georgia. More than 30,000 Georgians have found employment thanks to new tools developed and thousands have access to improved vocational education.
Official keynote speeches were furthermore held by Irina Abuladze, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Tamar Barkalaia, Deputy Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and social Affairs of Georgia, and Levan Gogodze, Deputy Director of the Social Service Agency. These were followed by remarks given by Georgian entrepreneurs, such as Zviad Tsikolia and Valeri Chekheria. In addition, representatives of the EU’s Technical Assistance project “EUVEGE” as well as the involved ministries discussed the main achievements of EU-Georgia cooperation in the field of employment and vocational education over the past four years.
About Skills4Jobs
One of the main challenges in overcoming unemployment is the mismatch between available skills and the needs of the labour market. With EU support, the Government has managed to modernise the vocational education and training system through:
A more effective labour market system was formed through the establishment of the Labour Market Information System and the improvement of the employment services.
Employment support services are introduced and improved in all 69 municipalities in Georgia.
Thanks to the establishment and use of worknet.gov.ge 30,000 jobseekers have found employment.
Improved quality of vocational education:
Over 100 occupational standards were updated and relaunched;
New modular curricular were created;
762 teachers were trained;
Entrepreneurship learning was introduced in all public colleges.
A better transition from vocational education to employment through the establishment of public/private sector partnerships and the enhancement of career guidance at 35 public colleges.
In addition the EU worked with four civil society partners to pilot innovative solutions to tackling employment challenges for people with disabilities, people living in remote areas, and for developing agri- and family businesses to demonstrate that with the right support, everyone can be employable. Besides presenting new models of employment support, the projects found jobs for 100 jobseekers, supported over 240 small businesses and trained over 3.000 people.
Upcoming support
In the coming years the European Union will continue to work together with the Government of Georgia to create perspectives and increase employment among citizens of Georgia. Support will focus on improving the link between education and the labour market to ensure that people with improved skills will find matching jobs.
