The FINANCIAL — Second Annual International TVET Conference “Skills for Future” was organized by Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia under the Industry-Led Skills and Workforce Development Project.
Kakha Kaladze, Tbilisi Mayor-elect opened the conference and welcomed the participants: “Industry-led and Workforce Development Project is a very important project since new 45 vocational programs are now available for Georgian citizens. These programs fully meet with the State strategy that aims to address the gap of qualified workforce needed for economic development of Georgia. I am very pleased that interested citizens can now access new programs and equip with skills needed for future employment”, – said Kaladze.
Jason Gregory, Director of Business and Development at education company Pearson from UK who was the key-note speaker of the conference, presented the findings of the research conducted by Pearson to identify which professions and skills will be demanded in 2030.
FINDINGS:
– Occupations related to agriculture, trades and construction, which in other studies have been forecast to decline, exhibit more interesting patterns with the research, suggesting that there may be opportunity throughout the skills ladder.
– In sectors such as education and healthcare, effect of technology is likely to be an improvement in outcomes, not a reduction in workforce. Therefore, as trends such as demographic change raise demand for these services, the prospect for employment is also likely to rise.
– Findings rank knowledge areas, skills, and abilities that will be in greater demand in the future. These findings, if implemented by educators and employers, can help individuals better prepare for the workforce of the future.
– Research shows that both knowledge and skills will be required for the future economy.
The top occupations predicted to experience increased demand through 2030 are as follows:
– Engineers
– Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades
– Sports and Fitness Occupations
– Health and Social Services Managers and Directors
– Teaching and Educational Professionals
– Natural and Social Science Professionals
– Managers and Proprietors in Hospitality and Leisure Services
– Animal Care and Service Workers
More than 200 participants of the conference from Georgia and abroad discussed topics such as TVET for Employment – Policy and Business Perspectives, Vocational Education for Economic Development: the Role of Private Sector and Branding of TVET. Leading marketing experts in Georgia shared their view how TVET can become more attractive in Georgia.
TVET Fair of new 45 programs was also held during the conference. Ten TVET providers presented their new programs and provided information on enrolment and learning process. The programs exhibited during the TVET Fair were developed in line with current Georgian labour market demands and meet the international standards of relevant professions.
At the end of the Conference, TVET Award Gala ceremony was held where winners and runner-ups in the four categories were revealed. TVET Awards was held in Georgia for the first time and it aims to improve the image and reputation of vocational education in the country.
US Ambassador to Georgia, Ian C. Kelly and Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Alexander Jejelava attended the TVET Award ceremony.
“TVET awards competition is one of the steps to improve the image of vocational education in the country. We already have good results. The number of students choosing VET is increasing each year. It is important to attract the attention of students, teachers, parents and employers”, – said Alexander Jejelava.
Winners and Runners-Up in the following four Award Categories were revealed: TVET Provider of the Year, TVET Business Partner of the Year, TVET Professional of the Year and TVET Student of the Year.
“Today we are organizing a very important international conference dedicated to vocational education, which is attended by more than 200 guests from different country. We are discussing the labour market requirements and demanded professions for 2030. National TVET Awards is organized for the first time in Georgia and is a very big event for Georgian TVET sector. Our main goal is to make TVET more popular and attractive in the country. It is very important that parents and students understand well what opportunities are there in the vocational education”, – said Magda Magradze, CEO of Millennium Challenge Account – Georgia.
The general sponsor of the event was Ina Gudavadze- Patarkadishvili.
Industry-led Skills and Workforce Development is a $16 million project of the Millennium Challenge Account-Georgia funded under the second $140 million Compact between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Georgia.
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