Within the framework of the Vocational Education and Training Programme for the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-VET) and in line with the OIC-TVET Strategic Roadmap 2020-2025, SESRIC, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education under the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye, organized a Training of Trainers (ToT) Course on “Graphic Design and Photo Print Techniques” on 13-15 December 2022 through an online video conferencing platform.

The training course was provided by a competent expert from the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education of the Republic of Türkiye for the benefit of 132 trainers and professionals from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Authorities and relevant national institutions in 24 OIC Member Countries.

The main objective of the ToT course was to enhance the skills and capacity of trainers in the OIC Member Countries in graphic design and photo printing techniques which would contribute to reinforcing vocational students' knowledge with modern practices. The training course also aimed to provide insights into the fundamentals of visual art and design, tools and applications used in the design process, photography and photo editing and the basics of digital printing.

The ToT course commenced with the opening remarks of Mr. Onur ÇAĞLAR, Director of the Training and Technical Cooperation Department at SESRIC, who highlighted the multiple challenges faced by TVET teachers and trainers in the OIC Member Countries in keeping up with the latest developments in the field of graphic design and photography. In this connection, Mr. ÇAĞLAR stressed on the importance of capacity building activities and their key role in enhancing the knowledge and expertise of the trainers, which in return, contribute directly to the learning environment and advancement of TVET students.

On behalf of the General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education under the Ministry of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr. Murat MIDAS, Chief of Section, delivered welcoming remarks addressing the participants. In his speech, Mr. MIDAS emphasized on the role played by TVET institutions in a country’s economic development and prosperity. Therefore, the improvement of TVET systems through capacity building could play a crucial role in training a qualified labour force, he added. He also expressed the readiness and willingness of his Esteemed Ministry in sharing experience and best practices with other OIC Member Countries through the OIC-VET Programme.

The OIC-VET is an initiative of SESRIC officially launched at the COMCEC Economic Summit held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 09 November 2009. The Centre developed and designed this Programme to support and contribute to the efforts of the OIC Member Countries towards addressing the challenges and limitations faced in the area of TVET. The Programme also aims to enhance the quality of TVET systems in the OIC Member Countries, which in turn contribute to the development and competitiveness of their economies. SESRIC, in its capacity as the Executing OIC Organ of the Programme, monitors the implementation of the OIC-TVET Strategic Roadmap 2020-2025 and regularly submits the progress reports towards the implementation of the Roadmap to the Ministerial Sessions and the Follow-up Committee Meetings of the COMCEC. For more details about the OIC-VET and its activities, please visit: https://www.oicvet.org