SESRIC hosted a Brainstorming Session with the participation of TVET-related Turkish Institutions on 7 October 2024 at its Headquarters in Ankara, as part of the Vocational Education and Training Programme for the Member Countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-VET).

Representatives from the Ministry of National Education of Türkiye, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organisation (KOSGEB), the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR), the Vocational Qualifications Authority of Türkiye (MYK), and OSTIM Technical University attended the session

The main objective of the meeting was to have a better comprehension of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) landscape in Türkiye and to explore the potential collaborations and initiatives between TVET-related Turkish institutions and SESRIC to contribute to and strengthen the impact of the OIC-VET Activities.

The session commenced with welcoming remarks by Dr. Atilla KARAMAN, Chief of Cabinet of SESRIC. In his speech, Dr. KARAMAN explained that the OIC-VET programme, the flagship initiative of SESRIC, aims to support OIC countries in addressing challenges and constraints within the TVET sector to enhance their quality of TVET systems. He also emphasised the critical role of TVET in the development of educated youth and the improvement of their employability, a critical concern in the OIC countries.

During the session, SESRIC provided an overview of the OIC-VET Programme and OIC-TVET Roadmap 2020-2025, followed by presentations from the Turkish institutions on their work and specialised areas within their respective fields.

The discussion explored the major challenges and obstacles hindering the advancement of TVET, including a diminished public perception of vocational education, the skills mismatch with the labour market, recognition of prior learning, the substantial costs associated with vocational school infrastructure, and the imperative to establish a dual education system.

Participants underscored the significance of fostering collaborative partnerships between SESRIC, Turkish institutions, and other OIC countries to enhance the effectivness of OIC-VET initiatives.

For more information about the OIC-VET, please visit: https://www.oicvet.org/

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