VET Caucasus - VET-Caucasus – Strengthening VET systems in Armenia and Georgia for skills and workforce development

The VET systems in Armenia and Georgia are undergoing significant transformations to modernize education and enhance alignment with EU standards. Armenia’s newly adopted VET reform law (May 2024) aims to improve quality and employability outcomes, while Georgia’s recent EU candidate status (December 2023) has accelerated efforts to reference its National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to the EQF. Despite progress, both countries face persistent challenges, including limited international alignment, weak labor market connections, and outdated training methodologies. Additionally, socio-economic factors, such as Armenia’s 570,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Georgia’s political instability, highlight the need for a more resilient and responsive VET sector.Project objectivesVET-Caucasus aims to enhance the relevance, quality, and responsiveness of VET institutions in Armenia and Georgia by equipping them with EU-aligned tools and methodologies. The project seeks to:• Strengthen institutional capacities in VET governance, quality assurance, and labor market integration.• Facilitate the adoption of EU frameworks (EQF, ESCO, EQAVET, EntreComp, Europass) for improved curriculum design and skills recognition.• Promote innovation in teaching and learning through digital resources and competency-based training models.Key activities & expected results• Capacity-building training for VET educators and administrators on EU-aligned frameworks and quality assurance mechanisms.• Establishment of a Digital Learning Hub to host open-access training resources for VET institutions.• Implementation of pilot programs to test and integrate modern teaching methodologies into VET curricula.• Development of sustainability and policy recommendations to embed best practices into national strategies.• Organization of high-impact dissemination events in Armenia and Georgia, ensuring stakeholder engagement and long-term impact.