Recently Yeghegnadzor State College has received a driving class laboratory for the implementation of practical classes right on the premises of the College. The full laboratory consists of 12 items necessary to acquire practical knowledge and skills. This is a unique opportunity for the college to become one of the leading VET institutions in the region and deliver up to date trainings not only to college students, but also to adults through running short-term training courses. “I am very grateful to UNDP for choosing our college as one of the beneficiaries. We hope that we would be able to educate our students according to international standards and provide the region with good and qualified workforce”, says Sargsyan Khachanush, the principal of Yeghegnadzor State College.

The constant changes in the labor market and in society continuously make new demands on the skills and adaptability of individuals. While traditional, time-based approaches to education have met with varying levels of success over the years, it is an ineffective system when the goal is to train individuals to perform specific, job-related skills. Obviously, the time-based educational system used in schools and universities is not appropriate when conducting vocational education and training (VET). A more appropriate approach is competency-based training (CBT) which grounds on Competency-Based Qualification Standards (CBQSs). In a traditional educational system, the unit of progression is time and it is teacher-centered. In a CBT system, the unit of progression is mastery of specific knowledge and skills and is learner-or participant-centered. Two key terms used in competency-based training are:

Armenian Government has initiated extensive educational reforms in the VET sector. Capacity building of the VET faculty is among important components of the ongoing reforms. UNDP “Vocational Education and Training System” Project being aligned to the Government Program of the VET modernization has initiated series of targeted training programs aimed at capacity building of almost all concerned VET stakeholders. Through educating and re-educating VET employees, teachers, students, and other professionals the Project strives to raise the quality of VET education in Armenia, to improve VET institutions infrastructures, as well as to change people mentality in favor of vocational education.

Another educational program entitled “How to Run VET Schools” was implemented by the VET Project in Denmark with participation of 12 pilot VET colleges’ principals to let them be acquainted with the basic principles of Danish VET system. Being one of the wealthiest countries in the world with world class education system especially in VET sector Denmark hosted Armenian delegation to update it with modern knowledge and innovative approaches being applied in the VET sector.

A well-qualified and highly educated workforce plays a crucial role in an increasingly globalized knowledge economy. A well functioning education system based on everyone having excellent and equal opportunities to acquire useful qualifications and competences is thus an important cornerstone of strong competitiveness and a flexible labour market and of an individual’s opportunity to actively participate in society and in the labour market. The constant changes in the labour market and in society continuously make new demands on the skills and adaptability of individuals. Participation in adult education and continuing training help individuals participate actively in the labour market throughout their lives. The Government of Armenia fully shares that vision and agrees that the enhanced effort in adult education should be in the agenda of not only educational reforms, but also in the list of actions aimed at the increase of employment.