A practical seminar entitled “Strengthening the Capacity of Sector Council” was held in Tashkent within the framework of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) project “Supporting Reform and Modernisation of the Vocational Education and Training System in Uzbekistan (TexVET-II)”.

The seminar brought together representatives of the Institute for Development of the National Qualifications System, the Agency for Vocational Education, ministries and government agencies, as well as Sector Councils for Professional Qualifications Development.

During the event, Anvar Allabergenov, Director of the Institute for Development of the National Qualifications System, delivered a presentation on the role of Sector Councils for Professional Qualifications Development within the national qualifications system and the interrelationship between occupational standards, qualification standards and competency assessment.

With the participation of Dr Paul Comyn, Consultant to the TexVET-II project, the seminar provided an in-depth discussion of the following key issues:

🔹 approaches to ensuring the quality and relevance of occupational standards;

🔹 organising competency-based education and assessment based on occupational standards;

🔹 qualification requirements as a tool for strengthening the link between occupational standards and the workforce development and training system;

🔹 mechanisms for the recognition of prior learning and competencies (RPL);

🔹 the roles and responsibilities of Sector Councils within the current project.

As part of the practical sessions, participants were divided into working groups to analyse a selected draft occupational standard and present their views, comments and recommendations. Participants also developed proposals for expanding the implementation of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system in Uzbekistan.

The seminar is expected to contribute to improving the effectiveness of Sector Councils for Professional Qualifications Development, strengthening approaches to the development and updating of occupational standards, and further enhancing international cooperation in the development of Uzbekistan’s national qualifications system.