An online programme has been launched for training national experts in providing training in and assessing the professional skills of youth in accordance with the WorldSkills standards. In this programme, WorldSkills Russia specialists have shared their knowledge and experience with colleagues from Uzbekistan. Besides the creation of the WorldSkills Expert Community in Uzbekistan, this initiative implies the development and updating of professional training programmes. It also provides for the institutionalization of the system of the independent assessment of competencies through the creation of a Competence Assessment Centre (CAC) and a Vocational Training Centre (VTC), according to WorldSkills standards on the basis of the ‘Ishga Markhamat’ monocentre.

Trainings on the 14 most in-demand competencies are being held from 8 January to 15 February 2021, within the framework of the joint project ‘Promotion of Youth Employment in Uzbekistan’ as implemented by UNDP and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations with financial support from the Government of the Russian Federation.

“Starting from 1 January 2021, organize an assessment of the professional competence of graduates of the ‘Ishga Markhamat’ monocentres and vocational training centres based on WorldSkills standards, issue Skills Passports recognized in our country and abroad to graduates who have successfully passed the assessment, and form a Unified Register of Alumni with verified qualifications.

Determine that a Skills Passport and a document issued by ‘Ishga Markhamat’ monocentres and vocational training centres confirming graduates' completion of training are regarded as being equal to a diploma of secondary special vocational education, and grant the right to apply the acquired knowledge in labour activities.”

Extract from the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan №PP-4804 of 11 August 2020.

Solving challenges in the field of employment necessitates the creation of an effective system for training highly qualified working professionals in a way that reflects the needs of the labour market, including those of large enterprises and clusters created locally.

In May 2019 the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers №394 ‘On measures to improve the system of vocational training of qualified personnel demanded in the labour market’ was adopted in order to meet the demands of the labour market for qualified personnel, integrate vocational training with on-the-job trainings, and implement an international system for assessing professional competencies.

In addition to the creation of the National System for the Development of Professional Qualifications and Competencies, this Resolution also implies the incorporation of international WorldSkills standards into the system of vocational training and qualifications assessment of Uzbekistan, and the holding of national and regional championships of working professions in accordance with WorldSkills standards.

As the Deputy Director for International Affairs of the ‘Young Professionals Union’ (WorldSkills Russia) Alexei Skornyakov noted: “One of the most difficult tasks at this stage of the development of the WorldSkills movement in Uzbekistan is to mobilize the necessary resources and potential to create the Expert Community, namely “assemble and start the engine” within each competence, or profession, so that it is possible to recruit, train and certify new people. So that the Expert Community can develop naturally by itself. I very much hope that this goal will be achieved in Uzbekistan very soon.”

WorldSkills is an international movement whose fundamental mission is to create conditions for the professional self-fulfilment of people around the world.

WorldSkills International is an international non-profit association, which aims to raise the status and standards of vocational training and qualifications around the world, and increase the prestige of working professions by organizing and holding international competitions. WorldSkills was founded in 1946 and currently has 85 member countries. Uzbekistan joined the association in 2019.

The Association for the Development and Promotion of Working Professions (WorldSkills Uzbekistan) is the national operator of WorldSkills in Uzbekistan.