Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 30 October 2019 - Developed occupational standards and qualifications for three industry sectors were presented during the Sub-regional Pilot completion workshop in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The Kyrgyz Republic pioneered the development of internationally comparable occupational standards for gas industry, milk processing, and the tourism and hospitality sectors. The Pilot initiative was implemented by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic with technical support of the “Applying the G20 Training strategy project: A partnership of the ILO and the Russian Federation” (Phase 2) project. Occupational standards were developed by three groups of national experts with active involvement of enterprises of the corresponding industry sectors, as well as TVET institutions.

«With the project support very important and urgent issues related to the development of occupational standards were raised. The Kyrgyz Republic has been consolidating all its efforts in improving the country’s economy and significant attention has been given to Human resources development. The lack of the highly skilled labour force is a huge problem for all the industry sectors, including for the gas industry and we believe that the developed occupational standards will serve as a bridge for reducing the gap between the quality of training in VET schools and labour market needs. I believe that joint efforts will help to bring labour force in the country to a new level» - noted Deputy Director General for personnel management and overall issues, Gazprom Kyrgyzstan - Mr. S.O. Akimbaev.

The methodology used was based on the experience of developed economies and can be applied to develop competency-based qualifications. Occupational standards and qualifications of this type have been developed in the Kyrgyz Republic for the first time and enabled the systemto develop new type competency-based modular curriculums. Developed standards and qualifications are comparable with foreign qualifications.

As it was noted in the opening speech by a member of the Milk union of Kyrgyzstan - Mr. Djon Dj.A. - "The work conducted is very timely. It is important to highlight that currently. milk enterprises do not only requires workers with higher education qualifications, but a vocational and technical qualified labour force for possessing occupatios. At each stage of occupational standards' development, experts consulted with milk enterprises and as a result, in view of our interests and requirements, a milk processing occupational standard was elaborated».

The workshop was attended by heads and technical specialists from Ministries and agencies, directors and teachers of VET schools, local government officials, representatives from state authorities, employers' and workers' organizations of other project-countries (Armenia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Russia). The workshop participants were provided with Publication containing a full set of occupational standards for six qualifications: certificate of a worker and diploma of a technician.

Brief interview about the standards developed by the G20TS Project, which was taken by the company Gazprom Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the Sub-regional Pilot Completion workshop