Context:
The overall economic growth in Lebanon was high in recent years but significantly dropped in 2011 and the outlook for the near future is not promising. The Lebanese labour market is traditionally characterised by a low employment rate (in total 48% in 2009, females only 21% in 2007), high youth unemployment (13% for females, 7% for males), a high influx of foreign workers as well as Syrian refugees and to a lesser extent Palestinian refugees and a large number of skilled Lebanese people seeking and obtaining employment abroad.
In such context, high pressure is put on the Lebanese Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) system not only to deliver more skills, but also different skills sets tied to the changing needs in the economy.
Objective:
The objective is to promote and strengthen planning, coordination and implementation for a more practice-oriented VET in Lebanon.
Approach:
The project is building on the experience of the German bilateral support programme ‘Promotion of Vocational Education and SME development – DSME’ which introduced the ‘Dual system’ (DS) and ‘Meister’ (MS) training as a demand-oriented innovation in the Lebanese VTE system.
The idea is to further promote the practice-orientation of VTE, while at the same time encouraging the introduction of a strategic shift towards practice-orientation (work-based learning) in the mainstream VTE system. The project is structured in four components:
(1) consolidate the quality of training and learning in VET practice-oriented initiatives;
(2) improvement of the information base for practice-oriented learning;
(3) promotion of practice-orientation in main streams of VTE in Lebanon;
(4) improving planning and coordination in the VET sub-sector.
The main project approach is participatory and based on capacity development which aims to empower key stakeholders in VTE to better understand the obstacles inhibiting the realisation of their development goals while enhancing their abilities that will allow them to achieve measurable and sustainable results.
The project includes but also serves as a vehicle for promoting cross-cutting issues such as social inclusion and gender equality.
Type of services provided:
Development of tools and systems to improve the quality of work-based learning models;
Identification of new sectors for practice-oriented VET;
Development of curricula and pedagogical materials;
Development and implementation of a quality framework for practice-oriented VET;
Establishment of ‘light co-operation mechanisms’ between VTE and business sector;
Capacity development on practical training, management and monitoring;
Analysis of training needs;
Development of a strategic concept paper for practice-oriented VTE in Lebanon.