VOC-TEST CENTERS II GRANT SCHEME

The VOC-TEST Centers-II Grant Scheme, financed within the context of the Human Resources Development Operational Program which is the fourth component of the European Union Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), was one of the two grant programs implemented under UYEP-II and was the continuation and complement to the ‘’VOC Test Centers I Grant Scheme’’ which was implemented between 2010-2013 and was a grant component of the UYEP-I Project.

The budget of VOC-Test Centers-II was 4.500.000 €. The duration of the projects to be supported within the context of the program was determined as a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 months. The minimum grant amount which can be demanded for each project whose application was made, was determined as 150.000 euro minimum and 250.000 euro maximum.

The main goal of the program was ensuring the development of occupational standards and national qualifications in 15 sectors which were not supported within the scope of the previous grant scheme, in order to establish and operate an effective and sustainable National Qualification System and support the foundation of new Testing and Certification Bodies.

The expected results of the grant scheme were the development of occupational standards and national qualifications suitable with the requirements of the National Qualification System in different sectors and the foundation of new testing and certification bodies authorized by the VQA.

With the implementation of the grant scheme, it was aimed that the number of qualified and certified labour force be raised, the effectiveness of formal and non-formal vocational education and training be sustained through strengthening the relationship between education and employment, the recognition of prior learning be promoted, the process of life-long learning be supported and the adaptation of National Qualifications Framework with European Qualifications Framework be facilitated. 

VOC-Test Centers-II Grant Scheme Application Guide and its complementary documents were published on February 5,2015 and clarification and corrigendum on April,27 2015. Three information meetings were conducted with the purpose of evaluating the application guide, training on technical issues and informing the potential applicants, the first being on March 10,2015 in Ankara, the second being on March 12,2015 in İstanbul and the last being on March 13,2015 in Adana.

   The applications for the grant scheme ended on May,8^th 2015. The evaluation process of the applications was conducted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Human Resources Development Managing Authority which is the Contracting Authority and was completed in January of 2016.

   Within the context of the grant scheme, 14 different organizations of the business world whose project proposals in 10 sectors were found successful were entitled to the grant. The project contracts were signed between the Contracting Authority and these organizations and the implementation process started as of February 1^st,2016. 

A total of 2,702,941 Euros in total (changing between 150,000 Euros and 250,000 Euros) will be provided to the beneficiary organizations. 

During the implementation process of the grant scheme, activities of developing occupational standards in the sectors of Glass, Cement and Soil; Electrics and Electronics; Food; Business and Management; Environment; Social and Personal Services; Trade (Sales and Marketing); Woodworking; Paper and Paper Products; Mining; Education and national qualifications, founding, developing and operating of testing and certification centers (VOC-Test Centers)

                                                  Identification of Grant Projects

‘’A Vocational Qualifications Authority UYEP-II Grant Scheme Opening Meeting’’ was conducted in Ankara with the attendance of the grant scheme organizations, worker, employer unions, professional organizations, NGOs and representatives of the state institutions and organizations on February,22 2016.

Following the opening meeting, a training for the organizations that are the beneficiaries of the VOC-Test Centers II Program was conducted by the Vocational Qualifications Authority and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Directorate of European Union and Financial Assistance on the dates of February 22-23-24 and 25,2016 about the processes, thematic issues and VQA processes regarding the grant scheme. 

A training on ‘’preparing national occupational standards and national qualifications’’ that lasts for two days was conducted in Ankara on the dates of June 28-29,2016 with the attendance of the representatives of the beneficiary organizations and other organizations that are in the preparation process of standards and qualifications.

A seminar for the representatives of the beneficiary organizations was conducted in Ankara on the dates of August 9-10^th, 2016 about the testing and certification activities in the National Qualification System.

During the month of September 2016, thematic monitoring visits were made to the beneficiary organizations. In these thematic monitoring visits, project activities and outcomes were evaluated within the context of the VQA legislation and principles of VQA processes, risks were identified and solution suggestions were given.

   The grant scheme was completed with the successful completion of the grant scheme in the third quarter of 2017. The dissemination was achieved through supporting the national qualification system in the sectors determined by the VQA and the testing and certification bodies.