THE PROJECT OF STRENGTENING THE VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY AND THE NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS SYSTEM IN TURKEY (UYEP)
The Project of Strengtening the Vocational Qualifications Authority and the National Qualifications System in Turkey (UYEP) was conducted between October 2010- June 2013 by the Vocational Qualifications Authority.
The purpose of the Project is to establish a sustainable National Qualifications System in Turkey through supporting the VOC-Test Centers (Occupational Standards Development, Vocational Knowledge and Skills Testing and Certification Centres) whose main task is to conduct testing activities in its related sector and to certify the knowledge and skills required within the framework of a well-designed accerditation system.
The overall objective of UYEP is to ensure the provision of formal and non-formal education and training in line with the needs of the labour market, to support life-long learning, to strengten the relationship between education and employment and facilitate the harmonization with the EQF (European Qualifications Framework).
The specific objective of UYEP is to support VQA and the VOC-Test Centers in order to ensure the establishment and operation of an efficient and sustainable National Qualifications System based on the occupational standarts.
The beneficiaries of the project are:
- the VQA staff
- the members of the VQA Sector Committee
- the organizations that prepare occupational standarts and national qualifications along with authorized testing and certification bodies
- the organizations that contribute to the development, comprehensibility and adoption of the National Qualifications Framework, including the Turkish Qualifications Framework Consultation and Evaluation Platform
- 26 organizations that are grant beneficiaries
UYEP supported VQA in the following areas:
- Capacity building for the development and implementation of the National Qualifications Framework
- Increasing the institutional capacity of VQA for the effective provision of its services
The total budget of UYEP, which is financed by the European Union and Republic of Turkey within the framework of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance 2007 programming year and under the component of ‘’IPA-I Transition Assistance and Institutional Structuring’’, is 10.900.000 Euro whose 200.000 Euro was funded by the Vocational Qualifications Authority as the national contribution.
UYEP is composed of three components which are supply, service and grant.
Within the scope of the supply component, the needs of office equipment and hardware were supplied and software development work was conducted.
Under the service component, activities regarding the preparation of Turkish Qualifications Framework, capacity-building for VQA, development of occupational standarts and qualifications, quality assurance, mutual recognition of qualifications, and awareness raising, were conducted.
UYEP was completed with the closing ceremony held in Ankara Hilton Hotel on June 18th, 2013. The representatives of the cooperating organizations and bodies, which supported VQA for 33 months of the implementation period, attended the closing ceremony.
The grant component (VOC-Test Centers Grant Scheme) had a budget of approximately 6.6 million euros and the implementation of 26 projects which were entitled to take the grant began in March 2011 and ended in June 2013.
The overall objective of the VOC-Test Centers Grant Scheme is to ensure the provision of formal and non-formal Vocational education in line with the needs of the labour market, support life-long learning, strengten the bond between education and employment and facilitate the compatibility with the European Qualifications Framework.
The specific objective of the scheme is to establish and/or develop and operate the VOC-Test Centers in 11 priority sectors (which are automative and its subsectors, tourism, construction, transportation, energy, metal, plastics and chemistry, information and communication technologies, press and publishing, textile-ready wear and leather) with the aim of establishing and operating an effective and sustainable National Qualifications System through establishing a compatible evaluation, assessment and certification system in line with the European Qualifications Framework.
The priority eleven sectors and 46 sub-sectors for the grant implementation have been determined as automative, tourism, construction, transportation, energy, metal, plastics and chemistry, information and communication technologies, press and publishing, textile-ready wear and leather.
The grant beneficiaries and the grant projects are as follows:
|
No |
Beneficiaries |
Project Title |
|
1 |
Association of Mediterranean Tourist Hoteliers and Operators’ Union (AKTOB) |
Four Steps to National Tourism - Accommodation Qualifications Framework (NTAQF) |
|
2 |
Sequa Gmbh |
VOC-TEST Centers in Vehicle Repair Subsector Meet International Standards |
|
3 |
TÜBİDER Information Sector Association |
Establishment of VOC-TEST Center in the 8.4 Numbered Sub-Sector of the IT Technology |
|
4 |
Heat, Water, Sound and Fire Insulation Association (İZODER) |
Qualification Based Certification in Insulation Sector |
|
5 |
Employers Union of Turkish Construction Industrialists (İNTES) |
Professional Competence - Examination and Documentation in the Construction Sector |
|
6 |
Turkish Textile Employers’ Association (TTSİS) |
Textile Sector, Vocational Qualifications Examination and Certification Center Establishment |
|
7 |
Turkish Petroleum, Chemical and Rubber Workers› Union (KİPLAS) |
Establishing a VOC-TEST Center for the Chemicals Sector |
|
8 |
Turkish Employers› Association of Metal Industries (MESS) |
Automotive Industry Vocational Qualification Testing and Certification Center |
|
9 |
İstanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) |
ITOTEST Press and Publication Personnel Certification Center Project |
|
10 |
Bursa Craftsman and Tradesman Chambers› Union (BESOB) |
Competency Assures Efficiency |
|
11 |
Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) |
Establishment of Ankara Chamber of Industry Vocational Test and Certification Center (METES) |
|
12 |
Natural Gas Distribution Companies Association of Turkey (GAZBİR) |
Establishment Of Examination and Certification Center for Natural Gas Sector Professions |
|
13 |
Employers Association for Private Training Providers (TEKİS) |
New Vision and Expansion Project for The Private Training |
|
14 |
Union of Public Works, Construction, Road, Infrastructure, Title Deed and Land Survey Public Sector Employees (BAYINDIR MEMUR-SEN) |
VOC-Test Center for Architecture, Engineering And Technician Activities |
|
15 |
İstanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters’ Union (İDMİB) |
Solution Partnership for the Employment of Qualified and Certified Workforce Project |
|
16 |
İstanbul Ready Wear and Apparel Exporters’ Union (İHKİB) |
Value-Added and Employment-Oriented Certified Workforce Campaign KIBIS Project |
|
17 |
Port Operators Association of Turkey (TÜRKLİM) |
TÜRKLİM Kariyer-Port Center: Establishing a Model National Qualifications and Personnel Certifications Center Project» |
|
18 |
Ankara Chamber of Industry (2nd and 3rd Organized Industrial Zone) (ASO 2. ve 3. OSB) |
Establishment of Ankara Chamber of Industry 2nd and 3rd Organized Industrial Zone Vocational Test Center |
|
19 |
HAK-İŞ Trade Union Confederation (HAK-İŞ) |
Establishing a VOC-TEST Center for the Metal Sector of Karabük with the Participation of Partners |
|
20 |
Ankara Chamber of Industry (Ist Organized Industrial Zone) (ASO 1. OSB) |
Establishment of Ankara Chamber of Industry 1st Organized Industrial Zone Vocational Test Center |
|
21 |
Foundation for Development of TSR and TSR Personnel Assistance and Solidarity (TCDD Vakfı) |
Establishing NQS and VOC-TEST Center in Railway Transportation |
|
22 |
Turkish Plastics Manufacturers Research, Development and Educational Foundation (PAGEV) |
The Employees with Professional Competences in the Plastic Sector |
|
23 |
Union of Radio and Television Broadcasters (RATEM) |
Project of Establishing Technical Education Assessment Centers in Numerical Broadcasting |
|
24 |
Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) |
ALTSO VOC-Test Centre: Standards at Work, Quality in Business |
|
25 |
Machine Tools Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TİAD) |
Developing and Operating a Machine Tools VOC-TEST Center |
|
26 |
Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) |
Key to Employment: ACCI Vocational Testing and Certification Center |
As of June 16 2015, 24 grant beneficiary bodies were accredited by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) and the authorization of two of them was suspended by the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK).22 bodies were authorized by VQA and the authorization of one was suspended by VQA. In total, 21 VOC-Test Centers continue their testing and certification activities in 10 sectors being automative, tourism, construction, transportation, energy, metal, plastics and chemistry, .press and publishing, textile-ready wear and leather.
