In the process of development of agriculture and vocational education reforms in Georgia, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) supported the new model of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia (MoES) - the dual approach of the work-based learning (WBL). The project has been implemented in four regions of Georgia - Samegrelo, Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti to the direction of cattle breeding and horticulture, in coordination with Georgian Farmers Association (GFA) since 2016.
In Georgia, the main purpose of introduction of a new model of learning is formation of the vocational education model focused on the labor market demands in agriculture, development of professional opportunities tailored to the needs of the private sector, ability of effective use of the working place as an educational environment and provision of attractiveness of vocational education.
For the work-based learning program, 40 applicants and 11 companies were selected to the direction of horticulture and cattle breeding from 86 registered applicants in 4 regions of Georgia through participation of the private sector.
The first phase of piloting of the work-based learning has been completed; the representatives of the partner entities / organizations (UNDP, SDC, MoES, GFA), vocational institutions and private sector have got acquainted with the achievements, challenges and future activities. Within the framework of the event, the needs for commencement of the new phase of the program were also identified.