ქართული
For the ambitious infrastructure projects throughout Georgia, the demand for skilled personnel is steadily growing. More and more vocational training institutions are responding to it with training programmes in road construction. However, for all qualification measures, state-of-the-art and contemporary technical literature are crucial.
On 17 June 2020, the Infrastructure Construction Companies Association (ICCA) together with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH presented the new ground-breaking training manual for road construction. Among the around 50 participants were numerous representatives of vocational education and training institutions, construction companies, business associations, and officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, as well as the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development and Labor, Health and Social Defence of Georgia.
The event was opened by Ms. Ana Sabakhtarishvili, Executive Director of ICCA, Mr. Daniel Haas, Head of Development Cooperation South Caucasus of the Embassy of Germany in Georgia, and Mr. Hans-Jürgen Cassens, GIZ Programme Director of the Private Sector Development and Technical Vocational Education and Training South Caucasus Programme. Mr. Daniel Haas highlighted: “The qualification of skilled workers is of crucial importance for the competitiveness of the Georgian economy, especially for the rapid recovery from the corona crisis. The publication ‘Road Construction’ is an outstanding example of how the Georgian construction sector, under the aegis of its sector association, is ready to contribute
to vocational training and promoting dual education in this sector.”
“I am delighted that in the ICCA we have found a partner who has made it possible to develop this ground-breaking training manual, and I assume that with this publication we are encouraging more educational institutions to offer the dual training program,” Mr. Hans-Jürgen Cassens said. Ms. Tamar Kitiashvili, Deputy Minister of MoESCS added: ‘Involvement of Sectoral associations has crucial importance in the development of
vocational education. Participation of the business sector in the process of creating educational resources, or the learning process itself will have its impact on the quality of future education of professionals and thus will benefit the business sector.’
During a lively panel discussion, a representative of the academic sector and the LEPL Road Department highlighted the importance of educational literature in the field of construction and the need for qualified personnel. In particular, the pioneering model for the development
of contemporary learning materials under the leadership of a business association was discussed. Special attention was also paid on how to motivate further vocational schools to introduce the dual road construction programme.
Ana Sabakhtarishvili, ICCA, CEO mentioned: “Increasing labour productivity is one of the biggest challenges that the construction sector is facing today. Through modernised vocational programmes we aim to offer interesting and effective pathways for students and to provide reliable programmes for employers. Hence, the experience of transforming oneself into a qualified road builder with the help of modern literature is extremely critical for students nowadays. We are happy that ICCA had a chance to participate in creating this opportunity.”
The preparation of this qualitatively outstanding publication exemplifies the potential that the private sector can play in the Georgian VET system. The publication is of benefit for trainees and teachers as well as for all practitioners and professionals working in road construction. The development of the training materials was made possible by the Private Sector Development and Vocational Training in South Caucasus Programme. The programme is implemented by Georgian partners together with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, which works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The training manual for road construction professionals has been developed by the ICCA with the support of GIZ. The manual was elaborated by a magnificent academic team: Mr. Merab Baratashvili, Mr. Konstantine Mchedlishvili, Ms. Tea Nareklishvili, Ms. Irma Gharibashvili, Mr. Ramin Dzneladze, Mr. Manuchar Shishinashvili, Mr. Giorgi Chubinidze participated in compiling the textbook. The editor reviewers were Mr. Tamaz Shilakadze, Academician of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences. The photographs used in the textbook are provided by the compilers and the Roads Department of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.