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 The constant changes in the labor market and in society continuously make new demands on the skills and adaptability of individuals. While traditional, time-based approaches to education have met with varying levels of success over the years, it is an ineffective system when the goal is to train individuals to perform specific, job-related skills. Obviously, the time-based educational system used in schools and universities is not appropriate when conducting vocational education and training (VET). A more appropriate approach is competency-based training (CBT) which grounds on Competency-Based Qualification Standards (CBQSs). In a traditional educational system, the unit of progression is time and it is teacher-centered. In a CBT system, the unit of progression is mastery of specific knowledge and skills and is learner-or participant-centered. Two key terms used in competency-based training are:
• Skill—A task or group of tasks performed to a specific level of competency or proficiency which often use motor functions and typically require the manipulation of instruments and equipment. • Competency—A skill performed to a specific standard under specific conditions. The competency-based training should be used as opposed to the “medieval concept of time-based” learning. ” Competency-based instruction has tremendous potential for training in industry. Being one of the key donors in Armenian vocational sector, UNDP “Vocational Education and Training System” Project is continuing its activities aimed at the development of State Competency Based Qualification Standards laying a solid basis for the rebirth of competency-based professional education. In order to have advanced vocational education, the country needs to have a solid a systematized structure in the form of clearly defined qualification standards. This is one of the targets that the VET project exercises in cooperation with national stakeholders. The following CBQS’s for 5 middle level professional education technical specialties having a high demand in the current labor market were recently developed in the framework of the Project and consequently approved by the RA Minister of Education and Science Orders. 1. “1103 Production of black and colored metallic alloy.” 2. “1706 Use of lifting machine, construction and road building vehicles.” 3. “1707 Technical operation of rolling stock.” 4. ”3114 Operation and maintenance of agro-vehicles and equipment” 5. “2913 Installation, correction and use of electrical equipment in industrial and municipal buildings.” All Standards are based on the idea that competencies are carefully selected; supporting theory is integrated with skill practice; essential knowledge is to be learned to support the performance of skills; detailed training materials are keyed to the competencies to be achieved and should be designed to support the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Methods of instruction involve mastery learning, the premise that all participants can master the required knowledge or skill, provided sufficient time and appropriate training methods are proposed. Flexible training approaches including large group methods, small group activities and individual study as well as a variety of support materials including print, audiovisual and simulations (models) keyed to the skills to be acquired. The qualification standards are based on the corresponding occupational classifiers and for the first time are referred to the draft National Qualification Framework Level Descriptors proposed and developed in the framework of the same project. The CBQS’s were developed by highly qualified professionals accumulating different interests of concerned stakeholders, namely employers’ representatives, educational elite, independent experts and employers from Social Research Institute of the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Being approved by RA Ministry of Education and Science, 5 CBQSs supplement the already existing library of CBQSs developed by the different working groups of qualified experts and one more time call for development of competencies (knowledge, attitude and practice) based on national standards; for building of confidence, since learners know what level of performance is expected, how knowledge and skills will be evaluated, that progression through training is self-paced, and that there are opportunities for practice until mastery is achieved. |
A country-wide training campaign for 350 VET faculty aimed at introduction of modular based teaching in vocational education and training sector came to its successful completion. Participants of the training received a thorough understanding and competency about modular based teaching. The subsequent stage for the participants of these training sessions will be sharing the acquired experience about the modular teaching with their colleagues at the work places. The experience per se marks a transition from older system of teaching to another which is compatible with the state qualification standards of education. The added value of the trainings consists of the fact that the participants of the trainings gained an insight into main strategic directions of output oriented vocational education.
The trainings are formed in a way to provide with a platform for developing competency based skills and knowledge. They exposed the participants to new standards of preparing the cadres of specialists who are to be directly linked with the requirements of the labor market. 
The large-scale vocational re-trainings with further job placement for the registered unemployed are now implemented in full. The UNDP “Vocational Education and Training (VET)” Project together with the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs made one more step in alleviating the social insecurity of the vulnerable layers of the society.
The activities arranged within the framework of the trainings that enabled the formerly unemployed to acquire new competencies and skills came to closure. 
On June 17, 2010 Dafina Gercheva, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative (UN RC/UNDP RR) in Armenia, Anders B. Siegumfeldt, Head of Section, European Neighbourhood and Russia, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Per Kirkemann, Managing Director, Nordic Consulting Group A/S visited the newly refurbished Vanadzor State Technological College.
UNDP VET Project is about to start a country-wide training campaign for 350 VET faculty aimed at introduction of modular based teaching in vocational education and training sector. Three-day (18 hours) training program is aimed to address teaching needs of those VET instructors who should start 2010-2011 educational year with the introduction of 61 newly developed State Competency Based Qualification Standards (CBQSs) along with corresponding Modular Programs. Participants are expected to be those VET teachers who will be able to become core teams for each of 82 VET schools they represent to further promote competency based modular teaching addressing the needs of the rest of the VET faculty further to be involved in competency based teaching.
