KHOROG, December 9, 2009, Asia-Plus — Representatives from the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) of the University of Central Asia (UCA), Khorog campus, took part in a week-long training-methodological seminar that concluded in Halle, Germany on December 8.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Dilovar Buttabekov, the head of SPCE’s campus in Khorog, said that the main objective of the workshop, organized under support of Inwent –Capacity Building International, Germany, was to discuss prospects of further expansion of cooperation between the UCA and Inwent. “The UCA was represented by the head of UCA’s campus in Khorog, UCA vocational training program manager as well as the SPCE administrators and teachers,” Buttabekov said.
According to him, the seminar is part of a joint initiative, Vocational Technical Education in Post-War Countries: Support for Regional Training Centers in Tajikistan.
The workshop participants discussed priorities of further expansion of the vocational training programs, economic development and entrepreneurship promotion issues and outlined directions of development of microentrepreneurship, Buttabekov noted.
They also considered prospects of extension of the SPCE programs for carpenters, bricklayers as well as opportunities of introduction new programs for electricians and mountain tourism guides.
Buttabekov added that the SCPE jointly with Inwent planned to work out training modules, provide additional training for teachers and develop certification program for new education directions.
UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) is Central Asia’s first provider of formal, university-based, non-degree educational programs, offering vocational, professional development and personal improvement opportunities to youth and adults.
Established in 2006, SPCE is UCA’s first operational academic program, and has the mission of fostering economic development. It does this by responding to trends and needs in the local economies of the communities in which it operates and offering courses that improve employment and income generating opportunities for youth and adults, and professional development opportunities for mid-career professionals. By building vocational skills and professional competencies, SPCE will encourage entrepreneurship in the region and stimulate economic development.
Inwent-Capacity Building International, Germany, is a non-profit organization with worldwide operations dedicated to human resource development, advanced training, and dialogue. Inwent works together with people in key positions, assisting them in shaping processes of change in their own countries. Its capacity building programs are designed for experts and executives from politics, administrations, the business community and civil society. Inwent qualifies people to pass on their knowledge to others and effect long term structural changes. Its objective is to shape globalization fairly and encourage sustainable development.
