Unemployment is a significant problem for Turkey with its 10% average unemployment, for that reason we have started the UMEM Skills’ 10 project;
There are two sides to this problem.
On one hand, unemployed people have low skills, and they don’t meet the requirements of companies.
On the other hand, although there are vacancies, it is hard for the companies to find qualified people in the market.
This problem can only be solved with the help of the private sector organizations. The private sector organizations such as chambers can serve as an interface between the companies and the job seekers, and take an active role in the vocational training system.
In the UMEM Skills’10 project, we deal with this two-sided unemployment problem.
In this project, we put together courses for unemployed people. These courses are designed according to the needs of the private sector.
The project was started after a protocol was signed between The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Ministry of National Education and the TOBB University of Economics and Technology. Initially the project was launched in 19 of Turkey’s industrialized cities and subsequently rolled out to the rest of the country.
Within the scope of project, we identified the requirements of 5000 companies. Then, vocational courses were implemented, focused on those requirements.
After the vocational trainees complete their courses, our industrialist members provide them with internships where they gain practical work experience.
In this system, the private sector is at the center of Turkey’s Vocational Training System. Courses are planned according to the demands of companies, and the Chambers take an active role in the management of these courses.
There are four main activities in the Project;
1. Strengthening the Infrastructure
2. Labor Market Needs Analysis
3. Matching the trainees with the firms
4. Implementation of the courses
After the trainees complete the courses and internships, successful people are provided job opportunities.
This project is very important, because it introduces a new governance mechanism.
First, this project requires the participation of all stakeholders at the local level. Local labour market information is retrieved, and the design and management of the courses are conducted locally.
In addition, this project induces different institutions to work together. Therefore, it develops a culture of collaboration between institutions. Traditionally we got used to working independently with no awareness of what others were doing. Needless to say, this is an important reform in our local governance framework.
So far, 101.093 interns have been demanded by companies.
5.800 courses have been opened for 70.119 trainees and 5.261 people are still being trained.
42.805 successful trainees have been employed after their internship.