What do employers expect from the vocational education system?

One in three employers believes that the curriculum in vocational education institutions lags behind what the market needs today. This is stated in a study of the youth labour market in Kyrgyzstan, conducted by the Ministry of Labour of the Kyrgyz Republic as part of a World Bank project.

It is noted that businesses expect the vocational education system to provide not so much theory as specialists who are ready to work from day one. According to the study, strengthening practical training is a priority for the majority of employers across all sectors. In some regions, the proportion of such responses reaches over 70–80%.

The second priority is updating curricula. This particularly concerns skills in working with modern equipment and digital tools already in use at enterprises.

Another important point is the collaboration between business and education. Employers are willing to get involved in the training process: running masterclasses, sharing practical experience, and participating in training. However, they are not prepared to take full responsibility for organising these processes.

At the same time, business does not consider some of the skills frequently discussed in the educational agenda to be a top priority. According to the study, areas such as marketing, finance, critical thinking and working with digital platforms are considered less important than basic professional and practical skills.

Thus, employers in Kyrgyzstan are primarily interested in employees who can quickly integrate into the workflow and do not require a lengthy adaptation period.

Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration, with the support of the World Bank, is already implementing the ‘Youth Internship’ programme. It offers Kyrgyz citizens aged 16 to 35 the opportunity to gain their first work experience: participants undergo short-term training, receive a stipend and undertake internships directly at companies. The programme is running in 30 pilot cities and districts across the country.

Employers wishing to take on interns can submit an application. Similarly, young people wishing to undertake an internship and gain their first work experience can register here.