Development of Centres of Vocational Excellence Was the Focus of an International Seminar in Turin with the Participation of Central Asian and European Countries

From 20 to 22 May 2025, the International Peer Learning and Capacity-Building Seminar dedicated to the creation and development of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) took place at Villa Gualino in Turin, Italy.

The event was organized within the framework of the DARYA project (Dialogue And Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia) and was hosted by the European Training Foundation (ETF), in cooperation with the ETF Network for Excellence (ENE) and with funding from the European Union (EU).

The seminar brought together delegations from five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — along with representatives from EU Member States and the Eastern Partnership. The working languages of the seminar were English and Russian.

The seminar served as a key platform for exchanging experiences in the field of vocational education and training (VET) and strengthening the role of CoVEs as drivers of systemic change in their respective countries.

Discussions were interactive and practice-oriented. Participants presented comparative models of CoVEs from different countries, analyzed best practices, and developed country-specific plans tailored to national contexts.

Day 1 – 20 May 2025

The first day focused on introducing the international concept of vocational excellence and reviewing the current state of CoVEs in participating countries.

Participants:

Presented national models and practices of Centres of Vocational Excellence;

Got acquainted with European strategic policy documents in the field of VET;

Visited two CoVEs in Turin, observing how vocational excellence tools are applied in practice and how the centres engage with local employers.

Day 2 – 21 May 2025

The second day began with a discussion of lessons learned from the Turin site visits. Then, participants:

Explored key “ingredients” of vocational excellence (teaching quality, partnerships with business, digitalization, sustainability);

Worked in international and country-based groups;

Studied examples of successful partnerships within the ENE network;

Concluded the day with a guided tour of Turin and a networking dinner, strengthening professional connections in an informal setting.

Day 3 – 22 May 2025

The final day focused on ISATCOVE, the International Self-Assessment Tool for Centres of Vocational Excellence.

Participants:

Learned about the ISATCOVE methodology;

Heard first-hand experiences from Spain, Latvia, and Moldova on how the tool was implemented;

Conducted country sessions to select key assessment criteria and develop national development plans for CoVEs;

Presented feedback and outlined specific next steps for the coming 12 months.

The seminar was highly productive and marked a key milestone in the implementation of DARYA’s Teaching and Learning component. Discussions were characterized by strong engagement, practical relevance, and a shared commitment to strengthening regional and international collaboration in the field of vocational education.

All participating delegations committed to sharing the outcomes with national stakeholders upon their return and to continuing the development of Centres of Vocational Excellence within their national VET systems.

Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan