South East Mediterranean- Human Resources

As the East Mediterranean region develops and progresses in the various sectors, changes will be necessary in the human resource infrastructure. Education will have to be brought on par with ongoing technological advancements, and will be required to incorporate state-of-the-art knowledge technology. Technical education can play a vital role in creating sustainable economic activity.

The Technical and Vocational Training (TVT) programs selected for priority implementation by the SEMED working group reflect the need to upgrade facilities and programming in the Palestinian Authority and to forge ties with local industry. Three priority projects have been selected:

This project aims at helping the PAs Ministry of Labor establish a maintain it Technical and Vocational Training Department to coordinate TVT activities in the PA. This department currently lacks basic resources, such as office equipment and computers to fulfill its role. The project would provide: technical assistance for a period of up to two years; office equipment; and training of Ministry personnel in office functions. Both Israel and Egypt can contribute to training programs. The estimated cost for this program comes to $580 thousand.

Facilities at two TVT centers run by the PA Ministry of Labor in Gaza City and Rafah are old and unsuitable for use in a modern training environment. The Shaffee Training Center in Gaza city currently serves close to 400 students and trainees. A German NGO is starting to run new training programs for the hotel industry and office equipment maintenance services. The Rafah Center currently comprises asbestos sheeted sheds. It serves 150 trainees. Upgrading these two facilities is required. Total capital costs are estimated at $3.4 million.

This project will set up distance learning courses for three pilot trainer training courses: Industrial Training Center Trainers; Tour Guide Trainers; and Supervisors and Managers. Each course will be 12 months long and will include 12 participants for each course. Study will include field trips and workshops at facilities in SEMED partner countries and in the EU. One possible location for class centers is the Negev College with is located 2 kilometers from Beit Hanoun. The Instructor Training Institute within the Egyptian National Training Network is also suitable. The estimated cost for all three pilot programs comes to $600 thousand.

The opportunity to take advantage of Southeast Mediterraneans strategic location towards the development of a broadly based, private-sector-driven, economy depends in great part on the quality and skills of its manpower. Both Israel and Egypt have a long tradition of effective technical and vocational education (TVT). In Gaza, present capability is both small and under-funded. In all areas of the region, it is felt that demand for skilled labor exceeds existing supply. This project aims at improving technical education throughout the SEMED subregion to. It comprises several components which would enhance existing facilities and programs as well as create new ones.

The sub-projects are interrelated; each addresses a specific need. They include:

• Development of a comprehensive TVT strategy based on a comprehensive evaluation of existing facilities, training skills, materials and qualifications within the three partner areas and an assessment of the nature and distribution of future employment demands. The SEMED partners should establish a joint Working Group towards this end.
• A new vocational training center in Gaza, which could either be free standing or associated with one of the existing centers in Gaza, Khan Yunis or Deir el-Balah. The new center could provide one or more specialist areas and would be accessible to trainees from the other areas of the SEMED region.
• A Center for Human Resource Development in El-Arish: This center, proposed by the Egyptian Government, would become the core practical institute for human resource development in the Middle East. It will focus on management and entrepreneurship training and as a core institute would deal with overall HRD policy development, introduction of mechanisms to facilitate the dissemination of high-quality, state-of-the-art training methods, technologies, programs and materials.
• A TVT trainer development program to train staff from the Palestinian Authority at existing facilities in Egypt and Israel. Programs should be prepared jointly by the directors of TVT and preparations should take approximately 8 weeks. Training courses at the Egyptian and Israeli institutions could be implemented within the year.
• A Regional TVT network that would maintain communications between regional centers and international networks. The network could be driven by an annual regional TVT development workshop, a quarterly newsletter, regular staff exchange programs, preparation of shared materials, shared or mutually recognized accreditations for trainees and a possible WWW website for regional TVT.
• Collaboration with European TVT organizations would assist in keeping abreast of new systems, materials and equipment employed in technical education. Collaborative programs could include the interchange of both staff and trainees. This component programme could be eligible for PEACE-URBS funding.
• Short-term equipment and materials upgrade is required to improve TVT capacity in Gaza.

Projected costs for the various sub-projects are presented in the table below: