Dear Deputy Ministers, Colleagues

Following yesterday’s meeting, Heinrich and I thought it would be useful to set out our understanding of what was discussed/agreed. Please see below:

1. The meeting was called by MoESCS to discuss about possibilities of further developing and linking the currently existing information systems of MoESC, MoIDPLHSA and MoESD. The deputy ministers from all three ministries participated in the discussion. The proposal involves forming a data centre, or employment statistics resource, with a proper analytical function to automatically generate indicators for evidence-based policy making in the field of education and employment, and is focused on empirical data on the demand side of the labour market. It is expected to enable empirically based policy information generated by automated analyses of these data.
2. In the current situation, new modules are being developed for the EMIS as well as for the WorkNet as a core component of the LMIMS. The MoIDPLHSA and SESA plan to redesign the WorkNet and are drafting ToR: the basic structure of WorkNet will remain unchanged, but additional features are planned for the mediation functions (registration, profiling) including automated digital services and for linking the WN with the LMIS. The new WorkNet will allow for projections of the demand for professions which will also be useful for the MoESCS. This is a long-term task, requiring new software. The short-term solution will be to store the important data, analyse gaps and achieve technical compatibility with the other systems.
3. Working Group: It was agreed to set up a WG with the tasks of defining the data requirement, identifying current gaps, and deciding on the key areas to be addressed at this stage. The WG should agree on short-term solutions consistent with the long-term goal of linking the currently existing information systems, elaborate the final picture of a comprehensive data system and look for resources to develop the envisaged data centre. Thus, the WG should identify short-term options and solutions, as well as a long-term vision (to be achieved through a step-by-step approach). Participants of the WG should be the MoESC, MoIDPLHSA and MoESD, and the EMIS agency, GeoStat and the Youth Agency should also be invited to participate. The EU Delegation will participate, and the WG will be supported by the TA team.
4. Tasks of the TA team: The TA team will support the working group through expert services: conceptualize a model for a data centre and identify the key areas of need – short-term as well as long-term. As a first step, the Feasibility Study on a Labour Market Data Warehouse, submitted by the TA project in February 2020, will be revised and updated. The study was drafted at an early stage of project implementation and will now be concretized in view of the immediate needs, linking short-term with long-term goals, and will be circulated to meeting participants by the end of November 2020. The TA will draft ToR for the WG including a plan and road map for the conceptualization of the data centre, for discussion at the first meeting of the WG. WG meetings will be facilitated by the TA team.
5. ICT Expert: The TA project has prepared ToR for an expert to advise on technical aspects (both hard- and software) and is already looking for potential candidates for the position. The ToR may need to be adjusted according to WG views on the scope of the systems upgrades and data sharing required. The ICT expert will look at the systems of all 3 ministries, assess their suitability for further upgrading and submit a study of the technical aspects for linking the systems into a data centre (employment statistics resource). However, the EU cannot fund the actual development of data systems.

We will now go ahead in following up on items 4 and 5 and will circulate an updated form of the feasibility study and draft ToR and plan for the WG as soon as possible, including an online meeting tomorrow with Claus Moller who did not participate in yesterday’s meeting.

With best regards

David

DAVID HANDLEY

Team Leader

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Technical Assistance to Skills Development for Matching Labour Market Needs in Georgia

An EU-funded project under the Skills4Jobs Programme, Phase 2

Implemented by a Consortium led by GOPA Worldwide Consultants

Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport

4 Sanapiro Str. 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia

Cellphone: +995 595 400 371 (Georgia), +44 (0) 77 6880 7787 (UK)

david.handley@gopa.de; david.handley@pem-consult.de

Skype: handleyd