Country: Türkiye

Reference: Social and Economic Cohesion Through Vocational Education Project II (SEUP II)

Start Year: 2021

End Year: 2024

Beneficiary: Ministry of National Education (MoNE) of the Republic of Türkiye

Consortium: GFA Consulting Group (Lead) & ANKON Consulting (Consortium Partner)

Donor: European Union (EU) – KfW Development Bank (FRIT Programme)

Sector: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Social Cohesion, Labour Market Integration, Refugee Inclusion, Skills Development

Services: Project Management, Procurement, Student Support Programme Management, Labour Market Integration, Communication and Awareness Raising, Capacity Building, Monitoring and Quality Assurance

Project Objective

The Social and Economic Cohesion Through Vocational Education Project II (SEUP II) aimed to strengthen social and economic cohesion between Syrian refugees under temporary protection and Turkish host communities by improving access to quality vocational education, increasing employability, and facilitating labour market integration. As the second phase of the SEUP Programme, the project expanded previous interventions by enhancing vocational education infrastructure, strengthening institutional capacity, and creating sustainable pathways from education to employment.

The project contributed to reducing poverty and social vulnerability while supporting economic resilience in provinces most affected by refugee inflows through inclusive education and employment opportunities.

Project Scope

Implemented across 15 provinces in Türkiye, the project adopted a comprehensive approach to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) through infrastructure investments, student support mechanisms, awareness-raising activities, and labour market integration initiatives.

The project supported the establishment of modern vocational learning environments by equipping vocational schools, upgrading workshops and school infrastructure, providing in-kind student support packages, strengthening collaboration between vocational schools and the private sector, and developing mechanisms to facilitate employment opportunities for both refugee and disadvantaged Turkish youth.

The assignment also focused on strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of National Education through procurement support, financial management, communication strategies, monitoring systems, and quality assurance mechanisms.

Project Activities

The main activities of the project included:

• Conducting labour market assessments to identify priority occupational sectors and skills demands.
• Selecting vocational education institutions through transparent assessment and verification processes.
• Assessing equipment, infrastructure, occupational health and safety, and refurbishment needs for vocational schools and workshops.
• Preparing procurement plans, technical specifications, market analyses, cost estimates, and managing procurement processes for equipment and infrastructure investments.
• Providing workshop equipment to approximately 50 vocational education schools and upgrading more than 1,000 workshops.
• Designing and implementing Student Support Packages benefiting approximately 10,000 students through an in-kind scholarship system.
• Developing comprehensive monitoring and information management systems for student support and procurement activities.
• Designing and implementing nationwide communication and awareness campaigns promoting vocational education opportunities through television, radio, digital media, printed materials, employer engagement, school events, and community outreach.
• Strengthening cooperation between vocational schools and employers through job fairs, employer visits, roundtable discussions, and industry partnerships.
• Developing and implementing Labour Market Support initiatives to facilitate the transition of approximately 1,500 students into formal employment.
• Delivering capacity-building activities for Ministry of National Education staff in procurement, financial management, communication, project monitoring, and quality assurance.
• Supporting project governance through Steering Committee meetings, EU visibility activities, and continuous quality assurance across all project components.

Project Goal

The overall goal of the project was to improve employability, strengthen vocational education systems, and promote inclusive economic growth by increasing access to high-quality vocational training and sustainable employment opportunities for Syrian refugees and disadvantaged Turkish citizens.

Specifically, the project aimed to:

• Improve the quality and accessibility of vocational education across Türkiye.
• Strengthen labour market relevance of TVET programmes.
• Enhance employment opportunities for refugees and host communities.
• Foster social cohesion through inclusive education and community-based activities.
• Strengthen institutional capacities of the Ministry of National Education.
• Increase private sector engagement in vocational education and workforce development.
• Promote sustainable labour market integration through employer partnerships and practical workplace experience.

Expected Impact

The project significantly strengthened Türkiye’s vocational education ecosystem by modernising school infrastructure, improving learning environments, expanding access to vocational education, and reinforcing collaboration between public institutions, vocational schools, employers, and local communities. Through comprehensive procurement, student support, labour market integration, and communication activities, SEUP II contributed to increased employability, stronger social cohesion, and more inclusive economic participation for both refugee populations and vulnerable Turkish citizens, while enhancing the long-term institutional capacity of the Ministry of National Education.