Professional education opens opportunities to the displaced

Representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) visited a professional college in Poti on Friday.

Together with Poti Mayor Vakhtang Lemonjava, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sophie Kemkhadze and Economic Development Team Leader Giorgi Nanobashvili visited the campus, met with students and teachers, and presented certificates to successful graduates.

The UNDP is helping Phazisi College to become a quality educational institution with up-to-date training programmes, well-equipped premises, and qualified teachers.

The programme's mission pays particular attention to providing educational opportunities to the displaced and socially vulnerable. Almost 80% of graduates are internally-displaced persons (IDPs) settled in the Samegrelo region.

The UNDP has assisted in the creation of educational and vocational courses in the areas of construction and information and communications technologies (ICTs). In cooperation with the Poti Mayor’s Office, the programme also launched short-term training in basic computer skills and the English language.

Last summer, Phazisi joined the Cisco Networking Academy – a global education programme which helps students prepare for ICT and networking careers in every type of industry.

The UNDP also helped the college refurbish and equip a wood processing workshop and a tailoring workshop, which serve both as sites for practical training and as small businesses inside the college.

Approximately 130 students have completed courses in various professions since June 2011. Eleven teachers have also undertaken retraining courses.

Assistance for the college is part of the UNDP’s wider initiatives to promote the development of professional education, and to promote the social and economic integration of IDPs in Georgia.

The programme’s projects in the Samegrelo region are funded by the Government of Norway.