In 2009, the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) launched the Vocational Education and Training Programme for the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-VET) Programme to support and supplement the efforts of the OIC Member States in addressing the challenges faced in the area of TVET. The programme was designed to scale up South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSC and TrC), and knowledge exchange through innovative and holistic approaches among the relevant national TVET authorities of the Member States. The programme embraces the fundamentals of SSC such as mutual understanding, exchange of expertise and experiences, peer-to-peer learning and capacity development.

SESRIC, as the executing body of the OIC-VET, plays the role of catalyst by bringing together the OIC Member States, which offer wide-ranging development solutions, with a view to strengthening the cooperation among them in TVET. Collaboration between the National Focal Points (NFPs), represented by national TVET authorities in each OIC Member State is considered the anchor point of this innovative programme. Moreover, regularly held meetings of NFP representatives with relevant stakeholders help the Member States to identify their evolving challenges and offer them innovative solutions. 

Concerning the implementation of its activities, the OIC-VET Programme employs several different modalities and tools that are based on the knowledge exchange approach, which include but are not limited to workshops, training of trainers (ToT), working group discussions, study visits and training courses. All of these help facilitate the sharing and acquisition of experiences, know-how, skills and new practices among the Member States.  

Fifty-seven OIC Member States are considered a heterogeneous group of countries because of their diversity in terms of resources and development levels, some of whom rank among the least developed countries (LDCs). This situation offers considerable potential and opportunities for OIC Member States to benefit from each other’s knowledge and experiences through intra-OIC cooperation in ways that have proven cost-effective and efficient. In this regard, the OIC-VET Programme, through its various modalities of implementation, strives to develop fruitful bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the OIC Member States. 

Since the key purpose of TVET systems is to prepare youth and vulnerable groups for employment by developing practical and technical skills for a wide variety of jobs, the programme is considered a cross-cutting platform that contributes directly to the achievement of SDGs 4 (Quality education), 8 (Decent work and economic growth) and 17 (Partnerships for the goals). 

Within the framework of the OIC-VET Programme, more than 60 activities have been implemented both in physical and virtual formats, including training courses, workshops, webinars, Training of Trainers (ToT), seminars, meeting, and others. More than 2000 trainees benefited from these activities which have played an important role in youth and women’s empowerment as well. In addition, the development of the knowledge and competency of TVET instructors plays a crucial role in improving the quality of the TVET systems in their respective countries.  

As of 2015, in light of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and the OIC 2025 Programme of Action, the OIC-VET has evolved into a new phase with a view to exploring innovative ways and means for reinforcing and developing further the overall quality and impact of the programme. 

To assess the current needs of technical and vocational education systems in the OIC Member States, SESRIC, in cooperation with six international institutions and 24 OIC Member States, took the initiative to develop the OIC-TVET Strategic Roadmap 2020–2025. In this process, relevant OIC institutions and United Nations agencies had significant roles in supporting the OIC-VET with their valuable inputs, which illustrated effective SSC and TrC among all stakeholders working hand in hand for the success and sustainability of this good practice. These institutions and agencies include the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT), the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic University of Technology (IUT), the UNDP Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (UNDP IICPSD) and the International Labour Organization (ILO)-Türkiye. 

The OIC-TVET Strategic Roadmap 2020–2025 aims to improve the quality and performance of TVET programmes by proposing a series of alternative ways and means to improve TVET practices in the Member States based on best practices and knowledge that have been proven globally. Four cooperation areas have been identified, and an implementation plan was established under the following fields: Legislative Framework, Governance and Promotion; TVET Teacher Education; Occupational Standards and Qualification and Quality Assurance System; and Certification and Modular Training Programmes.  

Within the framework of the Roadmap, which was endorsed by the 35th Ministerial Session of the Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) held in December 2019, 55 demand-driven activities were planned to be implemented in partnership with the national authorities in charge of TVET in the OIC Member States, relevant OIC institutions and key stakeholders over the next five years.