OECD SKILLS STUDIES OECD SKILLS STRATEGY KAZAKHSTAN ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.

Foreword Acknowledgements Abbreviations and acronyms Executive summary OECD-Kazakhstan collaboration on the OECD Skills Strategy project Key findings and recommendations for improving Kazakhstan’s skills performance Improving the activation of skills of vulnerable populations Fostering participation in adult learning of all forms Building an effective skills information system Strengthening the governance of the skills system 1 Key insights and recommendations for Kazakhstan Skills matter for Kazakhstan The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented economic shock for Kazakhstan Integration in global value chains can help diversify Kazakhstan’s economy in the long term Digitalisation can increase productivity and create high-skilled jobs but may lead to some employment losses in lower-skilled occupations Kazakhstan benefits from a demographic dividend but will be exposed to population ageing in the long run Skills should be at the core of the policy response The OECD Skills Strategy project in Kazakhstan The performance of Kazakhstan’s skills system Developing relevant skills Youth’s skills are being developed inclusively, but overall performance could improve Kazakhstan has an inclusive tertiary education system, but the skills of young tertiary graduates could improve Kazakhstan has a weak culture of adult learning Using skills effectively The activation of skills in the formal labour market could improve Despite some signs of improvement, skills are not used intensively in the workplace or in daily lives Strengthening the governance of skills systems Kazakhstan can build a more effective skills information system Kazakhstan needs to adopt a whole-of-government approach to skills policies Kazakhstan needs to continue improving stakeholder engagement Kazakhstan should strengthen financing arrangements The policy context in Kazakhstan Priority areas and recommendations Improving the activation of skills of vulnerable populations Opportunity 1: Improving the accessibility and quality of public employment centres Opportunity 2: Strengthening the effectiveness of active labour market programmes for vulnerable populations Opportunity 3: Promoting family policies for a more equitable sharing of unpaid and paid work Fostering participation in adult learning of all forms Opportunity 1: Strengthening the supply and quality of adult learning opportunities Opportunity 2: Increasing motivation to engage in adult learning Opportunity 3: Removing barriers to participation in adult learning Building an effective skills information system Opportunity 1: Strengthening skills assessment and anticipation tools Opportunity 2: Creating an enabling environment for an effective skills information system Opportunity 3: Enhancing the use of skills analysis exercises to inform policy making and stakeholders’ choices Strengthening the governance of the skills system Opportunity 1: Strengthening co-ordination and co-operation across the whole of government Opportunity 2: Strengthening stakeholder engagement in skills policies Opportunity 3: Better aligning and co-ordinating financing arrangements Overview of main recommendations References Annex 1.A. OECD Skills Strategy Dashboard Characteristics Indicator selection Method for the calculation of aggregate indicators Annex 1.B. Strategies, recent reforms and OECD reports related to skills and education in Kazakhstan 2 Improving the activation of skills of vulnerable populations in Kazakhstan The importance of improving the activation of skills of vulnerable populations Kazakhstan’s current arrangements and performance in the activation of skills of its vulnerable populations Current arrangements for the activation of skills of vulnerable populations The responsibilities of public employment services in skills activation Active labour market programmes to improve the activation of skills of vulnerable populations Family policies to support skills activation of young parents Performance in activating the skills of its vulnerable populations Opportunities to improve the activation of skills of vulnerable populations in Kazakhstan Opportunity 1: Improving the accessibility and quality of public employment centres Ensuring that public employment services provide adapted responses to the circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 crisis Continuing efforts to build institutions that effectively reach vulnerable populations Improving the quality of services provided by employment centres Opportunity 2: Strengthening the effectiveness of active labour market policies for vulnerable populations Developing rigorous impact evaluation systems on the impact of active labour market policies Increasing expenditure on active labour market policies and reinforcing their targeting Opportunity 3: Promoting family policies for a more equitable sharing of unpaid and paid work Improving access to quality childcare services Promoting flexible leave and work options Summary of policy recommendations References 3 Fostering participation in adult learning of all forms in Kazakhstan The importance of fostering participation in adult learning of all forms Kazakhstan’s current arrangements and performance in fostering participation in adult learning Current arrangements for the adult learning system Education and training institutions in the adult learning system Roles of central and local government actors in the adult learning system State programmes to increase participation in adult learning Performance in fostering participation in adult learning Participation in formal and non-formal education by individuals Participation in training provided by employers Opportunities to foster participation in adult learning Opportunity 1: Strengthening the supply and quality of adult learning opportunities Strengthening the supply of adult learning Improving the quality assurance system for non-formal adult learning opportunities Opportunity 2: Increasing motivation to engage in adult learning Creating a consensus about the importance of adult learning Increasing large employers' commitment to adult learning Opportunity 3: Removing barriers to participation in adult learning Removing barriers to adult learning for individuals Reducing informational and financial barriers for SMEs Summary of policy recommendations References 4 Building an effective skills information system in Kazakhstan The importance of building an effective skills information system Kazakhstan’s current arrangements and performance in building its skills information system Current arrangements for the skills information system Public and private institutions carrying out skills assessment and anticipation Data collection and management to support an effective skills information system Performance in building an effective skills information system Assessment of the current skills information system Evidence on current skills imbalances Opportunities to build an effective skills information system Opportunity 1: Strengthening skills assessment and anticipation tools Strengthening skills assessment and anticipation methodologies to better identify and support immediate skills and job-matching needs Producing skills assessment and anticipation results that are more relevant to end users Opportunity 2: Creating an enabling environment for an effective skills information system Improving the quality and accessibility of data on skills and the labour market Developing the human resources needed to build an effective skills information system Opportunity 3: Enhancing the use of skills information to inform policy making and stakeholders’ choices Promoting sufficient dissemination of skills and labour market information among all relevant audiences Using skills information to support career guidance services Summary of policy recommendations References 5 Strengthening the governance of the skills system in Kazakhstan The importance of strengthening the governance of the skills system Kazakhstan’s current arrangements and performance in the governance of its skills system Current arrangements for the governance of skills policies Promoting co-operation and collaboration across the whole of government Engaging stakeholders throughout the policy cycle Aligning and co-ordinating financing arrangements Performance in the governance of its skills system Promoting co-operation and collaboration across the whole of government Engaging stakeholders throughout the policy cycle Aligning and co-ordinating financing arrangements Opportunities to strengthen the governance of the skills system in Kazakhstan Opportunity 1: Strengthening co-ordination and co-operation across the whole of government Improving co-operation and collaboration on skills policies Implementing better monitoring and evaluation mechanisms Opportunity 2: Strengthening stakeholder engagement in skills policies Strengthening stakeholder engagement in the development of the National Qualifications System Improving stakeholder engagement throughout the policy cycle Opportunity 3: Better aligning and co-ordinating financing arrangements Strengthening public funding arrangements for skills policies Better using incentives to engage the private sector in skills development Summary of policy recommendations References Annex A. Engagement OECD missions to Kazakhstan Mission 1: Skills Strategy Policy Seminar mission (24-25 October 2019) Mission 2: Assessment mission (24-28 February 2020) Mission 3: Recommendations consultations (15-23 June 2020) Annex A. Engagement