The challange
The Jordanian population is young and growing fast. The country has received a high number of refugees. Due to these two factors, both the vocational training system and the labour market are facing a challenge. Although skilled workers in the crafts sector are urgently needed, Jordanian young people consider crafts to be unattractive. The project “Employment-oriented qualification in the skilled crafts sector” implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) aims to make young Jordanians and Syrian refugees aware of the employment opportunities in the skilled crafts sector and to highlight the improved vocational training opportunities as well as the target group and sector-specific information and advisory services. The project political partner is the Jordanian Ministry of Labour, and the total duration of the project is from 2017 to 2024.
The approach
The project is part of the special initiative to promote stability and development in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). A three-step approach is designed to help vulnerable Jordanian youth and Syrian refugees make better use of employment opportunities in the skilled trades sector. The approach includes the following:
– Collaboration with partner institutions to improve the quality of vocational training in the crafts sector and pave the way for young people to enter training.
– Vocational guidance and counselling services for young Jordanians and Syrians.
– Improving cooperation between private and public actors in close coordination with the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH).
New prospects for future welding specialists in Jordan through Soldamatic
As part of this project, Weldplus carried out the commissioning of the first five of ten Soldamatic solutions at the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) in Amman in April 2023. For this purpose, 10 participants were trained in 3 days on the welding simulators, as well as on the associated software. It became clear that the training with Soldamatic is the most realistic training experience besides real welding and brings various advantages for the situation on site. Due to the modern and appealing equipment & technology of Soldamatic training solutions, consisting of a sequential training concept of theory and practice with integrated LMS in, Soldamatic represents an attractive training solution for younger generations. The teaching staff took part in a comprehensive user training on site to get to know the advantages of the systems and to use them optimally in their own lessons.
“It was a unique experience through Augmented Reality for welding training. To make the training process more fun and attractive, and to engage the modern training techniques based on the latest technology that can elevate the trainees’ engagement, the project supported the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) to establish the first training workshop in Jordan using Augmented Reality (AR) technology for welding. The system components have been installed and 10 local trainers from VTC have been trained on how to use the new training technology. During the three days training, the feedback was very impressive as the participants expressed their desire to use AR technology for welding in the training process through the system, because of its distinctive characteristics that may add value to the skills of the trainees. On the other hand, VTC’s management expressed its desire to introduce AR technology to many training programs because of its advantages that may enrich the training process and enhance the use of modern technology to upscale the youth skills in different sectors.” Mohamed Nusir Technical Advisor at Employment-oriented qualification in the skilled craft Project “GIZ”.
The remaining five simulators included in the project are expected to be put into operation next year in the then newly built and completed training centre in Aqaba. This project shows how digital technology can successfully support the practical qualification of young people. With this project, we are actively supporting the qualification of young people on site and creating job prospects.
