Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Labour Market

Our team leader; Dr. Randa Hilal; long experience in TVET and the various consultancies conducted in the field sets OPTIMUM at a leading position in providing consultancy for this sector. Consultancy work in this area has ranged to include various studies, development of manuals, resources and curricula development, institutional building and policy development. In addition to conducting assessments, evaluations, planning, and monitoring within the sector.

TVET and Market Studies: We conduct labour market surveys, needs assessments and gap analysis to ensure training align with local market demand. Economic studies in four regions covering different areas were also conducted and linked skills with youth opportunities for employment and self-employment. Many assessments were conducted by OPTIMUM and the team leader either nationally or locally. Other studies included tracer studies for TVET graduates, OPTIMUM also conducted a study on informal apprenticeship training. Many of the studies conducted by OPTIMUM and/or the Team leader can be found on www.tvet.ps/library or http://www.tvet-pal.org/en/documents-publications 

As an example, we have conducted a situation and capacity assessment of targeted TVET and youth institutions, together with an analysis of the relevant local job market for Mercy Corps, involving a Labour Market Survey and an Institutional Situation assessment, presenting baseline information.

Development of manuals and resources: OPTIMUM was engaged in developing various manuals for best practices, including an operational manual for Work-Based Learning (WBL) to be used on the national level. 

Development of curricula: OPTIMUM was engaged in developing market-relevant curricula and developing modules, for TVET including developing curricula for over 10 vocations, and developed over 30 modules. Curricula and modules were developed through various projects supported by Save the Children, COOPI and LWF, Team leader was also engaged in supporting the development of  curricula through the support to TVET project supported by BTC,  all developed curricula are available in the library of the TVET Portal on www.tvet.ps 

Career Counselling: OPTIMUM was also engaged in developing the Career Resource Centre and content of the TVET PORTAL www.tvet.ps, including tests, occupational cards, and awareness material. OPTIMUM was also engaged in developing career resource material for youth in Jordan. 

Institutional Building: we conducted training and coaching for various TVET institutes and policymakers. OPTIMUM through a team of 8 consultants provided training and coaching for over 40 TVET institutes and 72 initiatives, that facilitated the implementation of the Work Based Learning (WBL) at the institute level, through  the work  with Belgium development agency /Enable.

Policy Development: the OPTIMUM team was engaged in facilitating strategic plans on the institutional level and facilitating WBL National Strategy, engaged in developing the WBL bylaws and the National TVET Monitoring Indicators.
We are experts in monitoring, coaching, evaluation, situation and capacity assessment, introducing or upgrading training programs and market relevant criteria development, designing and developing approaches, providing monitoring and evaluation, and annual tracking of graduates, 

Our Team Leader, Dr. Randa Hilal has over 25 years of experience in employment, vocational education, and training (VET), development and gender, including leading institutes and introducing new training programmes. She has participated at the policy level within the Employment, VET, and Social Protection sectors, through participating in identification and formulation of missions and baseline consultancies with TVET sectors. Her Ph.D. is in Education and development with a focus on TVET.