Within the framework of the  "Vocational Education Economic Development" project, Millenium Challenge Account Georgia in cooperation with the Georgian government, held its first international conference - "The role of vocational education in economic development."

The conference was opened by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, First Deputy Prime Minister – Mr. Dimitri Kumsishvili, the US Ambassador to Georgia, Mr. Ian Kelly, and the Minister of Education and Science - Mr. Aleksandre Jejelava.

The participants discussed ways on how to modernize the system of vocational education, in conjunction with developing the human capital and international experience, in order todeal with the economic challenges facing the country together. Parallel seminars were held on the following topics: public-private partnerships, the involvement of vocational education and work-based learning models.

The conference was attended by 250 delegates from Georgian and foreign governmental agencies, as well as senior managers of the business sector, civil society and international organizations. International experts from Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and Australia shared their experiences of public-private partnership, which will help the Georgian government and the private sector, to develop models of cooperation in Georgia.