1. Skills and Career Centre, Pathways to the Labour Market Dr Neruda Barakat, Director 1 Project Implementation, Obstacles and Outcomes

2. Summary of the Project 2 SCCs at Syrian Uni Personal Skills Job Search Career Management Career Planning

3. Target Groups 3 Students Graduates Employers Academics

4. Tasks and Activities 4  Support the design and establishment of skills and career centers at 5 public and 3 private universities.

5. Tasks and Activities 5  Design and implement a skills and competency development programme for students based on a needs assessment encompassing five competence fields: Strategic and entrepreneurial management, planning and organizing, leadership; communication, teamwork and cooperation; media, analyzing and information processing; foreign languages.

6. Tasks and Activities 6  Design and implement a market screening instrument for employers to define employment needs and develop and implement an employment service support program in career planning and counseling and placement as well as temporary in- company training programs.

7. Website 7  http://www.skillcareer-tempus.edu.sy/

8. Key Activities 8 Workshop on Career Guidance in collaboration with UHES, Al Baath University 2011. Workshop at Lund University, Sweden (28th Mar - 4th April 2011) "Best Practices in Career Counseling Workshop" at Damascus University, Syria (11th - 13th Sep 2011) Meeting with the Minister of Higher Education, Syria (13th Sep 2011) Workshop at Lund University, Sweden (11th - 18th Dec 2011) Training of Trainers at Damascus University, Syria (7th - 19th May 2013) Training of Trainers for Skill and Career Center staff at Damascus University, Syria (24th of June - 04th July 2013)

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10. The Establishment…  On 07/April/2011, the ‘’Skills and Career Guidance Centre’’ was established at Tishreen University under the Decision no. 35 by the Ministry of Higher Education.  On 01/June/2011, Dr Neruda Barakat was assigned the position of the Director of the centre.  On 26/June/2011, the first employee was appointed at the centre. 10

11. Tishreen SCC in Numbers 11  8000 students.  60 workshops and meetings  100 internships  10 big companies partnered with us  9000 likes on Facebook  75 volunteers  3 staff (1part-time)

12. Tishreen SCC Official Website 12

13. Unfortunately: Syrian Side 13 - Some senior staff NOT serious enough. - Relationship with the labour market could NOT easily go on as well as anticipated. - Students and Lecturers are too busy in the teaching/learning process they do NOT have time to think about career planning/internships/labour market information/etc…. - NOT enough financial and logistics support by administrations of universities. - NOT sufficient Ministry of HE support regarding regulations and high level decisions.

14. Unfortunately: EU Side 14  Key Partner Universities NOT involved in network visits.  Little staff cost compared with other TEMPUS projects.  NOT enough consideration of current situation in Syria.  NOT careful thoughts about adaptation of ‘career guidance services’ in a region like Syria.

15. Finally 15 We look forward to working together to develop higher education in our Syria and to enhance relationships with our key EU partners!