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PROFET - Programme for Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education in Cuba

Project completed

PROFET promotes access to employment by young people, with emphasis on women and disadvantaged groups, by modernizing educational programmes and technology under Technical and Vocational Education, in priority specialties for the development of the country (construction, agriculture and tourism), strengthening cooperation among educational institutions and the productive sector, and providing local advisory services for job placement and business undertaking.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Cuba
Employment & economic development
Vocational training
Employment creation
Vocational training
01.06.2017 - 30.06.2023
 CHF  5’960’000
The project in brief
Background Cuba is implementing a change in its educational policy seeking to improve the adjustment between technical and vocational training and the needs of the productive sector. The new policy aims to overcome the main “bottlenecks” that interfere with this adjustment: inadequate levels of knowledge about the demands of the labour market, especially by private actors; low quality and poor stability of teachers; outdated and deteriorated teaching and learning materials; insufficient practical training at companies and other productive entities; social and economic under-recognition of trades; and insufficient information for young people on training options and access to employment at the local level.
Objectives Improved access of young people to income and jobs in their specialties, by improving the quality of VPET provision in selected specialties, which ensures the qualifications required by the labour market, with emphasis on women and vulnerable groups.
Target groups

Direct beneficiaries: 146,691

1,903 VPET teachers and directors at the local and national levels

11,458 students in courses for intermediate-level technicians, skilled workers, and training of teachers

2,500 workers and people in training courses

2,945 high-school students involved in vocational training actions

1,380 people with disabilities involved in training actions and/or having access to employment

100,000 young people accessing
employment information services, including 35 per cent women and 38 per cent from vulnerable groups.
Medium-term outcomes

Improved quality in technical and vocational education provision in selected specialties, applying a social and gender equity approach.


Strengthened adjustment of VPET to meet the needs of local development and the demands of the labour market.


Good practices generated by the programme are incorporated into public policies to raise the quality of training of young people and their access to employment, with emphasis on women and young people from disadvantaged groups.
Results

Expected results:  

The average monthly wage of VPET graduates grows by 25 per cent.

The ratio of VPET graduates increases by 20 per cent.

Seventy per cent of employers are satisfied with the performance of graduates.

Seventy per cent of the polytechnics involved in the project introduce improvements into their curricula.

1,380 people with disabilities benefit from training and support services for access to employment LB: 391.

The number of young people graduating from selected specialties grows by 40 per cent, including 35 per cent women and 38 per cent from disadvantaged groups.

The number of companies, including the private sector, which provide practical training to students, increases by 30 per cent.

Sixty per cent of the municipalities and provinces involved in the programme develop information and counselling services for young people to gain employment, including support for people with disabilities.

Four new practices and tools generated by the programme are integrated into public policies.


Results from previous phases:  

82 students (33 percent women and 30 per cent from low-income families) benefit from the modernization of workshop classrooms and computer rooms at two polytechnics.

98 teachers from 3 polytechnics (in the specialties of construction, services and agriculture) are trained for VPET.

175 specialists and directors of VPET at the Ministry of Education (MINED) and of the ministries of Labour, Construction, Agriculture, and Tourism are trained on new trends in practical training and project management.

PROFET is recognized as an innovative experience for public-policy-making on VPET improvement.
Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
Foreign state institution
Swiss Academic and Research Institution
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • Central State of South East
  • Handicap International
  • Other Swiss academic and research institutions
  • United Nations Development Programme


Other partners

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) / Ministry of Education (MINED)

Humanity and Inclusion (H&I) NGO
Coordination with other projects and actors Strengthening Municipal Capacities for Development (PRODEL); Articulated Platform for Comprehensive Territorial Development (PADIT); and HABITAT 2
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    5’960’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    5’784’145
Project phases

Phase 1 01.06.2017 - 30.06.2023   (Completed)

  • Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation OTHER SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
    EDUCATION
    Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation
    Employment policy and administrative management
    Vocational training
    Cross-cutting topics The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
    Aid Type Project and programme contribution
    Project number

    7F09808

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Last update 26.09.2023