HAND and the Syrian–Turkish Business Council Sign Strategic Partnership to Advance Skills Development and Employment Pathways in Syria
Damascus – Human Aid and Development (HAND) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Syrian–Turkish Business Council (STBC) to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), enhance private sector engagement in workforce development, and facilitate employment pathways for graduates through industry-based training and job placement opportunities.
The partnership establishes a collaborative framework for knowledge exchange between HAND, the Syrian–Turkish Business Council, and its member companies, with a focus on identifying priority occupations and skills demanded by the labour market. The collaboration will support the design and delivery of competency-based, market-driven training programmes that respond to the evolving needs of Syria's industrial and manufacturing sectors.
Under the agreement, trainees and graduates will benefit from structured workplace learning opportunities, including internships and practical on-the-job training within companies affiliated with the Council. These placements will enable participants to gain hands-on industry experience, strengthen both technical and employability competencies, and become familiar with real production environments under the guidance of experienced industry professionals.
The partnership also aims to strengthen school-to-work transition mechanisms by facilitating employer engagement, matching qualified graduates with available vacancies, coordinating work-based learning opportunities, and providing career guidance and post-placement follow-up to support graduates during the early stages of their employment.
The agreement builds upon a series of consultations, technical meetings, and joint planning sessions between HAND and the Syrian–Turkish Business Council aimed at improving the quality, relevance, and labour market responsiveness of vocational training programmes through closer collaboration with the private sector.
Several member companies of the Council have already expressed their commitment to offering internships, workplace learning opportunities, and employment opportunities for graduates of HAND's vocational training programmes, particularly in garment manufacturing, textile production, and other occupations experiencing increasing demand across industrial enterprises.
HAND, whose Board of Trustees is chaired by Emirati businessman Dr. Abdul Qader Sankari, highlighted that the partnership reinforces the critical role of the private sector in strengthening vocational education systems and reducing the mismatch between skills acquired through training and those required by employers.
Commenting on the agreement, Saadettin Muvakit, Executive Director of HAND, emphasized that the success of vocational education should ultimately be measured by graduates' successful transition into productive employment.
«"The effectiveness of vocational training is not determined solely by the number of courses delivered or participants reached, but by its ability to equip graduates with market-relevant competencies that enable them to secure decent work, contribute to economic productivity, and achieve greater economic self-reliance. This partnership strengthens that pathway by connecting skills development with practical workplace experience and employment opportunities."»
Hussam Tattari, President of the Syrian–Turkish Business Council, described the agreement as part of the Council's strategic commitment to strengthening its contribution to Syria's socio-economic recovery by mobilizing the expertise, industrial capacity, and business networks of its members to support youth employment and workforce development.
«"Through this partnership, we are committed to leveraging the expertise, resources, and industrial capabilities of our members to strengthen the professional skills of Syrian youth and improve their access to sustainable employment opportunities."»
He added:
«"Our member companies possess extensive experience across a broad range of industrial sectors. Opening our production facilities to trainees will provide valuable exposure to real manufacturing environments, allowing participants to develop practical competencies, understand workplace expectations, and enhance their employability."»
Tattari further noted that the willingness of Council members to provide internships and employment opportunities marks the beginning of a broader collaboration aimed at creating sustainable employment solutions for Syrian youth while supporting industries with a skilled, competitive, and job-ready workforce.
The partnership represents an important step towards establishing an integrated model that links skills development, workplace learning, and employment. By strengthening collaboration between vocational training providers and the private sector, the initiative seeks to expand economic opportunities for young women and men, foster human capital development, support inclusive economic recovery, and contribute to the revitalization of Syria's productive sectors.
