HAND Signs Partnership Agreement with the Syrian–Turkish Business Council to Strengthen Market-Oriented Vocational Training

On the sidelines of NASTEX 2026 in Damascus, HAND signed a partnership agreement with the Syrian–Turkish Business Council to strengthen market-oriented vocational training, enhance collaboration with the private sector, and improve access to work-based learning and employment opportunities for programme graduates.

The partnership establishes a framework for technical cooperation and knowledge exchange, with a focus on identifying priority skills and occupations required by the labour market. Through this collaboration, both parties will contribute to the design and delivery of demand-driven vocational training programmes that respond to the evolving needs of the industrial and manufacturing sectors.

The agreement also promotes work-based learning by facilitating practical training placements for trainees and graduates within companies and factories affiliated with the Council's members. These placements will enable participants to gain hands-on experience in real workplace settings, strengthen their technical competencies, and enhance their employability under the guidance of experienced industry professionals.

In addition, HAND and the Syrian–Turkish Business Council will work together to facilitate graduates' transition into the labour market by strengthening employer engagement, connecting qualified candidates with employment opportunities, coordinating workplace-based training, and providing career guidance and post-placement support during the initial stages of employment.

This partnership builds on a series of consultations, field visits, and joint planning efforts between the two parties. It represents an important step towards strengthening private sector engagement in skills development and creating sustainable pathways that support young people's transition from learning to decent work.