BRICS Skill Passport Initiative
Position Paper of the Russian Federation
1. Current Situation in Russia
Russia faces structural challenges in professional and continuing education. Employer
surveys indicate growing shortages of mid-level specialists, while participation in lifelong
learning programs is increasing but still insufficient for technological transformation goals.
The mismatch between educational output and labor market demand remains a key issue.
2. Existing BRICS Initiatives to Build Upon
- BRICS Network University
- BRICS Technical and Vocational Education Cooperation Alliance
- BRICS Digital Education Cooperation Framework
- BRICS Working Group on Skills Development
3. New Proposal: BRICS Skill Passport
Russia proposes the creation of a BRICS Skill Passport — a digital system for mutual
recognition of professional, vocational, and additional education credentials. The passport
would allow workers to document competencies in a standardized format recognized
across BRICS labor markets.
4. Expected Benefits
- Increased labor mobility within BRICS
- Reduction of qualification recognition barriers
- Improved transparency of skills
- Strengthened cooperation in vocational education
5. Conclusion
The initiative aligns with existing BRICS education cooperation and addresses urgent labor
market mismatches in Russia and other BRICS countries.