Skills are vital for poverty reduction, economic recovery and sustainable development. As a consequence, policy attention to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is increasing worldwide.

TVET comprises formal, non-formal and informal learning for the world of work. Young people, women and men learn knowledge and skills from basic to advanced levels across a wide range of institutional and work settings and in diverse socio-economic contexts. 

UNESCO leads the global debate by advocating for the rethinking of TVET to enhance its role in developing more equitable and sustainable societies. From 14-16 May 2012 UNESCO convened the Third International Congress on TVET in Shanghai, ‘Transforming TVET: Building Skills for Work and Life’, which resulted in the adoption of the Shanghai Consensus.