UNESCO-UNEVOC at Global Education and Skills Forum

© Global Education and Skills Forum 2014

UNESCO-UNEVOC participated in the second annual Global Education and Skills Forum held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 14 to 17 March 2014. Organized by UNESCO and the UAE Ministry of Education, GEMS Education, the Varkey GEMS Foundation and Dubai Cares, in support of the United Nations Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative, the forum aimed at providing a platform for exchange between representatives of government, leading non-governmental organizations and business leaders with a view to strengthening ties and further engaging the private sector in the field of education.

Shyamal Majumdar, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, spoke in the panel discussion on “Lessons from Existing Practices in Youth Skills Development: Replicating Successes and Building Scale” in which he stressed the economic, social, educational and technological imperatives that lie behind the growing attention for TVET globally. Majumdar spoke about the success of the dual system in Germany and the challenges faced in China and India where the demand for skilled workers is vastly growing. “We need to be aware that while a model can be a success in one country, it cannot just be replicated. It needs to be contextualized to the local setting”, he said. Other panellists in the session were H.E. George Papandreou, former Prime Minister of Greece, Jim Hagemann Snabe, Co-CEO, SAP (Germany) and Dr Mohammed Almajed, Vice President, Colleges of Excellence (Saudi Arabia).

Shyamal Majumdar at GESF © Global Education and Skills Forum 2014

Keynote speakers included President Bill Clinton, Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International and Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, who encouraged business leaders present to join UNESCO’s Global Partnership for Girls’ Education. This initiative was launched in 2011 and targets the weakest links in education – the transition to secondary education and literacy.

More information

UNESCO-UNEVOC participates in Green Skills Forum 2014
Green skills and innovation for inclusive employment growth, 14 February 2014, Paris, France

Mr Shyamal Majumdar and representatives from IAWG on Greening TVET and Skills Development © UNESCO-UNEVOC

Shyamal Majumdar, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, and Kenneth Barrientos, UNESCO-UNEVOC’s Programme Officer, participated in the second Green Skills Forum in Paris, France on 14 February 2014. Organized by OECD and Cedefop, the forum brought together over 90 experts, researchers, economists, government advisers, employment and policy analysts and social partners to explore the links between skills and knowledge needs and inclusive green growth. Mr Shyamal Majumdar joined a introductory panel discussion on greening TVET, along with OECD, ILO, ADB, UNITAR, ETF, CEDEFOP and the UNECE, all of whom are part of the Interagency Working Group on Greening TVET and Skills Development.

Mr Majumdar talked about the potential of TVET and skills development in supporting the transition to a greener and sustainable development. He emphasized the keen interest of member countries in advancing TVET transformations towards this end. Varying levels of commitment, understanding and interests, however, are held across the countries in which UNESCO-UNEVOC operates. Lack of policy coherence, capacity and knowledge gaps are common features in many TVET institutions. "Countries", he said, "enter into the green skills debate from different needs and perspectives". Mr Majumdar shared observations that developed countries are emphasizing more environmental awareness and policy integration. Social and economic needs, i.e. skills for employability and skills access, on the one hand, are high on the agenda of developing countries. He called upon a more balanced approach that integrates the social, economic, environmental aspects in pursuing green skills development.

Experiences were shared by a number of organizations, including from OECD Deputy Director General Mr Rintaro Tamaki who introduced the OECD and CEDEFOP recently published report highlights on 'Greener Skills and Jobs'. This report emphasizes the importance of public policies and targets as the key driving force for the further development of green skills and transition to a low-carbon world. The Asian Development Bank also presented a study that emphasizes the misconception that green skills are for universities, highlighting the important role played by vocational training institutions since most of the workers in high-emission occupations are low-skilled.

Right after the forum, representatives from the Interagency Working Group on Greening TVET and Skills Development held a meeting at OECD HQ. The meeting aimed to catch up on each agency’s progress, plan future projects and activities and discuss administrative procedures for the dissemination of the joint work on the set of policy recommendations to meet skills needs for green jobs.

Links

Programme

Conference website

UNESCO Expert Meeting on Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development
10-12 February 2014, Manila, Philippines

Participants of the UNESCO Expert Meeting © UNESCO

To identify the main challenges that climate change poses to education systems in the Asia and Pacific region and to explore the role that education can play in adaptation and mitigation to climate change, international experts convened in Manila, Philippines from 10 to 12 February 2014. UNESCO-UNEVOC was represented by Ms Dagmar Winzier, Programme Expert.

The meeting was organized by UNESCO and SEAMEO INNOTECH, and set the stage for UNESCO’s action in support of countries in Asia-Pacific for the remaining years of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and beyond.

Divided in six sessions, the participants discussed and exchanged know-how and information on a range of topics, including engagement of youth and communities as well as respecting the skills and knowledge of indigenous people regarding climate change, developing partnerships for climate change education (CCE), and building green societies through green job training. TVET will play a vital role in achieving green societies and is well placed to provide people with the skills needed for adaptive and innovative responses to the challenges of sustainable development. Ms Winzier spoke about “Building green societies through greening technical vocational education and training (GTVET)” and presented on the work of UNESCO-UNEVOC in this regard.

95 participants from 28 countries took part in the meeting, which included representatives from UNESCO, SEAMEO-INNOTECH, UNFCCC, UNICEF, GIZ, several ministries, universities and other educational institutions, as well as regional and international NGOs.

On the basis of presentations and working group sessions, a plan of action and a set of recommendations were drafted, highlighting the need to adapt the education systems of countries in Asia and the Pacific to the impact of climate change and integrating climate change into formal and non-formal education programmes, including policies, teacher training and curricula. The final recommendations will serve as input for the upcoming UNESCO World Conference Education for Sustainable Development in 2014 in Nagoya, Japan.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits UN Campus in Bonn
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon, visited the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany, on 31 January 2014.

Secretary-General with on his right Shyamal Majumdar and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC © UN Bonn/ Mike Le Gray

The Secretary General met with high-level representatives of Bonn-based UN agencies, including Mr Shyamal Majumdar, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC and Chair of the Heads of Agencies, and Directors of the other UN agencies based in Bonn. In a 30-minutes meeting, the 18 Heads of Agencies thanked the Secretary-General for his commitment in taking the UN mandate forward and highlighted that regardless of the size of each agency housed at the UN Campus, the organizations in Bonn all strive for an inclusive, holistic sustainable future for all.

After a meeting with the Heads of Agencies, Mr Ban addressed all UN staff and highlighted three topics that are of high relevance to the Bonn-based organizations, namely the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the on-going process for a global climate change agreement.

Secretary-General, Madam Yoo (Ban) Soon-taek, and Heads of Agencies © UN Bonn/ Mike Le Gray

The Secretary-General visited Bonn after having met high-level representatives of the German government in Berlin including Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel. He also attended the inauguration and first session of the Scientific Advisory Board of the United Nations Secretary General in Berlin, at which Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was also present. The Scientific Advisory Board is part of the global strategy of the UN to mobilize the sciences to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals and to ensure the integration of scientific perspectives into the post-2015 global sustainable development agenda.


UN in Bonn


The UN in Bonn consists of the following 18 agencies: UNFCCC, UNV, UNCCD, UNEP/CMS, UNEP/ASCOBANS, UNEP/AEWA, UNEP/EUROBATS, UNU-ViE, UNU-EHS, UNU-IHDP, UNU-ISP, UNOOSA/UN-SPIDER, UN/ISDR, UNW-DPC, WHO-ECEH, UNWTO, UNRIC and UNESCO-UNEVOC.

Today, almost 1.000 staff members work for the United Nations organizations, programmes and offices located in Bonn, Germany. These organizations operate in a wide variety of areas, but all are connected through the contribution they make to sustainable development.

More information about UN in Bonn (brochure)

UNEVOC Centre in Focus: National Institute of Apprenticeship, Costa Rica

INA students training to become chefs © Asesoría de Comunicación, INA

Introducing the new feature of our Bulletin: UNEVOC Centre in Focus

This issue’s “UNEVOC Centre in focus” is the National Institute of Apprenticeship (Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje, INA).

The INA is an institute for technical training and skills development and also the coordinator of the Latin American cluster of the UNEVOC Network. The institute’s main task is to offer free training in skilled trades to anyone over the age of 15, with the intention to promote economic development and to contribute to the improvement of life and work conditions of the Costa Rican people. INA’s mission is to increase the productivity of workers in all sectors in the economy. The institute aims to achieve this through training, skill development, certification, and accreditation for sustainable, equitable and productive high-quality work. In 2013, INA trained 133,060 students in its 57 centres across Costa Rica.

UNESCO-UNEVOC spoke to Mr Fernando Rodriguez Araya, who is the focal point for the UNEVOC Centre INA, to find out more about the institute and the work of the UNEVOC Centre:

Technical training © Asesoría de Comunicación, INA

What are the key priorities for your UNEVOC Centre and what has been the biggest benefit of belonging to the UNEVOC Network so far?

"Our priorities as a UNEVOC Centre are to expand the knowledge network and exchange best practices among the other members of the Network. We also try to identify new centres to strengthen the Latin American cluster. A huge benefit of being part of the UNEVOC Network is that we can share knowledge and research worldwide. At the global level, many of the UNEVOC Centres have developed research and projects that can be replicated in other regions of less economic and social development. We at INA have the advantage of knowing these developments first hand and try to implement them in our centres."

What have been some of the recent highlights and challenges for TVET in Costa Rica?

"In Costa Rica and specifically at INA, our work focuses on skills-based training, innovation in course design, greening and green jobs, management indicators, and tourism. However, a major challenge in our work is to reduce social gaps and to tackle youth unemployment through job training. We try to overcome these challenges by running short programs in high demand sectors and emerging labour markets. We also attempt to address socially disadvantaged populations, such as indigenous, migrants and disabled people in order to facilitate their upward mobility."

Can you share some key activities planned for this year?

"We aim to continue with the implementation of specific cooperation programs with Central and South American entities in areas of mutual interest. Moreover, we are looking to further exchange successful experiences with global experts attending and supporting seminars and workshops, to enhance the skills of our teachers and students. We also strongly encourage our participation in the WorldSkills competitions, which are a great way to promote TVET in Costa Rica and celebrate young talent in the country."

INA UNEVOC Centre
INA website

Would you like to see your UNEVOC Centre featured here? Please contact us at mailto:unevoc(at)unesco.org for more information

This interview is part of the UNEVOC Bulletin, the newsletter of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre. To read the Bulletin, please click here,and to subscribe to the Bulletin, please fill out this form.

National Institute of Employment and Professional Formation, Uruguay, joins the UNEVOC Network

© INEFOP

In December 2013, the National Institute of Employment and Professional Formation (INEFOP), Uruguay, joined the UNEVOC Network. INEFOP acts in the field of employment and vocational training in the private sector. It represents a variety of stakeholders in the country, including ministries, Chambers of Commerce, employers’ associations and trade unions, and emphasizes the interests of employers and workers, as well as sections of the population more vulnerable to unemployment. INEFOP is committed to promoting international and regional cooperation for human resource development, mobilizing technical expertise and resources and sharing best and innovative practices.

UNEVOC Centres in Uruguay

All UNEVOC Network Members are invited to submit news and information about their activities for publication in the UNESCO-UNEVOC Bulletin. For more information, please send us an email at unevoc.bulletin@unesco.org.

First Technical Education and Vocational Training Conference
31 March to 2 April 2014, Kuwait

© PAAET

The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) organized under the Patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Nawaf Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, represented by H.E Dr. Ali Al Obeidi, Minister of Health and the Acting Minister of Education, the First Technical Education and Vocational Training Conference in Kuwait from 31 March to 2 April 2014.

The conference aimed at exchanging experiences and discussing strategies for TVET development in the light of global changes that occur in the labour market. In addition, participants presented important international experiences and the latest educational and training methods.

© PAAET

Mr Ousama Al-Duaij Assistant Deputy Director General for Training at PAAET and the general coordinator of the conference highlighted that the conference provided useful knowledge and skills to the conference attendants. The provision of knowledge was through the sharing of practical experiences in research and training projects in various specialties. Many instructors at PAAET attended the conference. This first conference in Kuwait was attended by 300 local, regional and international high-level leaders and officials in the field of education and training, including representatives of the UNEVOC Network in the Arab region.

The conference themes were: training programmes; trainers and educators; implementation of training programs using modern technologies; and TVET and the labour market.

UNESCO Offices in Beirut and Doha organized two workshops in the conference programme: Entrepreneurship Education applications in the Arab Region and TVET opportunities for girls and Woman.

An exhibition was held alongside the conference. The exhibition housed modern training equipment from many international companies. These equipments are used in the PAAET Institutes for training.

More information (website PAAET)

The University of Management "TISBI” signs cooperation agreement with Ministry of Science and Education and the Russian State Professional and Pedagogical University

Ms Nella Pruss, University of Management "TISBI” Rector © TISBI

The signing of the networking cooperation agreement on an issue of professional training for the Economic Sector of the Republic Tatarstan took place on 13 February 2014.

The aim of this cooperation is the improvement of quality, efficiency and credibility of professional training. This will happen due to combining together the resources that will be used with maximum efficiency to train qualified workers and professionals in the most demanded professional areas.

Earlier an integrated professional education technology platform was created in the University of Management "TISBI" UNEVOC centre. This project will benefit the development of the vocational training for the economic sector. This will be possible due to the mutual support, knowledge and experience exchange and collaborative achievements in science and education.

Latest news of Yabatech UNEVOC Centre for Research and Sustainable Development
Information and pictures on recent activities of the Yaba College of Technology in Nigeria
http://yabatechunevoc.blogspot.de/search/label/News

Behind the screen: discovering the World TVET Database

The World Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Database is part of our online services where you can currently find 50 country reports. In this interview, the UNESCO-UNEVOC TVET Database team: Katerina, Kamal and Curie, explain how this service works, and its usefulness for anyone interested in TVET.

UNESCO-UNEVOC TVET Database team, Kamal, Curie and Katerina (from left to right), © UNESCO-UNEVOC

Why a World TVET database?

"The World TVET Database is where we strive to provide concise, reliable and up-to-date information on TVET systems worldwide. Our hope is that it is useful to officials, experts and stakeholders, researchers and students interested in either the TVET system of a specific country or in an aspect of TVET across countries."

What has been the most challenging aspect of developing the database?

"The quality of information we gather on a TVET system depends on the TVET system of that country, so we find it most challenging when we have to identify valid and relevant data. In order to ensure that the information we publish is valid and as up-to-date as possible, we reach out to our UNEVOC Network. New country reports are always being generated, so please keep visiting the website for updates!"

The database is currently only available in English. Are there plans to offer the reports in other languages?

"Ultimately, we would like to have our reports available in all six UN languages -- but of course this is quite resource-intensive. So our first step is to provide translations in official or widely spoken languages of a particular region, for example, Arabic in the Arab States, or Spanish in Latin America."

How can I use the database?

"The database’s structure allows for different viewing options. You could read the whole report of a specific country in one screen or you could customize the display so that you only see the chosen subheading, for example, the qualifications framework of a country. Customising the display helps you more easily compare, for example the TVET governance and finance in different countries."

How can people contribute to the database?

"We are very grateful for the help received from colleagues in UNEVOC Centres and other partner organizations in collecting, validating and providing feedback on published information. We are always looking for ways to improve the database, so please send us your feedback both on the content and structure of the database!"

Just published: Shanghai Update 2

The second issue of the Shanghai Update is published! This newsletter gives an overview of the activities undertaken by UNESCO and UNEVOC to respond to the recommendations that were made to UNESCO by its Member States in Shanghai.

This new issue contains information about recent and future events and developments on the post-2015 agenda for education and skills development.
In May 2012 more than 700 TVET experts gathered at the Third TVET Congress in Shanghai to set an international agenda for TVET for the next five years. UNESCO and UNEVOC published the first Shanghai Update one year after the congress.

Read the Shanghai Update in:

English

French

Spanish

Advancing TVET for youth employability and sustainable development

The meeting reports provide an overview of the presentations and discussions held during each of the fora, focusing on the key themes of youth and skills, and greening TVET



To strengthen global and regional harmonization for the advancement of TVET transformation through the capacities of UNESCO-UNEVOC's unique global Network of specialized TVET institutions and affiliated partners, in 2013 the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre organized a series of meetings held in all regions of the world. The meetings were organized following the recommendations outlined in the Shanghai Consensus, in which the role of the UNEVOC Network is highlighted as playing a key role in developing the capacities of decision-makers and practitioners, and facilitate the involvement of all stakeholders in TVET transformation and development across the globe.

The regional meetings facilitated high-level panels of experts discussing contemporary issues and highlighting skills development strategies, approaches and innovative practices focusing on greening TVET and youth employment. These themes were identified in close consultation with the Cluster Coordinators of the Network in earlier meetings that year.

For an overview of the presentations and discussions during each of the fora, please check out the meeting reports:

Regional Forum Africa

Regional Forum Arab States

Regional Forum Asia and Pacific

Regional Forum Europe, CIS and North America

Regional Forum Latin America and the Caribbean

General developments

Current membership: 3,401

Messages: In the period December 2013-March 2014, 346 messages have been distributed via the e-Forum.

Recent discussions

For those who are not a member of the e-Forum: You can access the messages via http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/forum. Note that you need to log in to be able to read messages. If you do not yet have a UNEVOC account or do not wish to create one, please use the following login information to access the e-Forum archives in read-only mode: User "Bulletin", password "read".

UNESCO-UNEVOC virtual conference on Revising the Revised 2001 Recommendation concerning Technical and Vocational Education From 1 to 14 April 2014, UNESCO-UNEVOC organized a virtual conference on the e-Forum. Moderated by Professor Simon McGrath, Director of Research and Professor of International Education and Development at the University of Nottingham, this Special Virtual Conference introduced the background and context of the normative instruments and aimed at gathering inputs from participants on the scope, guiding principles and key themes of the Recommendation. The contributions from participants will feed directly into the broader consultation process that is currently taking place with UNESCO Member States.
http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/article/Special+Virtual+Conference+Revising+the+R...
evised+2001+Recommendation+concerning+Technical+and+Vocational+Education.html

Vocational Pedagogy An active discussion started when the question on the difference between vocational pedagogy and pedagogical techniques adopted for general education. During the discussion, many different views were presented, but most agreed that it is important to have a separation between the two, especially because vocational pedagogy has not only the additional factor of work-based learning, but it is also directed at adults whereas the field of pedagogy in general education mainly addresses the work with children. The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre will organize a virtual conference on the topic from 12 to 26 May 2014 on the UNEVOC e-Forum. More information will be published on the website soon.
http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/go.php?q=e-Forum+-+Message+Board&a...;
mp;skin=efor&lang=en&action=threadlist&thread=2496

Mobile Training Following a request from the UK on mobile training units in rural areas, many e-Forum members joined the discussion and shared information on their experiences with mobile training units (MTUs) in their countries, general research and software solutions. Discussed were also the difficulties with mobile training units, such as the costs, the limits of infrastructure and the problem that MTUs often not suffice.
http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/go.php?q=e-Forum+-+Message+Board&a...;
mp;skin=efor&lang=en&action=threadlist&thread=2463

Since January 2014, the team of UNESCO-UNEVOC was pleased to welcome 8 visitor groups and delegations from Germany, Myanmar, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America.

For more information on these visits, please see:
http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/go.php?q=page_Visitors#2

If you would like to visit us in Bonn, Germany, please write to
mailto:unevoc@unesco.org