Regional workshop: Development of TVET policies designed to increase skills for employment and entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific region
When: 23-24 May 2018
Where: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Who: Government officials, researchers, UNESCO, DVV International, the European Union, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, TVET institutions, civil society organizations, international agencies and private sector representatives
Globally, youth unemployment is on the rise. Asia-Pacific equally faces issues with youth as well as youth-to-adult unemployment. Emerging evidence indicates that one of the main reasons for this global phenomenon is a growing mismatch between supply and demand for skills (World Economic Forum, 2014; ALJ Poverty Action Lab, 2017; Lim, C. and Grant, A.).
Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is increasingly seen as a potential means of addressing global employment challenges, slow economic growth, poverty, inequality, and the need for sustainability because of its roles in closing these gaps. The international community and Member States recognize the need to enhance the role of TVET, and thus, promoting TVET is included in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4)-Education 2030 Agenda, which aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
For TVET systems to fully contribute to economic, human and sustainable development, its policies and policy measures need to be well balanced, responsive to respective socio-economic contexts and closely aligned with the national economic development agenda. In this regard, UNESCO Bangkok, with support from the government of the Republic of Korea, launched the project “Developing TVET Policies Designed to Increase Skills for Employment and Entrepreneurship in Alignment with National Economic Plans.” The project aims to enhance Member States’ capacities to develop TVET policies, designed to increase skills for employment and entrepreneurship, in line with national economic development.
To achieve the objectives of the project, seven country case studies, including Iran, India, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and Thailand, were conducted. These case studies reviewed country contexts and situations and relevant TVET policies. To share the major findings of the country cases, UNESCO Bangkok, in collaboration with UNESCO Tashkent, Almaty and HQ, organized “Regional Workshop on Developing TVET Policies Designed to Increase Skills for Employment and Entrepreneurship in Asia-Pacific”, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from May 23rd to 24th, 2018. The workshop was to share the countries’ cases and agree on policy recommendations that were suggested during discussions among Member States, experts, UNESCO, DVV International, the European Union and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. The workshop was supported by UNESCO Bangkok's regional project funded by Republic of Korea's Ministry of Strategy and Finance.
As the main outputs of the meeting, a synthesis report which will include an analysis of the case studies will be produced and solid policy recommendations will be offered to Member States. These outputs aim to support Member States in developing TVET policies and action plans that can help boost employment and entrepreneurship in line with the national economic plans.
Contact: Section for Educational Innovation and Skills and Development (eisd.bgk@unesco.org); Hyunjeong Lee, Programme Officer (h.lee12@unesco.org)
Meeting Documents
- Concept Note
- Agenda
- Objectives of Regional Workshop
- Outcome Document (to be updated)
Session 1: Global and Regional Overview
- Global overview on TVET policies for youth employment and entrepreneurship by Mr. Hiromichi Katayama, Programme Specialist, Section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development, Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, Education Sector, UNESCO HQ
- TVET Policies for youth employment and entrepreneurship in Asia-Pacific by Dr. Eunsang Cho, Programme Specialist, UNESCO Bangkok (*please contact h.lee12@unesco.org for a soft copy of the presentation)
Session 2: TVET Policies for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship
Part 1
- India by Dr. Rajesh Pundalik Khambayat, Joint Director, PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education, Bhopal
- Thailand by Dr. Numyoot Songthanapitak, Associate Professor/Chair Person, Institute of Vocational Education Northern Region 2
- Sri Lanka by Dr. T.A. Piyasiri, Vice Chairman, National Education Commission
Part 2
- Iran by Mr. Amir Radfar, Consultant, Dr Koerner Consult Co, Heat International Company
- Kyrgyzstan by Dr. Urmat Tynaliev, Professor, Ala-Too International University
- Republic of Korea by Dr. Cheonsoo Park, Senior Research Fellow, Korean Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training
Session 3: Panel Discussion on Stakeholder Engagement for Inclusive Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship
Session 4: Establishing Learning Pathways between TVET, Higher Education and Lifelong Learning
- National Concept of the Professional Education System in Uzbekistan by Mr. Murodullo Kholmukhamedov, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education, Uzbekistan
- Employment and entrepreneurship in TVET policies in Central Asia by Ms. Lina Benete, Programme Specialist, UNESCO Almaty
- The Impact of adult learning and education on employment and the labour market by Ms. Angela Owusu-Boampong, UIL
- Vocationalization of Secondary School by Dr. Rupert Maclean, QAPCO Chair and UNESCO Chairs on TVET and Sustainable Development
