Skills for work and life

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) connects education and the world of work. TVET aims to address economic, social and environmental demands by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. In this way, TVET promotes equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and supports transitions to green and digital economies.

Since the Third International Congress on TVET in Shanghai 2012, TVET has been gathering momentum and global attention. This increased with the adoption of the Education 2030 Agenda which devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development with specific targets related to access, acquisition of relevant learning outcomes and elimination of gender disparity.

The new UNESCO Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was adopted during the 214th session of the Executive Board for the period 2022 to 2029. Under the theme “Transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training for Successful and Just Transitions”, the Strategy will build upon the achievements under the Strategy for TVET 2016-2021 and seek to generate global momentum in support of TVET, contributing to the post-COVID-19 social and economic recovery and to an acceleration of progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4. It will seek to instil a renewed ambition for TVET in Member States and build a common vision for transforming labour markets, economies, and societies. This Strategy is fundamental for its aim to respond to the relevant needs of Member States and the changing demands of TVET. 

The UNEVOC Network is the key driver for mutual learning, capacity-building and advancing international cooperation in TVET. As well as UNESCO and its networks, the Members of the Inter-Agency Group on TVET are conducting collective initiatives and joint work to unleash the potential of TVET to meet skills needs of individuals, enterprises and societies.