The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training is UNESCO’s only specialized centre for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and an integral component of UNESCO’s international programme on TVET. Through its capacity development programmes, collaborative projects and global UNEVOC Network, UNESCO-UNEVOC advocates for quality TVET that is accessible for all.

Promoting skills for work and life

UNESCO-UNEVOC is committed to supporting UNESCO Member States in ensuring access to quality skills development by:

• Facilitating knowledge exchange, networking and collaboration between global TVET stakeholders through its platforms;
• Developing quality TVET programmes that enable gainful youth employment, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning and respond to the dynamic skill demands; and
• Promoting broad-based skills development opportunities that are equitable and accessible by all segments of the society, globally.

All of our work is guided by our current Medium Term Strategy (further information below). You can find out more about our key programmes and projects by clicking on the ‘Skills for Work and Life’ tab.

We further promote information exchange and peer-learning through our TVET-related research, publications and various online communities, including the TVET Forum and the UNEVOC Network Portal.

The Education 2030 Agenda calls on Member States to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, with the aim of overcoming challenges posed by rapid technological developments, sustained high levels of youth unemployment, demographic changes and a growing demand for green skills.

In an effort to support TVET institutions in addressing these challenges and under the overarching vision contained in the UNESCO Strategy for TVET (2016–2021), UNESCO-UNEVOC developed its Medium Term Strategy for the period 2021-2023 (MTS-III). The Strategy focuses on strengthening TVET capacities and cooperation in Member States to enable quality education in a lifelong learning perspective and to ensure a better response from education and training to combat climate change and ensure adaptation to its impacts.

Theory of change

UNESCO-UNEVOC recognizes the need for Member States to develop TVET institutions that are attuned to lifelong learning principles and aligned with dynamic labour markets. With the Medium-Term Strategy for 2021-2023 (MTS-III), UNESCO-UNEVOC sets out the programme areas, objectives and activities that will enable TVET institutions to meet these demands and provide quality skills training for a sustainable future of work.

The connection between TVET and the world of work will be reframed in the post-COVID-19 era. More than ever before, there is an urgent need to build stronger links and promote collaboration with industry to ensure that TVET remains relevant and demand-driven. By focusing on anticipated futures and preparing for emerging trends, MTS-III enables TVET institutions to position themselves in these realities and swiftly adapt their strategies to respond.

UNESCO’s Strategy for TVET 2016-2021 was officially launched on World Youth Skills Day in Bonn on 15 July 2016. The Strategy takes into account the Education 2030 Framework for Action (FAA) for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4 which is aimed at mobilizing all countries and partners around SDG4 and its targets, and proposes ways of implementing, coordinating, financing and monitoring SDG4.

The Strategy supports the efforts of UNESCO Member States to enhance the relevance of their TVET systems to equip all youth and adults with the skills required for employment, decent work, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning, and to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a whole.

It also proposes indicative strategies which countries may wish to draw upon in developing contextualized plans, taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development, and respecting national policies and priorities. Find out more about UNESCO's work on TVET here.

3 Pillars of Priority Areas

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in New York in September 2015, seek to realize inclusive and equitable economic, social and environmental sustainable development. The agenda contains 17 goals including a global education goal (SDG 4). SDG 4 is to 'ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’ and has seven targets and three means of implementation. Find out more about UNESCO's work on SDG 4 here.

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

TVET Targets in SDG4

The UNEVOC Network is UNESCO’s global network for institutions specialized in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The Network is comprised of more than 250 UNEVOC Centres in 166 Member States across 5 regions:

• Africa
• Arab States
• Asia and the Pacific
• Europe, CIS and North America
• Latin America and the Caribbean.

Coordinated by UNESCO-UNEVOC, the Network provides a platform for exchange, cooperation and mutual assistance for its members by linking and fostering interaction and learning among diverse TVET institutions and stakeholders around the world. We at the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre undertake our activities through this knowledge-rich and extensive community.

Check out this collection of frequently asked questions about UNEVOC if you have concrete questions that are not answered above.