According to a recent International Labour Organization (ILO) report, the global youth unemployment rate is 13 per cent, or three times higher than the adult rate of 4.3 per cent (ILO 2018). A significant driver of high levels of youth unemployment is the mismatch between the skills graduates can offer and the skills demanded by employers. This impacts not only economies but also hampers the ability of young people to be active participants in society. The decreasing shelf life of existing skill sets, coupled with the need for quality occupational learning avenues to skill (and reskill) entrants to the dynamic labour markets, requires the development of responsive, higher quality and accessible Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems.
Rapid technological developments, environmental challenges, and demographic shifts are affecting the way we work, live and learn. TVET systems around the world are currently in a state of transformation and innovation to respond to the current and emerging challenges. This transformation, though varied across regions and levels of development, includes a transition of TVET from being a vehicle for functional skills development for employability to the development of broad-based and transversal skills that enable its graduates to access further opportunities for learning and upskilling throughout the course of their lives. As transversal skill demands continue to evolve, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provides a pathway for young people to develop their competencies and transition to the world of work.
As part of UNESCO-UNEVOC's ongoing commitment to highlighting the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in providing youth with the opportunities to develop their competencies and accelerate their transition to work, we invite you to take part in our World Youth Skills Day activities:
This competition has been organized as part of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre’s activities to mark World Youth Skills Day.
The Skills in Action Photo Competition 2019 highlights how Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is:
The story series highlights individuals identified by UNEVOC Centres who are promoting a positive image of technical and vocational education and training in their community. These young persons are students, teachers/trainers or graduates of UNEVOC Centres. Access the story series here:
UNEVOC Centres were encouraged to organize their own activities to mark World Youth Skills Day. View the map to see how the UNEVOC Network celebrates WYSD.
An exhibit entitled “Inspiring youth and improving perception for skills” is being held on 9-18 July 2019 at the Vienna Café Corridor in the UN Headquarters. The exhibit is organized by WorldSkills and UNESCO, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Sri Lanka and Portugal. Selected photos from the UNESCO-UNEVOC SkillsinAction Photo Competition and "Inspiring Youth in TVET" Story Series are on display.
Based on this year's WYSD theme of "Learning to learn for life and work", a panel discussion is being at UN Headquarters in New York on July 15th. This discussion has been organized by UNESCO, the Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, and the ILO, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Sri Lanka and Portugal. The event will bring together the voices of youth, Member States, the UN system, private sector, civil society, academia and organizations.
a. Twitter
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In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNESCO Strategy for TVET (2016-21) and UNESCO’s Recommendations concerning TVET are some of the key instruments stimulating global action in making TVET systems more effective in responding to current and emerging skills demands and promoting youth employment and entrepreneurship. In all these calls, skills development for the youth is a key priority area. The UNESCO-UNEVOC Medium Term Strategy II also places youth employment as a core thematic priority, to guide our programmatic activities to the benefit of the Member States represented in the UNEVOC Network.
1. UNESCO-UNEVOC World Youth Skills Day 2019
2. UN World Youth Skills Day Homepage
3. UN Resolution on World Youth Skills Day
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