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The BILT Bridging Event ‘Towards inclusive excellence in TVET’ was hosted by the UNEVOC Centre Cometa in Como, Italy, from 22 to 24 April 2024. The event attracted more than 300 participants from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe via remote and onsite participation, marking a significant step in promoting inclusive excellence, collaboration, and empowerment of learners in TVET.
In his opening speech, the Minister of Education and Merit, Italy, Giuseppe Valditara, remarked: “Merit in education means nurturing every young person's unique talent, not just striving for unreachable standards of excellence, but empowering each individual to give their best with dedicated effort”.
Key stakeholders from Cedefop, the African Union Commission, SEAMEO VOCTECH, and BIBB provided regional perspectives on promoting inclusive excellence in TVET and set the tone for discussions. The participating TVET students from Europe and Asia added valuable insights, sharing the challenges they face. Mr Arno Schrooyen from the European Students’ Union highlighted that inclusion in education and lifelong learning needs to start from the very early stages to nurture future generations. Challenges that students may encounter, including learning difficulties, financial strain, and mental health concerns, were noted as significant barriers affecting access to TVET programmes and their successful completion. The overarching message of the discussions was that to foster innovation, inclusive TVET must prioritize the individual learner's journey, acknowledging diverse barriers and ensure every young person is seen and heard.
A highlight of the conference was a study visit to Holcim cement factory, which provided practical insights into vocational training ‘made in Italy’.
Day two saw a shift towards collaborative efforts for TVET excellence, with a dynamic panel discussion on joint strategies featuring the ETF Network of Excellence, EfVET, and UNESCO-UNEVOC. One of the conclusions was that networks of TVET stakeholders need to speak in one voice and coordinate activities to drive transformation in TVET systems and bring TVET to the global education agenda. The ensuing lightning talks showcased best practices in inclusive TVET across the three regions involved in the BILT project, demonstrating the power of collaboration in action.
Additionally, the BILT project launched the new Expert Group on building and construction. The work of the BILT Expert Group will include carrying out an industry trends mapping, identifying innovative TVET practices in the sector, and formulating practical recommendations for TVET policy-makers and practitioners, which will contribute to a more digital, inclusive, and greener building and construction industry.
The final day centered on empowering learners at risk of exclusion through TVET. The highlight was the BILT Learning Lab, offering concrete examples of inclusive TVET: the MiniMaster
programme by Cometa, Italy, and the Her Turn programme by Know One Teach One (KOTO), Vietnam. The MiniMaster is a holistic training programme in waitstaff and housekeeping, which is tailored to the local job market. KOTO’s Her Turn initiative focuses on instilling entrepreneurial skills and career development for marginalized individuals from regional areas and ethnic minority groups by offering short course skills training, a long-term career development programme and a learnership building programme in the hospitality sector.
The BILT bridging event in Como, Italy, proved to be instrumental for driving collaboration on inclusive excellence in TVET. It witnessed the growth of the BILT Community and facilitated the creation of new partnerships, strengthening policy learning and peer learning among TVET stakeholders.
Keynote: European VET for the 21st century - The balancing of excellence and inclusion
A keynote on the intersection of ‘excellence’ and ‘inclusion’ and how these priorities are going to influence the future of vocational education and training will set the thematic framework for the next three conference days.
Impulse talks and panel discussion: Policies to promote inclusive excellence in TVET
This session brought together perspectives on policymaking from Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. The speakers introduced regional TVET strategies and policies aimed at enhancing inclusion and excellence to support access and participation and promote TVET as an attractive career path. In the ensuing panel discussion, the speakers were joined by TVET students sharing their experiences and opinions about the transformation towards inclusive excellence.
Round table discussions
Three round tables allowed for an in-depth discussion of approaches towards inclusive excellence mentioned in the preceding keynote and impulse talks.
Roundtable 1: The UNESCO Strategy for TVET – aspirations and realities
Moderators: Mr Kenny Muscat, BILT Project Manager and Ms Natalie Ax, BILT Project Officer, UNESCO-UNEVOC
Roundtable 2: The role of TVET networks to support the transformation towards inclusive excellence in TVET
Moderators: Ms Katharina Engel, BILT Project Manager, and Mr Michael Schwarz, Deputy Head of Division “International Advisory Services / Cooperation with Partner Institutions”, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Germany
Impulse: Ms Manuela Prina, Head of Skills Identification and Development Unit, European Training Foundation (ETF)
Roundtable 3: The role of TVET providers to support the transformation towards inclusive excellence in TVET
Moderators: Mr Alessandro Mele, President Cometa, Italy, and Ms Sari Rehell, International Affairs Specialist, Omnia, Finland
Vocational training ‘made in Italy’
An introduction to the Italian VET system set the scene for the ensuing study visit.
A study visit to the HOLCIM cement production unit in Merone (CO) offered participants a practical insight into the construction sector and an opportunity to discuss the transformation of skills needs towards a green and digital construction industry.Launch of the new Expert Group on building and construction
Networks for excellence in TVET
The panelists discussed the options for promoting inclusive excellence through the respective networks and identify relevant areas for future collaboration. The impulse talk highlighted the vital role of global and regional networks in driving inclusive excellence in TVET delivery and research.
Poster gallery – Lightning talks
The BILT Community Poster Gallery is designed to exhibit innovative projects, initiatives, tools and research activities on the event’s focus themes and sectors: inclusion, excellence, entrepreneurship, hospitality & tourism and building & construction. Online participants were invited to browse the poster gallery on the event webpage.
During the gallery session, eight institutions gave a lightning talk on one of the focus themes to foster discussions and inspire participants to implement new and innovative approaches within their own TVET context.
Interregional cooperation possibilities
This session explored interregional cooperation and funding opportunities for TVET stakeholders across Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa. The objective was to support the development of multi-stakeholder partnerships at a global level.
Meeting of BILT Expert Group (closed session)
Study visit Cometa
Students and staff of Cometa guided the visitors through different learning venues and gave insights into teaching and training environments and methodologies.
Hybrid Learning Lab: Equitable, excellent, empowering: innovative TVET in hospitality
This hybrid Learning Lab examined how to develop holistic approaches to create inclusive and diverse TVET environments. The session spotlighted two practical examples: Cometa's MiniMaster and KOTO's Her Turn. Inclusive programs like these empower marginalized groups with essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in today's dynamic job market.
Live demonstration of innovative teaching methodologies
Participants on-site had the opportunity to examine and test innovative teaching and learning tools showcased through interactive workshops, fostering hands-on experience.
EXPAND+ER WB³ is a publicly funded innovation project on the extension of a continuing education platform through attractive and user-oriented database design and a focus on regional continuing education. The aim of the project is to create innovative access to digital learning opportunities. Participants will have the opportunity to try and test virtual TVET delivery.
Cometa staff demonstrated a ToT methodology that puts the personal learning experience at the centre of teachers’ development. Participants are invited to experience this approach and jointly reflect on the emotional and psychological components of learning and teaching.
UNEVOC Network meeting for UNEVOC Centres (closed meeting)
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