Conference Programme
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Skills on the move: global trends, local resonances 4 - 6 July 2017, International conference in Tangshan People’s Republic of China Progress review of Technical and Vocational Education and Training since the Third International Congress in Shanghai (2012) Message from Irina Bokova Director-General of UNESCO I am pleased to welcome you to the International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ‘Skills on the move: Global trends, local resonance’. This conference is the fruit of collaboration between UNESCO, the People’s Republic of China and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It is organized in response to demands from policy-makers, the private sector, educators and other stakeholders for global dialogue, knowledge sharing and monitoring of achievements since the Third International ©UNESCO Congress on TVET in Shanghai in 2012. It is also a response to the increased attention devoted to technical and vocational skills development in the context of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on education. Education 2030 is a lifelong learning agenda; it considers all aspects of skills for work and life, specifically regarding access to affordable quality TVET; the acquisition of technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship; the elimination of gender disparity and ensuring access for vulnerable groups. TVET is expected to address multiple economic, social and environmental demands by equipping youth and adults with the skills they need for employment and global citizenship and by promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable societies. The attention that the Conference gives to the mobility of skills is timely. The world is in a period of accelerated change. The digitalisation of economies and societies promises to bring dividends, spur innovation, generate efficiencies and improve quality of services in a wide range of sustainable development areas, from agriculture to health, infrastructure, environment and education. The world of work is expressing new skills requirements: not only job-specific skills, but also creative, entrepreneurial and digital skills. We live in a world where people and jobs are increasingly internationally mobile. While migration corresponds to increasing globalization, it also results from crisis and armed conflicts. Ensuring access to learning, protecting the right to education of migrants and refuges also involves recognizing their skills and qualifications. In response to these changes and challenges, Member States must find innovative ways to anticipate the demand for skills, increase access and enhance quality in an inclusive an equitable manner. Besides employment and economic considerations, equity must remain an essential component of any skills development agenda. Ensuring that no one is left behind must remain at the heart of education and training policies and reforms. I hope that the programme that is offered and the international experience that will be shared during the Conference will help UNESCO Member States in transforming their TVET systems to achieve SDG4 and more broadly, the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. 2 Message from Yao Sun Vice Minister of Education, People's Republic of China Working Together for a Higher-Quality Modern Vocational Education In this beautiful blooming summer season, it’s a great pleasure to have friends coming from afar to attend the 2017 International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training. On behalf of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, I’d like to extend warmest welcome and sincere thanks to all the participants from home and abroad! In the past few decades, the world has undergone great changes featuring the continuous progress of information technology, constant deepening of globalization and rapid change of employment market, which exerted far- reaching impacts on the economic and social development and presented opportunities and challenges to education. Face with the technological and industrial revolution, vocational education is entrusted with a greater mission. Thanks to the efforts of UNESCO, countries have been working together to advance the tasks set out in Shanghai Consensus immediately after the conclusion of the Third International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education and Training in 2012. As a result, significant progress has been made in the multilateral cooperation on TVET, the enhancement of skills for all and in particular for the youth, the promotion of openness, cooperation, inclusiveness and equity, the improvement of the quality TVET, and the promotion of sustainable development. The Chinese government has been committed to prioritize the development of TVET, focusing on reform and opening-up, efficiency increase, shared growth through collaboration and building modern vocational education. Since the Third International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, China has been implementing the policy outcomes proactively which has led to important progress in vocational education with a historic breakthrough. In 2014 in particular, the Chinese government held the National Conference on Vocational Education and issued Decision on Accelerating the Development of Modern Vocational Education, which specifies the targets, plan, tasks, schedule and roadmap for the modernization of vocational education by 2020. So far, China has the largest scale of vocational education worldwide. A new path, with Chinese characteristics, to the development of TVET has been found, which features: strengthened human resource development, featured school-running, improved system and mechanism, better development environment and expanded international cooperation and exchange. The ideas, model and achievements of China’s vocational education constitute a crucial case of promoting vocational education in developing countries. The Conference is the first mid-term event held between two congresses which provides a new opportunity for us to enhance understanding, expand opening-up and deepen cooperation. By practicing the ideas of innovation, coordination, green, opening 3 and sharing, and contributing to modernization with no efforts spared, China’s vocational education is embracing an unprecedented golden era. In the process, China is willing to share its experience and success in reform with the rest of the world so as to jointly contribute to the quality vocational education development worldwide. It is our belief that with the concerted efforts of all the participants of the conference, the Shanghai Consensus will be further implemented together with fruitful discussions and positive outcomes around the theme “Skills on the move: Global trends, local resonances”. I’m convinced that, with the leading role play of UNESCO and the joint efforts of the member states, this International Conference is bound to make new progress in skills development, standards alignment, multilateral participation and cooperation on teaching and scientific research. I look forward to a regular policy dialogue and exchange among all countries with a view to develop a higher-quality vocational education, accelerate the modernization of TVET and make even greater contribute to the sustainable development of the mankind. I wish a brighter future for the technical and vocational education worldwide and for all the nations! 4 Message from Kornelia Haugg Director-General, Vocational Training and Lifelong Learning Division, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has become a globally acknowledged key factor for social participation, competitiveness, social peace, prosperity and high rates of employment. Germany supports the strengthening of cooperative and job-related elements of the TVET systems in partner states. These elements – and workplace-based learning in particular – feature prominently as recommendations in the 2012 UNESCO-UNEVOC Shanghai Consensus on TVET. Global competition is leading to ever shorter innovation cycles and new forms of work organization. This will require systematic and participatory development of corporate organization and the corresponding training of skilled workers. Demand for well-trained skilled staff is growing worldwide. Skilled labour is key to securing sustainable economic growth. There is enormous pressure for reform in states whose vocational training systems are based largely on full-time schooling. Employers in these countries criticize school-based training as lacking in practical relevance and also lament the lack of staff with practical experience and skills. At the same time, many young people are not gaining access to the labour market and remain without any prospects for the future. High rates of youth unemployment in many countries are jeopardizing the social peace. Youth employment and investments in young skilled staff are key factors for growth. I therefore consider the following goals to be particularly important in international cooperation on TVET: • Youth employment through a strengthening of in-company training elements • A training policy dialogue among key stakeholders to strengthen international vocational training research • Implementation of inclusive and holistic approaches to technical and vocational education and training in countries where it can drive growth and employment, and among others, lead to more stability. The "Skills on