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The Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT) project held a learning forum on ‘Striving for excellence: Shaping skills development and strengthening global collaboration in TVET’ from 24 to 26 October 2023, in Bonn, Germany. The forum was organized by UNESCO-UNEVOC and the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB).
Interregional policy dialogue
Almost 400 participants joined on site and online to explore innovative TVET practices and discuss policies that support excellence in TVET, presenting global and regional perspectives. Borhene Chakroun, Director of the Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems at UNESCO, outlined how UNESCO’s Strategy for TVET 2022-2029 supports the transformation of TVET for just and sustainable transitions.
“We need to have a global virtual centre of excellence, where we have a common agenda and build common tools" - Mr Borhene Chakroun
Various speakers highlighted regional TVET initiatives such as the African Union Commission's strategy for TVET to foster youth employment; the ASEAN TVET Council’s initiatives aimed at greening TVET systems, enhancing digital readiness and fostering resilience to disruptions; and Europe's focus on the dual transition and policy collaboration as outlined in the Osnabrück Declaration.
Lightning talks
The sessions on greening, digitalization and entrepreneurship revealed diverse approaches to TVET planning and implementation. These themes highlighted the interconnected nature of green practices, digital transformation, and entrepreneurial initiatives within the TVET landscape. The discussions indicated the essential need for holistic research methods in TVET, with a strong emphasis on tailoring research approaches to specific regions within the broader TVET context.
A discussion led by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, shed light on the challenges faced by refugees globally, with 120 million forcibly displaced people, including 30 million refugees. Mobility and inclusion were highlighted as significant factors for overcoming policy barriers that hinder refugees' access to TVET.
TVET research and collaboration in action
The event provided an opportunity to spotlight collaboration agreements between TVET institutions, namely the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training and Temasek Polytechnic in Singapore; Temasek Polytechnic and Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology; and Mauritius Institute of Training and Development and the School Centre Nova Gorica in Slovenia. This cross-continental cooperation supports the translation of policy into practice for qualification and competency development.
A special deep-dive session unpacked the BILT Self-Reflection Tool (SRT), which enables TVET institutions to assess their preparedness to contribute to the Three I's process:
Overall, the forum pointed out global collaboration, innovative approaches, and strategic partnerships as key in shaping the future of TVET and addressing evolving challenges in skills development.
"TVET providers play a pivotal role in preparing students for a dynamic job market through private sector engagement, evidence-based strategies, and fostering innovation and collaboration. Networking and collaborative problem-solving, the core of the BILT project, encapsulate this approach." - Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO–UNEVOC
A keynote on the global state of skills supply and demand forecast set the thematic framework for the three conference days. In his Keynote, Mr Chakroun took stock of current challenges and introduced the concept of a ‘global skills tracker’ to document skilling, reskilling, and upskilling programmes as well as training and work trajectories of young people.
9:40 – 10:35 Impulse talks: Regional Excellence in TVETThis session brought together policymakers from Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. They wil examined and compared global and regional TVET strategies and policies supporting vocational excellence through skills development and anticipation. The session included time for Q&A.
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11:00 – 12:30 Round table discussions
Three Round table discussions allowed for a more in-depth discussion of important topics mentioned in the preceding keynote and impulse talks. The objective was to stress the importance of inter-regional collaboration and to jointly outline priorities supporting the transformation and attractiveness of TVET worldwide.
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The future of TVET: Education for the future of work
Moderator: Mr Yang Wenming, Professor and Coordinator of UNEVOC Centre, UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, China
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Innovation in TVET for a sustainable future
Moderator: Ms Kenneth Barrientos, Team Leader for SDGs and Greening TVET, UNESCO-UNEVOC
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Inter-regional cooperation in TVET
Moderator: Mr Michael Schwarz, Deputy Head of Division ‘International Advisory Services, Cooperation with Partner Institutions’, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Germany
13:30 – 14:45 Vocational training ‘made in Germany’
An introduction to the German Dual VET system set the scene for the ensuing study visits. It focused on continuing VET and the permeability between vocational and academic education. In this regard, the InnoVET Project UpTrain was presented. It brings together transport companies, universities and industry partners to jointly develop a holistic further training model.
Three parallel study visits to TVET training companies in the Bonn area offered participants a practical insight into training methodologies, infrastructure, industry partnerships and skills development approaches in the German Dual VET system.
This keynote address highlighted European skills policies in the context of the green and digital transition. In his speech, Mr Koen Nomden referred to the European Year of Skills with a special focus on digital credentials and labour mobility.
Perspectives for the hospitality & tourism industry 5.0This keynote address offered insights into the future of the sector, focusing on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities and emphasizing sustainability and advanced technology integration. It set the scene for the ensuing presentation of the final research results by the BILT Expert Group on the dual transition in hospitality and tourism.
9:35 – 10:45 BILT Expert Group on the dual transition in hospitality & tourism.focus();)
Since March 2023 a BILT Expert Group investigated the implications of the green and digital transition on skills needs for the hospitality and tourism sector and the TVET system. In this session, the research results were presented by the Expert Group Leads and Co-Leads.
The BILT Community Poster Gallery exhibited innovative ideas and practices in TVET across BILT’s four thematic focus areas: Greening, Digitalization, Migration and Entrepreneurship. UNEVOC Centers and TVET stakeholder worldwide were invited to contribute a poster to the Gallery and to showcase current projects, initiatives, tools and research activities related to the beforementioned focus areas.
The Gallery was opened by the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training’s Director of Research and Vice President, Mr Hubert Ertl who also gave an overview about BIBB’s research activities and projects targeting skills development in the BILT thematic focus areas.
During the Gallery Session, 8 institutions gave a lightning talk on their focus theme to foster discussions and inspire participants to implement new and innovative approaches within their own TVET context.
Chaired by Mr Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC and Mr Oliver Diehl, Deputy Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany.
16:00 – 17:00 BILT matchmaking: Memorandum of Understanding - Exchange ceremony
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Several institutions from the UNEVOC Network and the BILT community have entered into different formats of collaboration, following BILT's bridging events. This was an opportunity to celebrate these matchmaking successes.
BILT Poster Gallery: Opportunities for discussions and networking
Participants had the opportunity to browse the Poster Gallery on-site and also online and to get in touch with the exhibiting institutions.
BILT Cinema
The BILT cinema showcased videos of Innovation and Learning Practices that had been produced in the last biennium, 2022-2023.
Focus on micro-credentials: A video on ‘Microcredentials for VET and labour market learning’ by Ms Anastasia Pouliou, Expert in qualifications and credentials, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)
introduced the topic of the hybrid Learning Lab on the following conference day.
17:00 – 18:00 Future perspectives talk (closed meeting)
Continuing the cooperation of the 2023 BILT Expert Group on the dual transition in hospitality and tourism.
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The BILT Learning Labs are a webinar series allowing TVET stakeholders worldwide to explore specific Innovation and Learning Practices from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
The 2023 BILT Learning Forum featured a hybrid Learning Lab that took on the topic of micro-credentials. Its focus was on how Tourism Training Australia has developed a micro-credential platform which is using AI to target potential students and their learning needs.
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This session introduced the BILT Self-Reflection Tool which aims to support TVET providers in anticipating and responding to emerging skills needs. The tool is co-developed with the active engagement of pilot providers from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe. In this session, they discussed and shared insights gained from the piloting of the tool, including their experiences and lessons learned, and anticipated the upcoming dissemination phase.
This meeting aimed to prepare the operational framework of the next BILT Expert Group on building and construction which will take up its work in the beginning of 2024.
13:00 – 13:30 Closing remarks
14:30 – 16:30 UNEVOC Network meeting (closed meeting)
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