The BILT Approach

The Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT) project aims to create a global knowledge bridge. This bridge supports TVET providers across Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific to address current challenges in TVET systems arising from technological, social, environmental and workplace changes.

@ UNESCO-UNEVOC

What we do

The project mission is achieved through peer learning and knowledge exchange in the first instance between European, Asian and African TVET institutions. Good practices and lessons learned are then made available to other interested TVET stakeholders.

The BILT project complements national developments to explore and support innovative, society-oriented modes of learning and cooperation in TVET. It is also putting the UNESCO Strategy for TVET 2022-2029 into practice, particularly by facilitating dialogue on the identification of skills required for transition to digital and green economies, strengthening partnerships among TVET stakeholders, and expanding the impact of the UNEVOC Network as a leading voice in education and training.

The BILT Agenda 2025 sets the goal of ‘Promoting modern and competitive qualifications and competencies in TVET through international bridging of innovation and learning’. This Agenda is a joint initiative of UNESCO-UNEVOC, the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) and the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF). It supports the achievement of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly goals 4 and 17.

SDG 4

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

SDG 17

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

UNESCO-UNEVOC/Thong Nguyen under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

Our focus and activities

All BILT activities are guided by the overarching theme of new qualifications and competencies in TVET. Through this prism, BILT is addressing four thematic areas, which are digitalization, greening, entrepreneurship, and the integration of migrants.

Our project focuses on:

strengthening active partnerships between Europe, Africa and Asia through the organization of bridging events
development and dissemination of knowledge on emerging innovations and trends in new qualifications and competencies and the dual transition of digitalization and greening
reinforcing learning among TVET institutions, turning reflection into action, and building capacity among the BILT Community

Bridging Events Innovations Capacity Building

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Testimonials

The idea of bringing together not only the best TVET center initiatives, but also experts, policy makers, and universities to discuss theory, real practices and actions from different points of view, is extremely beneficial.

Paolo Nardi
Cometa, Italy

We need platforms where TVET stakeholders can bring their contribution. Platforms that bring stakeholders together. BILT is an example for such a platform on the international level to find answers to questions such as: Where are the priorities, where are the challenges?

Ellah Matshediso
Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), Botswana

One cannot emphasize enough the benefits of international collaboration and partnerships for improving skills development. This includes for example technical assistance for the development of qualification frameworks, cooperation for improving the recognition of prior learning, and jointly leveraging opportunities for private sector engagement.

Nicholas Ouma
African Union Commission

I see a central role of the BILT project for the European UNEVOC network because it touches all the key challenges that policy makers, employers and individuals are currently trying to find solutions for.

Dana Bachmann
European Commission

BILT is a unique UNESCO-UNEVOC initiative because it gathers people together from European and global TVET centers of excellence to make a better world for everybody. VET has a very important role in changing the mindset of people and bringing knowledge to companies to change the way we work.

Päivi Korhonen
Omnia, Finland

Education is central to achieve the sustainable development goals. The nature of TVET is not just for skills development but to equip people working in different sectors and different occupations with a broad range of relevant competencies. This requires joint and collaborative efforts such as in the framework of BILT.

Brajesh Panth
Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The University of Cape Coast in Ghana was proud to co-host the maiden conference of the BILT project in Africa. We are really pleased to be associated with a platform that seeks to enhance peer-learning and exchange of innovative ideas and experiences among TVET stakeholders.

Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh
University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana

I am amazed with the case studies that were presented at the BILT Europe-Asia conference and I believe BILT takes a very hands-on approach in view of what we can learn from a micro-perspective.

Dato Palani
ASEAN Future Workforce Council

What makes BILT a unique UNESCO-UNEVOC initiative in our eyes, is the international dimension as well as the carefully selected topics, the expert working groups and the methodology of the project.

Anu Moosel
Foundation Innove, Estonia

There are a lot of things that we need to improve and address in the digital transformation of TVET. We need newer and more aligned competencies; we need multidimensional and cross-cutting strategies to integrate these into curricula and we need to implement responsive and flexible resources and methodologies that anticipate whatever may come our way in the future.

Jacqueline J. Ali
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines