Special Virtual Conference, 1-14 April 2014, UNEVOC e-Forum

This Special Virtual Conference is organized as part of UNESCO’s work on revising the 2001 Revised Recommendation concerning Technical and Vocational Education and seeks to consult diverse stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of TVET systems, policies and programmes. The contributions will feed directly into the broader consultation process that is currently taking place with UNESCO Member States.

This is a unique opportunity for everyone in the TVET community to share their vision and help shape the future of TVET and skills development. Sign up now!

Monitoring the implementation of standard setting instruments in the field of TVET is part of UNESCO’s mandate and is one of the key areas of work outlined in UNESCO’s Strategy for TVET. The Third International Congress on TVET called for profound transformations in the conceptualization, governance, funding and organization of technical and vocational education and training. During the Congress, a special session held on the normative instruments concerning TVET confirmed that the 2001 Revised Recommendation would benefit from revision and updating, to ensure a stronger focus on lifelong learning and to become responsive to challenges many countries currently face, such as rapid demographic and technological changes, youth unemployment, social inequalities, and sustainable development.

As part of a rigorous process involving a number of high level consultations with UNESCO Member States over the next months, UNESCO-UNEVOC and the UNESCO TVET Section are jointly organizing this Special Virtual Conference from 1 to 14 April 2014 on the UNEVOC e-Forum. Interested members from the TVET community, including learners, employers, education providers, analysts and development experts are invited to participate and provide inputs to the revising process.

Moderated by Professor Simon McGrath, Director of Research and Professor of International Education and Development at the University of Nottingham, this Special Virtual Conference will introduce the background and context of the normative instruments and will aim to gather inputs from participants on the following key questions:

• What should be the scope of a successful international standard setting instrument in the field of TVET?
• What, for the purpose of this revised instrument, should be understood by the term 'TVET'?
• What should be the guiding principles upon which to base the Revised Recommendation?
• How should the text of the Revised Recommendation be organized so as to be applicable to a diversity of country contexts and to remain current in a constantly changing world?

Contributions will be synthesized and summarized into a final synthesis report, which will feed directly into the broader consultation process that is currently taking place with UNESCO Member States.

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