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Researchers and Practitioners debate the attractiveness of TVET on WYSD

On occasion of the International World Youth Skills Day, UNESCO-UNEVOC in collaboration with the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Education and Training (CEDEFOP) organized an event that included the participation of a diverse group of researchers and practitioners, governments, international organizations, industrial representatives and youth. The focus of the discussions was on enhancing the attractiveness of TVET and drawing conclusions for future action.

As the member states continue their pursuit of the Sustainable Development Agenda, the importance of TVET as a potent tool in countering the challenge of youth unemployment and promoting life-long learning, has been reaffirmed. The global youth continues to face increasing pressures in their absorption in the labor market, owing to disparities between skills and competencies attained in their educational pursuits and the industrial requirements. Amid a growing policy consensus around the potential of TVET to bridge this divide, recognizing the need to address these disparities and other related challenges confronted by TVET, UNESCO‐UNEVOC and CEDEFOP presented a platform for TVET stakeholders to discuss, debate and share experiences. Over 50 representatives from academia, policymakers, industry, TVET institution managers and young people from different parts of the world participated at this event in Bonn, which was also live streamed on the UNEVOC World Youth Skills Day web page.

This event consisted of a panel debate between researchers and practitioners from the world over and technical discussions with selected experts and stakeholder groups. Speaking at the inaugural session, Mr. James Joachim Calleja - Director of CEDEFOP, highlighted the need to be strategic rather than remedial in addressing the challenges to the attractiveness of TVET. He argued that platforms such as this event, are critical to the development of a symbiotic relationship between researchers and practitioners that ensures mutually responsive, reinforcing and effective actions in enhancing the attractiveness of TVET. Mr. Shyamal Majumdar – Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, highlighted the new opportunities being presented by permeability of learning pathways particularly due to the increasing integration of STEM in TVET. Speaking at the inaugural session, Mr. Jos de Goey – Vice President Strategic Affairs at the WorldSkills International, highlighted the primacy of equipping youth with the relevant skills and using platforms that WorldSkills International presents to promote TVET worldwide.

Also present at the occasion was H.E. Mr. Mubarak Al-Shamsi, the Director General of ACTVET, Abu Dhabi – a UNEVOC Centre and also the host for this year’s World Skills Competition. Addressing the audience, he reaffirmed the importance of the youth skills development and presented the preparations and plans for the forthcoming World Skills Competition in Abu Dhabi in October 2017.

During the inaugural session of the event, the results of the UNESCO-UNEVOC Skills in Action Competition were also announced. The Skills for Action Photo Competition was aimed at showcasing showing how TVET and skills development are contributing to the thematic priorities of the UNESCO-UNEVOC and UNESCO Strategies.

The panel discussion started included presentations of the findings of CEDEFOP for two of their researches that were largely drawing on European experiences, which were subsequently discussed and debated by practitioners from different stakeholder groups and regions. A video of the panel discussion can be found here.

























The second part of the event consisted of thematically oriented stakeholder consultations aimed at experience sharing and discussions among researchers, practitioners, and representatives from Governments, employers and other stakeholders from different regions.

While a broader focus on the theme of ‘Enhancing the attractiveness of TVET’ was retained, the consultations were divided into two sessions focusing on:

1. Diversity of TVET and improved permeability and mobility across learning pathways:

This session focused on drawing examples from different regions in removing barriers that may have restricted TVET learners’ prospects and created greater learning pathways. The cases presented included Brazil, Egypt, Germany and South Korea.

2. Engagement of social partners in policy development and implementation:

This session focused on sharing examples of engaging social partners and different stakeholders in policy development and implementation of TVET based on selected country experiences. The cases discussed included South Africa, Germany and Cyprus.


The discussions and key messages from these sessions will also guide the development of a forthcoming collaborative research project between UNESCO-UNEVOC and CEDEFOP on the topic of Attractiveness of TVET.

The event included the participation of 5 UNEVOC Centres;

1. ACTVET, Abu Dhabi

2. CONIF, Brazil

3. BiBB, Germany

4. Ministry of Education and Technical Education, Egypt

5. Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Iran

6. Yaba College of Technology, Nigeria

Other important partners involved included BMBF, BMZ, GiZ, WorldSkills International, and representatives of employers and industrial associations and other civil society organizations.




To learn more about the UNESCO-UNEVOC & CEDEFOP Researchers meet Practitioners event, please visit:


1. Event website

2. Program and Participant Details



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