October 24th – 25th, 2018

Seoul, Republic of Korea

As part of a long-term strategy to strengthen its cluster networks, UNEVOC has facilitated cluster-based approaches towards collaboration and peer learning. The consolidation process is helping to identify priorities within the various UNEVOC cluster networks and creating opportunities to work together and share experiences.

Within this context, the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), as a UNEVOC coordinating centre for the East and Southeast Cluster, hosted a cluster consolidation workshop in Seoul. The workshop was attended by representatives from 16 UNEVOC Centres in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong SAR of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Rep. of Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Malta and Sri Lanka, as well as Mr. Robert Parua, Education Specialist at the UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office, and representatives from the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre.

The main objectives were to:

• identify TVET issues and priorities within the East and Southeast Asian UNEVOC Centres;
• promote peer-learning and collaboration in addressing issues at the sub-regional cluster network level; and
• create opportunities to collaborate across other sub-regional networks in the Asia-Pacific region and other UNEVOC regional networks.

During the cluster consolidation workshop, participants convened on a TVET response to the digitization of work environments and adoption of technologies in everyday life, the demands of a green economy, and increasing the attractiveness of TVET through establishing quality TVET systems. Technical input and discussions led by Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, Mr. Shyamal Majumdar, emphasized STEAM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths), as a new set of foundation skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing technology-enabled environment. Mr Bin Hj Abd Hamid Sumardi, from the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE), a UNEVOC Centre in Brunei Darussalam, noted, "Life skills are important when embracing Industry 4.0", and highlighted the need for teachers to become effective facilitators of digital skills in the 21st century.

This cluster consolidation process is a part of the successful implementation of UNESCO-UNEVOC’s Medium-Term Strategy II (2018-2020), which taps into the potential of individual members of the UNEVOC Network as well as their collective strengths by working together. The consolidation of experiences within the East and Southeast Asia Cluster Network will serve as inspiration for similar collaborative initiatives across other regional networks. The main outputs of the workshop were the outlining of critical cluster-relevant TVET issues, and the identification of concrete cooperation projects with a clear implementation strategy to promote capacity development and knowledge development in TVET.