15th IVETA International Conference

Conference Resolution

The Conference, representing about 30 countries from 5 continents, both IVETA members and non-members, has been instrumental in promoting mutual understanding of topical issues of contemporary world relating to education and training and lifelong learning.

The Conference notes the progress that has been made in taking forward the process of developing and promoting lifelong learning and vocational education and training as its integral part, across continents. The Conference urges that countries represented at the conference continue to undertake actions required to ensure enhanced access to education and training of all categories of the population and specifically of the disadvantaged groups to promote social inclusion and well-being of the people irrespective of their age, gender, race, social and financial standing.

The Conference recognizes that much important work remains to be done. On the one hand, governments should be urged to adopt policies that in real terms address the goals of lifelong learning and incorporate them in their social and economic strategies, on the other, the business communities world over should be motivated to take a more constructive stand on interacting with systems of vocational education and training.

In particular, recognizing the importance of the issue, the Conference agrees that international cooperation to promote lifelong learning and improve the existing systems of vocational education and training should be enhanced both on the formal level, and informally, and links built during the conference should be strengthened between IVETA members and non-members. This will provide an opportunity to strengthen international discourse in education and training and enhance the role of the latter in building better understanding of the problems posed by the transition to the global knowledge-based economy with its ensuing benefits and threats, and to ensuring a continuing mutual learning that would empower countries to pursue more effective and humanistic education and training policies.

Conference participants also recognize that the reforms in VET in the context of lifelong learning require a sound theoretical and research support and international contacts between researchers and experts should continue and strengthen.

Having in mind the need for further development, the Conference urges the IVETA Executive as a priority to continue its role as coordinator and leader in consolidating the exchange of expertise and knowledge among countries and continents, relating to lifelong learning and VET development.

The Conference participants agree that the concerted effort of governmental and non-governmental bodies could ensure adoption on the national level of legislation conducive to implementing lifelong learning strategies and to strengthening links between the state, education and training and the business-community.