The seminar on Technical and Vocational Education and Training “From School to Work: Contemporary Regional Experiences” was convened by the National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER) of Japan from 23 – 30 January 2007 in Tokyo. This seminar was co-organised with the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC), involving members of the Centre’s international network of TVET institutions – the so-called UNEVOC Network. The meeting focussed primarily on TVET as a means to preparing school leavers for the world of work and on policies and strategies supporting young people through the actual transition process.

In line with mandates of NIER and UNESCO-UNEVOC to provide platforms for an international exchange of information and good practice, the seminar served to increase the understanding of contemporary regional experiences of transition to work issues in the Asia-Pacific region. It was attended by thirteen representatives of UNEVOC Network member institutions (UNEVOC Centres) from the Asia-Pacific region: Bangladesh, Cambodia, The People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition, NIER had invited two resource persons to give presentations on key issues related to school- to-work in Australia and in the Pacific Island States. Several country case studies on school-to-work transition were presented, different approaches and strategies were discussed, and common concerns and issues related to school- to-work transition were identified during the seminar. Based on these key issues and as an outcome of intensive group work, the participants formulated a set of recommendations for a regional strategy on the improvement of TVET.