SDGs and Greening TVET

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were formally accepted by the United Nations in September 2015 as a global framework for achieving an integrated sustainable development model for 2030 among Member States. Several of the SDG targets can be achieved through quality education (SDG 4), including SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG 13 (climate action).

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is critical in addressing knowledge and skills challenges to achieving the SDGs. More importantly, TVET can transmit the right mindset and attitude among trainees and the future workforce through well-designed education and training programmes. However, the right policies and skills strategies need to be strengthened to maximize its impact.

Issues and challenges

UNESCO-UNEVOC recognizes several challenges to reaching the SDGs and climate-related plans of action:

• Lack of awareness about sustainability
• Low capacity at the levels of decision making, teaching and implementation in practice
• Shortages in skills resulting in unmet labour market demands
• Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production
• Outdated competencies and qualifications
• Lack of recognition and assessment mechanisms for skills acquired through non-formal and informal learning
• Lack of targeted engagement of key actors including youth, community and enterprises

Strategy

UNESCO-UNEVOC supports TVET institutions in the development and implementation of green strategies to transform their learning and training environments, in fulfilment of their role in skilling learners, upskilling professionals in green job sectors, and re-skilling those affected by job losses due to the transition. By mobilizing TVET Institutions to engage in advocacy and adopt greening TVET practices, UNESCO-UNEVOC helps enable leaders and educators to effectively develop institutional green and climate-responsive strategies that have a positive impact on society and the labour market.

News & activities

22 March 2024
A UNEVOC Centre’s journey to become a greener TVET institution
In a world where environmental consideration is no longer a choice but a necessity, institutions like the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD) are taking action to become greener by addressing the needs of the current TVET learning environment and curricula.
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15 April 2023
Resilience project paves the way for stronger TVET
UNESCO-UNEVOC implemented a project titled 'Building resilience in TVET for a just and sustainable transition' to strengthen the resilience of UNEVOC Centres and other education and training stakeholders as part of the COVID-19 pandemic recovery process.

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4 April 2023
Project learning forum on building TVET resilience
UNESCO-UNEVOC has been implementing the project on ‘Building TVET resilience for a just and sustainable transition’ to support TVET stakeholders and their vision for achieving institutional resilience. The Project Learning Forum invited participants to share key takeaways from the programmes and discuss what these insights mean for future activities.
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10 March 2023
Preparing TVET for a green and more resilient transition
A global push to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic seeks to include more sustainable economic and social recovery measures. These comprise not just pandemic resilience but also investment in sustainable, inclusive and climate resilient technologies and infrastructure, and in robust education systems.
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15 February 2023
Green jobs and a just transition to sustainability
This webinar on “Green jobs and a just transition to sustainability” was organized by the UN Resident Coordination Office for UAE. It was part of the 28-for-28 Event Series, a joint effort between the UN and UAE to host public webinars on crucial topics related to the Conference of the Parties (COP) process and climate action.
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1 February 2023
LKDF and UNESCO-UNEVOC host training for greener and more resilient TVET systems
On 26 January 2023, UNIDO's Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LKDF) and UNESCO-UNEVOC hosted a training workshop on the Market Systems Development (MSD) approach.
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