Vocational Education Training Reform Matching Sk

South Asia has created nearly 800,000 jobs per month during the last decade. Robust economic growth in large parts of the region has created better jobs -- those that pay higher wages for wage workers and reduce poverty for the self-employed, the largest segment of the region s employed. Going forward, South Asia faces the enormous challenge of absorbing 1 to 1.2 million entrants to the labor force every month for the next two decades at rising levels of productivity. This calls for an agenda that cuts across sectors and includes improving the reliability of electricity supply for firms in both urban and rural settings, dealing decisively with issues of governance and corruption, making access to land easier for urban informal firms and strengthening transport links between rural firms and their markets. It requires improving nutrition in early childhood to avoid cognitive impairment, intensifying the focus on quality of learning in education systems, equipping workers with the skills that employers demand, and reorienting labor market regulations and programs to protect workers rather than jobs. The continuance of high economic growth to help improve job quality is not assured. But the region s demography can provide a favorable tailwind. The growth of workers exceeds that of dependents in much of the region. The resources saved from having fewer dependents can be shifted to high-priority investments in physical and human capital accumulation necessary to create productive jobs in countries with an enabling policy framework. But the demographic window of opportunity is open for only the next three decades, a fact which lends urgency to the reform agenda. This book will be of interest to policy makers, their advisers, researchers and students of economics who seek solutions, not only to the challenge of creating more and better jobs in South Asia but globally as well. It is the first title in South Asia Development Matters,a new series that will serve as a vehicle for in-depth synthesis of economic and policy analysis on key development topics for South Asia.

"UNESCO has recently published the third volume of its Education on the Move series, a series dedicated to the analysis of key trends in education with the hope of inspiring dialogue among policy makers, educators and other key stakeholders on the challenges of education for tomorrow. The latest publication, entitled Unleashing the Potential: Transforming Technical and Vocational Education and Training is focused entirely on issues related to technical and vocational education and training (TVET). It takes stock of the steadily increasing demands and expectations on TVET systems around the globe and presents recent policy trends in the field of TVET. In their analysis, the authors provide insights into what it takes to unleash the potential of TVET systems around the world. They propose an integrated analytical approach that takes into consideration such factors as economic growth, social equity and issues related to sustainability so that TVET can contribute more effectively to contemporary policy issues such as youth unemployment, gender disparities and climate change. Overall, the book calls for a transformation of TVET systems to enable them to respond to the demands of their contexts. This transformation should enable TVET systems to acquire agility to stay current and responsive to the rapidly changing demands of the twenty-first century."--Publisher's website.

This monograph describes development of the Finnish system of vocational education and training and discusses its future outlook. Chapter I provides background information on political and administrative structures, population, and the economy and labor force. Chapters II-III describe the education system and its development and the vocational education and training system. A section on its historical development considers reform in the 1970s and 1980s, ammattikorkeakoulu (AMK) institutions (polytechnics), and legislation. A section on initial vocational education and training addresses these topics: sectors of training and fields of study; qualifications; student assessment, counseling, and support systems; and educational institutions and teachers. The section on continuing education and training covers the following: adult education and training; adult vocational qualifications and language proficiency tests; adult education and training opportunities; and financing adult training. A final section looks at special education and training for specific target groups. Chapter IV outlines the administrative and financial framework. Chapter V on qualitative aspects provides information on certification, training of trainers, and guidance. Chapter VI discusses trends and perspectives in these areas: lifelong learning, Information Superhighway, comparability of qualifications, and European dimensions. Appendixes contain the following: a list of abbreviations and acronyms, major organizations involved in vocational training; 11-item bibliography; glossary; and list of available qualifications. (YLB)

Rather than a distinct vocational education and training (VET) system, Swedish institutions include VET as part of an educational philosophy stressing equity, integration, and comprehensiveness. The VET system forms part of a comprehensive model of education stressing active citizenship, work life orientation, and preparation for further studies. The radical reform of the upper secondary system in 1991 resulted in decentralization, new curricula, and more individual choice. Measures taken to develop a more integrated system at the upper secondary level include extension of all programs to 3 years and application of a core curriculum approach to both academic and vocational programs. Of the 16 nationally determined programs, 14 are primarily vocational and 2 are focused on preparation for university. Important institutions at the adult and higher education level include vocational programs in municipal adult education, employment training, in-company training, and staff development. Trade unions have their own extensive education programs. The VET system is overwhelmingly publicly run and financed, with very few private providers of training. At the upper secondary level, national tests determine the achievement of quality standards. However, there is no formal system such as tests, diplomas, or national qualifications to recognize the acquisition of vocational skills and competencies. Among current trends influencing the VET system in Sweden are new developments in work and society that form a new context for policy implementation. These new developments include the following: the growth of unemployment, changing skill requirements, a new intercultural context, the challenge of lifelong learning, and deskilling and upgrading. (Four appendixes contain the following: acronyms and abbreviations, addresses of 20 major organizations, 81 resources and references, and a glossary.) (KC)