TVETipedia Glossary

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET)

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The term Technical and Vocational Education and Training was officiated at UNESCO's Second International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education held in 1999 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The Congress recommended the usage of the term "in recognition of the combined process of education and training, and of the common objective of employment as their immediate goal." The Seoul Congress further recommended to set up the "UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training" in Bonn, Germany (now known as UNESCO-UNEVOC).

Source: General Conference 30th Session, Paris 1999. Establishment of an international long-term programme for the development of technical and vocational education following the second International Congress on Technical and Vocational Education, Seoul, Republic of Korea, April 1999

In the English-speaking world, there continues to be a wide variety of terms and acronyms for the area of education that prepares learners for the world of work and life:

Until 2001, UNESCO was using Technical and Vocational Education (TVE)
The European Union refers to Vocational Education and Training (VET)
The Commonwealth of Learning and some others use the term Technical and vocational skills development (TVSD)
South Africa refers to Further Education and Training (FET)
The USA prefer Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Australia and UK refer to Technical and Further Education (UK: TFE, Australia: TAFE)
other frequently used terms are: Workforce development, apprenticeship programs, occupational education, Vocational and Technical Education (VTE), Professional technical education and training (PTET), Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET), or simply Vocational Education (VE) or Technical Education (TE).

While these terms are used almost interchangeably in international discussions, there may be distinctively different understandings in national or regional contexts.

‘Technical and vocational education and training’ (TVET) is understood as comprising education, training and skills development relating to a wide range of occupational fields, production, services and livelihoods.

TVET, as part of lifelong learning, can take place at secondary, post-secondary and tertiary levels and includes work-based learning and continuing training and professional development which may lead to qualifications. TVET also includes a wide range of skills development opportunities attuned to national and local contexts. Learning to learn, the development of literacy and numeracy skills, transversal skills and citizenship skills are integral components of TVET.

Source:
UNESCO 2015: Recommendation concerning technical and vocational education and training (TVET)

This refers to education, training and skills development relating to a wide range of occupational fields, production, services and livelihoods.

Source:
Commonwealth of Learning, TVET Professional Development Toolkit for the Pacific, Commonly used terms, n.d.
Commonwealth of Learning, TVET Professional Development Toolkit for the Pacific, Commonly used terms, n.d.
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List of commonly used terms as part of the TVET Professional Development Toolkit for the Pacific

Technical and vocational education and training, used as an equivalent term for vocational education and training (VET) especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

Source:
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
NCVER (Australia), VOCEDplus: Glossary of VET, (accessed 05/2026)
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This glossary is a compilation of Australian vocational education and training (VET) terms and acronyms. It includes both current and historical terms, concepts, acronyms and other abbreviations found in Australian VET research, policy and data.

Non-academic technical education and practical training that develop the skills and knowledge of apprentices (learners of trades or crafts) working in different sectors of industry and trainees / students trained in different TVET Institutions (TVET Institutes, Centres & Schools). The TVET is that part of the education system that provides courses and training programmes related to employment with a view to enable the transition from Secondary Education to work for young trainees / students (social objective) and supply the labour market with competent apprentices (economic objective). TVET is used as a comprehensive term referring to those aspects of the educational process involving, in addition to general education, the study of technologies and related sciences, and the acquisition of awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes relating to occupations in various sectors of economic and social life.

Source:
M. Wahba (TVET consultant), Glossary of Terms for TVET, Assessment and Verification, 2013
M. Wahba (TVET consultant), Glossary of Terms for TVET, Assessment and Verification, 2013
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The Egyptian TVET expert Moustafa Wahba developed a glossary based on his own experience as a consultant in TVET.

Designed mainly to provide learners with the practical skills, know-how, and understanding necessary for direct entry into a particular occupation or trade (or class of occupations or trades). Successful completion of such programs normally leads to a labor market-relevant vocational qualification recognized by the national competent authorities, e.g. Ministry of Education, employers' associations, etc.

From UNESCO-UIS. (2014). UIS Glossary.

Source:
Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), Education in emergencies Glossary
Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE), Education in emergencies Glossary
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The EiE Glossary contains more than 450 key education in emergencies (EiE) terms, their definitions, and sources. The glossary aims to promote a common understanding of key EiE technical terms and to support correct and universal usage of these terms.

TVET stands for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

Technical refers to: subject matters that are technical in nature, relating to hardware and software, including trouble shooting practises and engineering processes.
Vocational relates to: an occupation or an employment, often referring to hands-on skills within professional trades.
Education refers to: formal education, starting in high school and also including post secondary education, such as colleges, polytechnics and universities.
Training refers to: informal education, also called life long learning or continuing education, often used in initiatives of reskilling or upskilling company staff or a wider workforce.