TVETipedia Glossary

Sustainable development (SD)

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Sustainablity

Meeting the social, environmental and economic needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (e.g. climate change, inequality and human rights, biodiversity loss, deforestation, waste and pollution).

Original source: United Nations Brundtland Commission, 1987

Source:
UNDP, SDG Impact Initiative, SDG Impact Standards, 2024
UNDP, SDG Impact Initiative, SDG Impact Standards, 2024
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The UNDP’s SDG Impact Standards Glossary aims to support the SDG Impact Standards for Enterprises, Private Equity Funds and Bond Issuers. It is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The concept of sustainable development includes three components – economic development, social development and environmental protection – as interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars.

Source:
ILO 2022: Greening TVET and skills development. A practical guidance tool

Development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

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.

(role of TVET for sustainable development)

TVET contributes to sustainable development by empowering individuals, organizations, enterprises and communities and fostering employment, decent work and lifelong learning so as to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and competitiveness, social equity and environmental sustainability.

Source:
UNESCO, Revision of the 2011 Revised recommendation concerning TVE, 2015
UNESCO, Revision of the 2011 Revised recommendation concerning TVE, 2015
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UNESCO is responsible for monitoring the implementation of two normative instruments in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET): the 1989 Convention on Technical and Vocational Education; and the Recommendation concerning Technical and Vocational Education (oridinally adopted in 1962, revised in 1974, 2001 and 2015). The Recommendation is a key resource for guiding the transformation and expansion of TVET and lifelong learning around the world.