Skills for work and life

Presentations and graphic recordings

• Mr Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC
• Mr Oliver Diehl, Deputy Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

A keynote on the global state of skills supply and demand forecast set the thematic framework for the three conference days. In his Keynote, Mr Chakroun took stock of current challenges and introduced the concept of a ‘global skills tracker’ to document skilling, reskilling, and upskilling programmes as well as training and work trajectories of young people.

• Mr Borhene Chakroun, Director, Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, UNESCO

This session brought together policymakers from Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. They wil examined and compared global and regional TVET strategies and policies supporting vocational excellence through skills development and anticipation. The session included time for Q&A.

• Ms Sophia Ndemutila Ashipala, Head of Education Division, African Union Commission
• Ms Johanna Börsch-Supan, Director General for General Education, Vocational Training and Lifelong Learning, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany
• Ms Rosanna Urdaneta, Deputy Director General, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines, former Chair of the ASEAN TVET Council

11:00 – 12:30 Round table discussions

Three Round table discussions allowed for a more in-depth discussion of important topics mentioned in the preceding keynote and impulse talks. The objective was to stress the importance of inter-regional collaboration and to jointly outline priorities supporting the transformation and attractiveness of TVET worldwide.

The future of TVET: Education for the future of work

Moderator: Mr Yang Wenming, Professor and Coordinator of UNEVOC Centre, UNESCO Chair on Digitalization in TVET, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, China

Innovation in TVET for a sustainable future

Moderator: Ms Kenneth Barrientos, Team Leader for SDGs and Greening TVET, UNESCO-UNEVOC

Inter-regional cooperation in TVET

Moderator: Mr Michael Schwarz, Deputy Head of Division ‘International Advisory Services, Cooperation with Partner Institutions’, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Germany

13:30 – 14:45 Vocational training ‘made in Germany’

An introduction to the German Dual VET system set the scene for the ensuing study visits. It focused on continuing VET and the permeability between vocational and academic education. In this regard, the InnoVET Project UpTrain was presented. It brings together transport companies, universities and industry partners to jointly develop a holistic further training model.

• Mr Michael Wiechert, Head of Division ‘International Advisory Services, Cooperation with Partner Institutions’, BIBB, Germany
• Ms Cara Schmitt, BILT Project Officer, BIBB, Germany
• Ms Maria Neuber, UpTrain, VDV Academy (Association of German Transport Companies), Germany

Three parallel study visits to TVET training companies in the Bonn area offered participants a practical insight into training methodologies, infrastructure, industry partnerships and skills development approaches in the German Dual VET system.

• Go Green Specialist Programme, Deutsche Post DHL Group
• Dual training programmes in hospitality, Kameha Grand Bonn
• Training in asphalt and road construction, A. Widdig, Bornheim. An introduction to VET in the construction industry in Germany by Ms Kristina Schaefer, BIBB, Germany

• Ms Birgit Thomann, Head of Department ‘VET International’, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Germany

European Skills Policies

This keynote address highlighted European skills policies in the context of the green and digital transition. In his speech, Mr Koen Nomden referred to the European Year of Skills with a special focus on digital credentials and labour mobility.

• Mr Koen Nomden, Team Leader Transparency and Recognition of Skills and Qualifications, European Commission

This keynote address offered insights into the future of the sector, focusing on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities and emphasizing sustainability and advanced technology integration. It set the scene for the ensuing presentation of the final research results by the BILT Expert Group on the dual transition in hospitality and tourism.

• Hon Soodesh Satkam Callichurn, Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Mauritius

Since March 2023 a BILT Expert Group investigated the implications of the green and digital transition on skills needs for the hospitality and tourism sector and the TVET system. In this session, the research results were presented by the Expert Group Leads and Co-Leads.

• Ms Franziska Wettstein, Expert, Development of Occupations, and Mr Erik Swars, Head of International Affairs, Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training (SFUVET), Switzerland (Expert Group Lead)
• Mr Billy Wadongo, Head of Research, Innovation and Business, Boma International Hospitality College (BIHC), Kenya (Expert Group Co-Lead)
• Mr Enrique Blanco, Projects and Communications Manager, École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule (EHT), Cambodia (Expert Group Co-Lead)

The BILT Community Poster Gallery exhibited innovative ideas and practices in TVET across BILT’s four thematic focus areas: Greening, Digitalization, Migration and Entrepreneurship. UNEVOC Centers and TVET stakeholder worldwide were invited to contribute a poster to the Gallery and to showcase current projects, initiatives, tools and research activities related to the beforementioned focus areas.

During the Gallery Session, 8 institutions gave a lightning talk on their focus theme to foster discussions and inspire participants to implement new and innovative approaches within their own TVET context.

Chaired by Mr Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC and Mr Oliver Diehl, Deputy Head of Division, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany.

16:00 – 17:00 BILT matchmaking: Memorandum of Understanding - Exchange ceremony

Several institutions from the UNEVOC Network and the BILT community have entered into different formats of collaboration, following BILT's bridging events. This was an opportunity to celebrate these matchmaking successes.

BILT Poster Gallery: Opportunities for discussions and networking

Participants had the opportunity to browse the Poster Gallery on-site and also online and to get in touch with the exhibiting institutions.

BILT Cinema

The BILT cinema showcased videos of Innovation and Learning Practices that had been produced in the last biennium, 2022-2023.

Focus on micro-credentials: A video on ‘Microcredentials for VET and labour market learning’ by Ms Anastasia Pouliou, Expert in qualifications and credentials, European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) introduced the topic of the hybrid Learning Lab on the following conference day.

17:00 – 18:00 Future perspectives talk (closed meeting)

Continuing the cooperation of the 2023 BILT Expert Group on the dual transition in hospitality and tourism.

• Mr Peter Thiele, Head of Division ‘Continuing Vocational Training; European Vocational Education and Training Area’, Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany

The BILT Learning Labs are a webinar series allowing TVET stakeholders worldwide to explore specific Innovation and Learning Practices from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe.

The 2023 BILT Learning Forum featured a hybrid Learning Lab that took on the topic of micro-credentials. Its focus was on how Tourism Training Australia has developed a micro-credential platform which is using AI to target potential students and their learning needs.

• Mr John Hart, OAM, Executive Chairman, Australian Chamber -Tourism
• Ms Venessa Barnes, Tourism Training Australia
• Mr Jim Syrmas, Project Manager of the Workplace Training and Innovation Fund, Syrmas Consulting
• Mr Suresh Manickam, Chief Executive Officer, Restaurant & Catering Australia

• Ms Zaahedah Vally, JET Education Services, South Africa
• Mr Tuan Kee Aw, Deputy Principal/CEO, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore
• Mr Anatooli Garmash, Senior Human Capital Development Expert - Qualification Systems, European Training Foundation (ETF)

This session introduced the BILT Self-Reflection Tool which aims to support TVET providers in anticipating and responding to emerging skills needs. The tool is co-developed with the active engagement of pilot providers from Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe. In this session, they discussed and shared insights gained from the piloting of the tool, including their experiences and lessons learned, and anticipated the upcoming dissemination phase.

• Mr Sayadaly Maudarbocus, Acting Director, and Ms Sadhna Juwaheer, Coordinator, Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD), Mauritius
• Mr Yang Wenming, UNEVOC Centre Coordinator, and Ms Zhong Zhuoya, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, China
• Ms Adrijana Hodak, Head of Intercompany training centre, and Ms Tjaša Petelin Bačar, Project Coordinator, School Center Nova Gorica (SCNG), Slovenia

This meeting aimed to prepare the operational framework of the next BILT Expert Group on building and construction which will take up its work in the beginning of 2024.

13:00 – 13:30 Closing remarks

14:30 – 16:30 UNEVOC Network meeting (closed meeting)