Asia-Pacific Education System Review Series The Asia-Pacific region is changing. These changes have many underpinnings some of which include demographic, economic, technological and environmental factors. For countries in the region to cope with these changes and compete regionally and globally, they need to address emerging skill needs taking into account their respective economic strengths and potential. Employer surveys indicate that occupation-specific skills are no longer sufficient for workers to meet the needs of national labour markets (OECD, 2013). In addition to basic and specialized knowledge and skills, workers are expected to have an additional set of skills – referred to here as ‘transferable skills’ – that go beyond their occupation.

This study focuses on skills development in pre-service formal technical and vocational education and training (TVET) settings across different educational levels in the Asia-Pacific region. It explores the extent to which transferable skills are being promoted and integrated in TVET policies and practices. Key policy recommendations offered include the need to provide evidence on transferable skills in TVET, ensure teacher preparedness in fostering transferable skills in TVET, and develop appropriate and context-specific ways of measuring transferable skills in TVET.