Blog: Multi-level governance for cooperation and coordination in skills systems
Governance matters when reforming VET and skills systems
The ETF’s work on VET governance is centred on the outcomes of public policies in the field of VET and skills in partner countries with which the agency cooperates.
Within the context of this article and its focus on skills systems, governance refers to the institutional settings devised to steer the planning, implementation and review of national offers of education and training. This is a role primarily attributed to the state; however, contemporary definitions of governance take into account a wider range of factors and stakeholders.
According to Oliver (2010:262) , governance can be defined “as the interactions among institutions, processes and traditions that determine how power is exercised, how decisions are taken on issues of public and private concern, and how stakeholders, including citizens, have their say”.
VET and skills form a complex sector, which intersects economic and social policies, competitiveness and social cohesion. This complexity is often reflected in the range of actors involved in the sector’s governance. VET and skills stakeholders include representatives of government, with typically Ministries of Education in the lead, national agencies, social partners, other employers and employees’ organisation, civil society, and VET providers.
These actors operate at national and sub-national level, while their role in policy-making and implementation is also influenced by international agreements and guidelines. This is the case, for example, of the sustainable development goals (SDG)......
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