Type:

Discussion

Start Date:

14 May 2018

End Date:

25 May 2018

Language:

English

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english

Identifier

skpEng

Language Version:

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Sources:

ILO

The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org

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skpILO

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ilo

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other-knowledge-products

This discussion has been organized by the ILO with support from partner organizations such as the European Commission, the OECD, UNESCO and the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN). To read the full Guidance Note for this discussion, kindly scroll below.

Global youth unemployment continues to be a major development issue, with nearly 70.9 million young people unemployed in 2017. In addition, youth are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Responding to the problem of youth unemployment is an issue of great concern and requires bringing to the forefront modern skills and employment policies that promote the creation of decent jobs as well as address skills mismatch.

Widespread youth unemployment represents a social paradox: while many youth are looking for work, many employers cannot find workers with the skills they need. This type of skills mismatch is being accentuated significantly by the transformational changes buffeting the world of work - technological innovation, shifts in the organization of work through platform-based economies. Traditional school-based vocational education and training systems face growing challenges to be more flexible and responsive in ensuring that young people are better equipped with the skills to take on new jobs today and in the future. Against this background, quality apprenticeships and other work-based learning programmes are critical to meeting the challenge of the future world of work.

The E-Discussion aims to examine the role of quality apprenticeships, and other work-based learning programmes, as part of the solution to the challenge of youth unemployment and preparing the workforce for the fast changing skills demands of the labour market.

Among the questions to be discussed over the coming two weeks are:

1. How do apprenticeships benefit various stakeholders such as employers, trade unions, governments and apprentices? Are there any institutions in your country that collect and disseminate evidence about the benefits of apprenticeships?
2. In view of rapid changes in labour market contributing to an increase in skills mismatches, how important is the role of apprenticeships in aligning skills supply to the future of work?
3. In your country, is there a clear, common understanding of the differences between apprenticeships, internships, traineeships, learnerships and other forms of work-based learning?
4. Despite widely accepted benefits, why do many countries have difficulties in establishing, scaling up and sustaining high- quality apprenticeships? What specific challenges are faced in implementing and expanding apprenticeships in your country?
5. What innovations are needed to make apprenticeships more attractive for youth and employers respectively, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?
6. What strategies could be used to ensure better gender equality and disability inclusion in apprenticeships?

Type:

Discussion

Start Date:

16 Mar 2018

End Date:

29 Mar 2018

Language:

Language Version:

--

Sources:

ILO

The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org

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skpILO

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ilo

Topics:

Lifelong learning

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There is a critical need for a greater overall investment in education and training, particularly in developing countries. Education and training investments should be closely linked to economic and employment growth strategies and programmes. Responsibility should be shared between the government (primary responsibility), enterprises, the social partners, and the individual. To make lifelong learning for all a reality, countries will need to make major reforms of their vocational and education and training systems. School-to-work schemes for young people should integrate education with workplace learning. Training systems need to become more flexible and responsive to rapidly changing skill requirements. Reforms should also focus on how learning can be facilitated, not just on training for specific occupational categories.

Identifier

skpPSLLL

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lifelong-learning

Knowledge Products:

Other knowledge products

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This E-discussion aims to bring together representatives of government, education and training institutions, the private sector, worker organizations, academia, and international organizations among others to discuss concrete policy options in developed and developing countries for promoting lifelong learning (LLL). It has been organized in the framework of the ILO Centenary Initiative on the Future of Work (FOW). The FOW Initiative aims at understanding as well as responding effectively to new challenges posed by a number of drivers of change in order to advance the Organisation’s mandate for social justice.

Many of the global trends and forces impacting the world of work – technological, climate, new forms of work organization, globalisation, demographical – will have a profound and diverse impact on the demand for skills. Skills development can help workers and economies take advantage of opportunities in the future, act as an important enabler of transition, and address some of the associated costs. However, the capacity of education and training systems to anticipate and adjust to constantly changing skills demands will require:

• good quality basic education that provides the foundational skills that allow people to embrace change, take advantage of emerging job opportunities, and engage in further learning;

• the facilitation of dynamic learning over the life cycle to ensure that people keep pace with digital and technology-related skills and other factors of change to remain productively engaged in employment.

Lifelong Learning (LLL) is central to managing the different transitions that workers will face over the course of the life cycle. It can ensure that they successfully enter the labour market, continually upskill while in employment, and reskill to take advantage of emerging jobs throughout their careers.

This life-cycle approach raises fundamental questions about the respective responsibilities of governments, workers and enterprises in making choices about when and how to reskill and retrain. It requires strategies to ensure the financing and delivery of skills development, whether through the enhancement of public investment, the provision of financial and other incentives to boost engagement in learning activities, and/or approaches that seek to combine a mix of public and private investment in all phases of delivery.

We encourage you to read the Issue Brief ‘Skills Policies and Systems for a Future Workforce’ prepared for the 2nd Meeting of the Global Commission on the Future of Work which took place on February 15-17 as additional background information on this discussion, see below.

This discussion feature works best when accessed from the following browsers: Chrome or Firefox.
To begin the global conversation on LLL we invite you to reflect on the following questions:

1. How can the model of LLL be adapted to cater to a future world of work? What are the building blocks of a well-functioning LLL system?

2. What governance mechanisms will be suitable for the efficient provision of and engagement in relevant LLL for all? What are the respective roles of governments, the private sector and the social partners?

3. What financial mechanisms might be used to encourage the provision of and participation in training; who should bear the cost and how? What are investment priorities for LLL to harness economic growth and minimise social risks?

4. What strategies, policies and incentives will be needed to increase the uptake of LLL?

5. What are the appropriate delivery mechanisms of LLL that will make learning accessible and relevant for youth, adults and older workers, embrace new technologies and forms of learning and balance needs for wide access, flexibility and quality in the learning offer?

Type:

Discussion

Start Date:

24 Sep 2017

End Date:

30 Sep 2017

Language:

English

Slug

english

Identifier

skpEng

Language Version:

--

Sources:

ILO

The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org

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Identifier

skpILO

Slug

ilo

Topics:

Lifelong learning

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There is a critical need for a greater overall investment in education and training, particularly in developing countries. Education and training investments should be closely linked to economic and employment growth strategies and programmes. Responsibility should be shared between the government (primary responsibility), enterprises, the social partners, and the individual. To make lifelong learning for all a reality, countries will need to make major reforms of their vocational and education and training systems. School-to-work schemes for young people should integrate education with workplace learning. Training systems need to become more flexible and responsive to rapidly changing skill requirements. Reforms should also focus on how learning can be facilitated, not just on training for specific occupational categories.

Identifier

skpPSLLL

Slug

lifelong-learning

Other topic

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other-topic

Knowledge Products:

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other-knowledge-products

In the absence of recognized qualifications, a large proportion of people face severe disadvantages in getting decent jobs, migrating to other regions and accessing further education, even though they might have the necessary knowledge and skills. The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process can help these individuals acquire a formal qualification that matches their knowledge and skills, and thereby contribute to improving their employability, mobility, lifelong learning, social inclusion and self-esteem. This E-discussion will highlight the importance of RPL and how such systems contribute to poverty reduction, job-creation and employment.

This discussion will commence on 24 September.

Today’s globalized and fast-changing world is marked by an increasing diversity and flexibility in where people work; how people work; the regularization of; and mobility for work. Because of these developments, workers have been able to obtain skills and knowledge through a wide range of sources and means, both within countries and across developed, developing and emerging economies. Capturing the competencies that individuals acquire over the course of their lives, regardless of where or how they were acquired, is important in ensuring that workers have evidence of all skills obtained. Proof of acquired skills also eases the transition between different jobs and can remove barriers to wage growth.

In developing countries with high school dropout rates, many workers acquire workplace skills via informal means. As a consequence they face significant challenges in gaining decent employment and furthering their education if systems are not in place through which knowledge, skills and competence acquired through non-formal and informal means are recognized. Against this backdrop, ensuring that workers have access to systems that enable them to ‘document’ the worth of their skills for use in the labour market becomes increasingly important. With half of the global labour force working and producing in the informal economy (amidst growing informality in industrialized countries), and with the increasing internationalization of labour markets, the benefits of recognizing prior learning are vast. These include the transfer and recognition of the skills of migrants in new contexts, an easier capacity for workers to…..

(Please read full Guidance Note below.)

We invite you to contribute to this discussion by responding to the following questions:

1. How has your country used RPL systems and what results and lessons have emerged from its use?

2. What challenges has your country experienced in the implementation of RPL systems?

3. Recognition systems can be used to promote more inclusive and sustainable economic growth that benefits everyone. In your view, what potential benefits do RPL systems offer migrant workers/refugees?

4. How can we build trust around the assessments offered via RPL?

Type:

Discussion

Start Date:

21 Nov 2016

End Date:

02 Dec 2016

Language:

English

Slug

english

Identifier

skpEng

Language Version:

--

Sources:

ILO

The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org

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ilo

Topics:

Training quality and relevance

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training-quality-and-relevance

Youth employability

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Globally, nearly 68 million young women and men are looking for and available for work,  and an estimated 123 million young people are working but living in poverty. The number who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) stands at 267 million, a majority of whom are young women. Significantly, young people are three times as likely as adults (25 years and older) to be unemployed.

Skills development is a primary means of enabling young people to make a smooth transition to work. A comprehensive approach is required to integrate young women and men in the labour market, including relevant and quality skills training, labour market information, career guidance and employment services, recognition of prior learning, incorporating entrepreneurship with training and effective skills forecasting. Improved basic education and core work skills are particularly important to enable youth to engage in lifelong learning as well as transition to the labour market. 

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skpYoEmp

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youth-employability

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Other knowledge products

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other-knowledge-products

This E-Discussion will allow experts, practitioners and representatives from a range of institutions and enterprises in different parts of the world to come together virtually to raise questions, share experiences, and address challenges facing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills systems reform. Click on the above list of names for discussion moderators, including their biographies.

Strengthening the ability of workers to adapt to changing market demands and to benefit from innovation and investments in new technologies, clean energy, the environment, health and infrastructure enables countries to be more competitive in the global economy and better respond to rising challenges in the labour market. Yet stepping up investments in skills to meet current needs and to better respond to global trends that affect all regions requires a reform in training policies, institutions and methods.

In tackling today’s global youth employment crisis - characterized by high levels of unemployment and poor quality, low paying jobs – technical vocational education and training (TVET) can help minimize skills mismatches that disproportionately affect young people in developing countries. Moreover, orienting TVET toward the world of work can help smooth the transition from education to employment.

Making quality training opportunities available to all, in particular young people, helps to support sustainable development and decent work. (SDGs 4 and 8).

Considering the role of TVET in improving the employment prospects of young women and men, and in minimizing current and future skills gaps, this E-Discussion will focus on vocational education.

We encourage you to read the Guidance Note below for information on the discussion topic.

Week two questions:
5. What are key factors that will determine the nature and types of skills needed in the future and how can TVET systems improve their responsiveness to changes in skills demands?

6. To what extent are the operations of the TVET institutions in your country informed by regular and ongoing assessment of labour market trends and industry developments?

7. What role do public-private partnerships play in ensuring that formal training is more responsive to the needs of individual workers and employers?

8. Existing research shows that adapting to technology/automation is one of the key driving forces impacting employment and skills. What are the most critical reforms needed for TVET policy and systems to enable countries to respond to an era of higher technology?

9. What changes are needed in order for TVET systems to better promote more inclusive and sustainable growth?

Type:

Discussion

Start Date:

03 Oct 2016

End Date:

14 Oct 2016

Language:

English

Slug

english

Identifier

skpEng

Language Version:

--

Sources:

ILO

The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org

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ilo

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Anticipating and matching skills needs

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Anticipating and building skills for the future is essential to a rapidly changing labour market. This applies to changes in the types and levels of skills needed as well as in occupational and technical areas. Effective methods to anticipate future skills needs and avoid potential mismatches include: sustained dialogue between employers and trainers, coordination across government institutions, labour market information systems, employment services and performance reviews of training institutions. 

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anticipating-and-matching-skills-needs

Sectoral approaches

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Matching skills to labour market demand requires reliable sectoral and occupational information and institutions that connect employers with training providers.  Sector based strategies and institutions have proved effective in engaging all stakeholders in promoting both pre-employment training and life-long learning.

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sectoral-approaches

Knowledge Products:

Other knowledge products

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other-knowledge-products

This E-Discussion will allow experts, practitioners and representatives from a range of institutions and enterprises in different parts of the world to come together virtually to raise questions, share experiences, and address challenges on sectoral approaches to skills development. Click on the above list of names for discussion moderators, including their biographies.

Helping enterprises find workers with the right skills, and ensuring that workers acquire the skills they need to find productive employment is a key to economic prosperity and building inclusive societies. Adopting a forward-looking perspective to skills development to improve the competiveness of specific industries or sectors contributes to a country’s growth, economic diversification and to the creation of decent jobs.

The Global KSP will focus this E-Discussion on ‘Providing the right skills at the right time: The role of sectoral skills development in contributing to productive and competitive economies’. Over the next two weeks, the E-Discussion will take place in two parts. During the first week, the Global KSP will look at the current skills challenges facing industry and the labour market. During the second week, the dialogue will invite participants to share their experiences and good practices on anticipating future skills needs in specific sectors of the economy.

Week two questions: Initiatives and what works:
-Sectoral skills development approaches have proven useful in engaging employers, albeit they take different forms within different national contexts. What models of employer engagement have you identified as being effective when examining approaches to sectoral skills development?

-What role can tripartite sectoral skills councils play in anticipating the needs of a sector for current and future skills training, assessing the quality and relevance of training programmes and improving relevance?

-What are some effective examples of forward-looking strategies for developing skills in a particular sector that will improve the performance of enterprises and keep the skills of workers up-to-date?

-To what extent are countries considering the specific needs of their key sectors when developing national level skills development policies/TVET strategies?