Webinar: Digital Competence and the Future of Work – Pathways for TVET institutions

COVID-19 Education Response Webinar

Digital Competence and the Future of Work – Pathways for TVET Institutions

Organized as part of UNESCO-UNEVOC's ‘Strengthening the Responsiveness, Agility and Resilience of TVET Institutions for the Post-COVID-19 Era’ project

Registration link and further information is available at https://unevoc.unesco.org/home/COVID-19+response

Introduction

The COVID-19 crisis has amplified the pace at which the world is migrating towards a digital economy. With digital technology infiltrating industries through robotization, AI and 3D printing, it is apparent that sufficient digital skills are part of a core skillset for the workforce and therefore need to be an integral part of TVET curriculum and learning environments.

In addition to equipping youth with a relevant skillset, TVET can also plan a key role in enabling continuous learning for adults, supporting career paths, and employability. Distance learning solutions can provide cost effective and ecological means for ensuring that a growing number of people are not excluded from the workforce due to lack of skills. However, the bandwagon of continuous learning requires connectivity and at minimum foundation-level digital skills. TVET needs to play its’ part in preparing both youth and adults with the required digital skills adhering to both industry needs and enabling continuous learning.

The emerging digital economy creates new opportunities, but also threatens to widen the employability gap. In the digitalized economy it is possible to create jobs globally.  Digitalized services are no longer location based, and can be offered in a flexible manner from multiple locations. Innovative digital solutions, such as virtual reality-based environments, can enable access to high quality TVET training, regardless of location, making it possible to learn and demonstrate competence for a global job market.

SDG 4 targets for TVET describe key ICT skills. Many countries have already included digital skills into TVET curriculum, but due to accelerating changes within industries, we need to ask ourselves what are the core digital skills required for 2030 and beyond? Faced with the COVID-19 crisis and ongoing disruption, are we preparing TVET students for the future of work? What about the teachers? Are they receiving sufficient upskilling for digital technology as well as for designing and implementing distance learning? The transformation of TVET requires partnership and collaboration with the private sector. A broader vision of how innovation and digital solutions will become a part of TVET is a prerequisite for TVET to fully embrace change and train the workforce of tomorrow. 

Discussion questions

1. What are some of the most prominent challenges related to digital competence within TVET?

2. How can TVET institutions support teachers in delivering digital learning?

3. How could innovative digital learning solutions improve quality and access to relevant TVET?

4. How can we develop partnerships between industry and TVET institutions supporting the upskilling of teaching staff and up-to-date learning environments for students?