Topics: 

  • Quality of TVSD systems
  • The evolving labour market and the skills ecosystem

Date: Thursday, 20th October 2022

Time: 14:45 PM – 16:15 PM Mauritius time (GMT+4)

Venue: Le Méridien Île Maurice

Storyline: A holistic approach to skills development encompasses features such as continuous and seamless learning pathways; development of core and higher-level skills; transferability of skills and employability; and putting in place sustainable mitigating measures against unforeseen emergencies such as COVID-19. Although most of the challenges around skills development identified nearly 10 years ago remain, new dimensions have emerged. They include the advent of accelerated digitalization within the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), renewed focus on TVSD, alternative financing models, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions in addressing issues that impede the transformation of TVSD to better align the skills supplied with the skills demands of the labour market include blending of digital skills and 4IR to strengthen the integration of technology in traditional TVSD programmes, providing adequate financing and addressing the poor-quality training in public and private TVSD systems, instituting mechanism for the recognition/ accreditation of informal systems as part of dealing with the large numbers of unskilled out-of-school youth, and expanding access to vocational skills development in remote or disadvantaged areas to support improved livelihoods and poverty alleviation, a move that is strongly linked to having adequate funding.

Objectives: 

  1. Share experiences and working practices around innovative and alternative financing mechanisms for TVSD.
  2. Share relevant skills development initiatives and strategies, including ways of improving the quality of TVSD systems in selected countries through partnership and stakeholder engagement.
  3. Share ways of improving policies and governance to address the different challenges identified at the heart of TVSD.
  4. Explore strategies of moving from research and studies to implementation and embedding the strategies and recommendations in country level priorities and practices.

Expected outcomes:

  1. Shared understanding of mechanisms for leveraging training and skills development to empower African youths to contribute effectively to the future socio-economic transformation of their respective countries and the continent at large. 
  2. Shared knowledge, experiences, good practices and lessons to inform policies and programmes aimed at preparing the youth for the Fourth Industrial Revolution workplace. 
  3. Fostered partnerships among key stakeholders to advance policy and strategy development and implementation. 
  4. Strategies for moving from research and studies to implementation and embedding the strategies and recommendations in country-level priorities and practices well-documented to inform the next step of developing a policy guide for countries.

Moderator: Unami Dube, Team Lead - Skills and Employment For Youth, AUDA-NEPAD 

Rapporteurs: 

  • Nicholas Ouma, Senior Youth Advisor, Education, Science, Technology & Innovation Department, African Union Commission
  • M. Yvan Serge Kragbe, Directeur du Centre de promotion des nouvelles technologies de l’information et de la communication (CPNTIC), Ministère de l'Enseignement Technique de la Formation Professionnelle (METFPA), Côte d’Ivoire (TBC)

Expert perspective: Mr. Yamal Matabudul, Chief Executive Officer, Polytechnique Mauritius 

Policymaker response: Lina Maria Da Silva Portugal, Senior National Director of Education, Mozambique (TBC)

Panellists: 

  • Hon. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, Ghana
  • Koto Ey’Olanga Firmin, Director of Cabinet, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Prof. Mona LAROUSSI, Directrice, Institut de la Francophonie pour l'Education et la Formation (IFEF-OIF) (TBC)
  • Mr. Esa Karvinen, Director and Principal of Riveria, Former Director of Finnish National Agency for Education. How is Finnish TVET preparing for the future?
  • Ms. Martha Muhwezi, Executive Director, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE). Gender in TVET/TVSD: Good practices in the 3-year TVET program in Mali and Zanzibar.