In March the British Council Skills Team welcomed delegates from around the world to London and Derby for our UK Policy Seminar: ‘The future of TVET: disruption and development’. Senior policy makers from Uzbekistan, Nigeria, India and South Africa, joined their counterparts from England to examine the impact of future global trends such as technological and industrial change, increased labour mobility and climate change on TVET provision. Over three days, our delegates and speakers addressed the challenges and opportunities such changes present and shared best practice in adapting, managing, designing and delivering TVET in response to them.
The event was run in partnership with the Association of Colleges (AOC) which promotes and represents the interests of further education, sixth form, tertiary and specialist colleges in England and was hosted at the British Council in London and Derby College.
In addition to input from the AOC, the seminar included contributions from a range of organisations working on the TVET agenda. These included OECD, The Department for Education, People 1st, Newham Sixth Form College, Centre for Social Justice, The Gatsby Foundation and the Careers and Enterprise Company
Discussions centred on planning and delivering quality TVET in a rapidly changing world and ensuring that TVET provision responds to the needs of industry and employers. Delegates gained and shared insights into how government, employers and education are responding collectively and individually to new challenges and how the link between policy and practice can ensure effective change. Delegates explored a range of themes including, employer engagement, apprenticeship models, improving the perceptions of TVET pathways, the governance and funding of TVET and flexible routes to ensure adaptable skills for a changing labour market.
As well as presentations from the government, employer and education perspectives, the programme included visits to Rolls Royce PLC, Derbyshire Cricket Club and Hubb, a SME to see how skills policy was being put into practice. In addition to the tours to different campuses in Derby College, one of the highlights of the programme was a networking dinner provided by learners at the college with the delegation, representatives of the English Skills Sector and colleges from the East Midlands and beyond.
The event is one of the series of policy dialogues and study tours for international delegates organised by the British Council every year. Designed to promote understanding of innovative approaches to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and raise awareness of the global TVET picture, they have proven a great catalyst for UK-overseas collaboration and kick-started a number of excellent initiatives both at home and abroad.
For more information, please write to: Skills@britishcouncil.org.