Experts from Asia and Europe convened on 27 and 28 April 2021 for an online conference on ‘Bridging Asia-Pacific and Europe: New Qualifications and Competencies in TVET’.

The aim of the virtual event was to explore successful practices around the identification of new qualifications and competencies, their integration into curricula and training regulations, and their implementation in teaching and training. Over 330 attendees from Asia-Pacific and Europe met to exchange knowledge about opportunities and challenges in integrating new qualifications and competencies in TVET.

Cedefop Expert Ms Anastasia Pouliou presented Cedefop’s work on Learning Outcomes. Together with Mr Dato Palani, Head of ASEAN Future Workforce Council, she discussed how Europe and the Asia-Pacific region can benefit from each other’s experience regarding the identification, integration and implementation of new qualifications and competencies in TVET.  Systematic exchange and peer learning opportunities emerged as key factors in advancing meaningful cooperation and coordination between Asia and Europe. As a common language, the learning outcomes-approach can help facilitate cross-cultural and cross-sectoral exchange for the benefit of all stakeholders. At the same time, Ms Pouliou stressed the need to convert new, future-oriented skills requirements into qualifications. The Asian-European panel emphasized green competences, specifically, with Ms Pouliou highlighting that their inclusion in the Osnabrück declaration underscored the urgency of this issue.

The conference was organized by the BILT (Bridging Innovations and Learning in TVET) team, an expert group at UNESCO-UNEVOC, focusing on identifying future-oriented qualifications and competencies as an ongoing challenge for TVET systems worldwide. The two-day virtual event brought together participants representing some 74 UNEVOC Centres, as well as experts and practitioners from various European and Asian-Pacific countries. The conference was hosted together with Temasek Polytechnic from Singapore.

 


Image: What can we learn from each other - Bridging regional perspectives on new qualifications and competencies