UNEVOC

UNESCO-UNEVOC is one of two UNESCO centres in the field of education. UNESCO is the United Nations’ specialised agency for education. It works to improve education worldwide at all levels of education through technical advice, standard setting, innovative projects, capacity-building and networking. Its three strategic objectives are to:

Promote education as a fundamental human right Improve the quality of education Stimulate experimentation, innovation and dialogue.

UNESCO carries out its work through the headquarters in Paris, field offices and institutes and centres. UNESCO-UNEVOC is one of the centres.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC) assists UNESCO's 191 member states strengthen and upgrade their TVET systems.

The acquisition of skills for work, and for citizenship, is crucial for economic and social development. It is important for individuals, for communities and, at the aggregate level, for nations.

Ideally, TVET is relevant to the needs of the labour market, of high quality, and broadly accessible. This ideal is a far cry from reality for many UNESCO member states and hence UNESCO-UNEVOC gives priority in its work to those with the greatest need: developing nations, economies in transition and those in a post-conflict situation.

UNESCO-UNEVOC particularly focuses on contributing to the overarching UNESCO goals in TVET. These are to assist member states improve and integrate TVET as part of the global Education for All Campaign, and also to assist the alignment of TVET with the tenets of sustainable development.

UNESCO-UNEVOC is also the hub of a world-wide network of over 250 key organisations and institutions specialising in TVET in 157 countries worldwide. This UNEVOC Network includes government ministries, research facilities, planning and training institutions. The UNEVOC Network serves as a platform for information sharing and bringing people together in meetings and workshops as a means to improve TVET in different regions of the world.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training was established in 2000 and was inaugurated in Bonn in 2002. It currently has 10 full-time staff. In addition, UNEVOC regularly involves experts from various fields as well as interns to contribute to the work.

de:Internationales Zentrum für Berufsbildung der Vereinten Nationen