of UNEVOC Centres for Capacity Building and Innovation of TVET. UNEVOC Sub-regional Seminar, Suratthani, Thailand, 24-26 Nov 2009

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre and the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Ministry of Education, Thailand, cooperated in the organization of this sub-regional seminar on increasing the effectiveness of UNEVOC Centres nationally, regionally and internationally. Following on the outcomes of different regional seminars and international experts consultations held in the past few years, it was designed to increase the effectiveness of the UNEVOC Network, thereby contributing to the good profile and visibility of UNEVOC Centres.

In particular, the seminar intended to fulfil the role and goal of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre in providing various forms of assistance to UNEVOC professionals and vocational educators and leaders towards the development and improvement of TVET. Its objectives were for participants to:

• Learn about how to build an effective UNEVOC Network of good profile and visibility nationally, regionally and internationally;
• Be acquainted with what works under what conditions in utilizing the UNEVOC Network;
• Share tools, methods and experiences in innovating TVET policy and curricula; and
• Develop an effective ongoing framework for collaboration among UNEVOC Centres.

With the Thai UNEVOC Network at the centre, the seminar targeted professionals from selected UNEVOC Centres from East Asia and South-East Asia. It specifically dealt with the following issues:

• Why and how to increase national effectiveness and utility of the UNEVOC Networks;
• Innovative practices in TVET curricula and policy;
• Challenges in innovating policy and curricula of TVET programmes;
• Challenges in using the UNEVOC Network and in networking and fostering mutual learning and assistance;
• Reporting and sharing innovations and good practices locally and throughout the UNEVOC Network; and
• Overcoming challenges in strengthening TVET through the effective utilization of the UNEVOC Network.

Twenty-four UNEVOC professionals from China, Lao PDR, Malaysia and Thailand participated in the seminar. The participants from each of these countries presented about the current state of and developments in their TVET system and addressed how the UNEVOC Network and the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre have been helpful in addressing challenges.

The seminar strengthened UNEVOC Centres by building their capacity in networking and exchanging innovative practices, as well as by supporting initiatives towards collaboration. The participants were also familiarized with national and sub-regional success stories, innovative practices, exemplars in TVET and how UNEVOC Centres have been effective as sources of expertise and information.