In this UNESCO-UNEVOC virtual conference, we discussed diversifying sources of funding for TVET. The conference took place from 16 to 22 January 2017 on the UNESCO-UNEVOC TVeT Forum.

Background

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is considered a powerful tool to prepare youth for the labour market and provide lifelong learning opportunities to adults. It plays a strategic role in the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In particular, Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Education calls on Members States to “ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning”. It notably targets, among other things, “equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university” (SDG 4.3) and a “substantial increase in the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship” (SDG 4.4).

This vision of TVET supports the transition towards inclusive and sustainable societies and economies, but also requires TVET systems to transform and adapt to remain relevant.

Various strategies have been adopted to increase funding in TVET, including output-based funding approaches. Other strategies focus on mobilizing other stakeholders. One such stakeholder is industry by implementing apprenticeship or alternance-based training, as well as introducing training or apprenticeship taxes and levies.

Virtual conference

Given the importance of finance in TVET today, and trends in diversifying the sources of funding for TVET, this virtual conference addressed the following questions:

• What are the main advantages and risks of output-based funding strategies? How should output-based systems be designed to function appropriately?
• How can training providers be supported in developing income generating activities? What are the advantages and risks involved? Should these activities be regulated, and if yes, how?
• How can the tax / levy imposed on companies be managed and used efficiently? More generally, what are the possible approaches to support lifelong learning strategies?
• Besides the implementation of training levies, are there other convincing approaches to mobilize funding for skills development?

Throughout the virtual conference will also share experiences from a comparative study on the financing of TVET in South-East Asia (French Development Agency and UNESCO) and in Sub-Saharan Africa (French Development Agency, Association for the Development of Education in Africa, Gret).

The virtual conference also took into account the outcomes of our previous virtual conference on 'Measuring the Return on Investment' (2016).

About the moderator

Christine Uhder

Christine Uhder is a Project Manager at the GRET and specializes in vocational training, professional integration and business development services to SMEs. Christine has 8 years-experience as an international consultant and project manager in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia regions. Through her work, she ensures the design, implementation and monitoring of large scale development projects and conducts research on the topic of financing TVET in Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and Latin America, with the aim to analyze and compare strategies implemented to ensure a cost-efficient use of resources, mobilize the private sector in funding TVET, and design financing systems that support lifelong learning and sustainable societies.