Canada. Job vacancies were lowest in 3 years in December
Canadian businesses had just under 200,000 vacancies in December 2013, the lowest number since March 2011. The question of whether or not there is a labour shortage depends on where in Canada you're trying to find a job. The ratio of unemployed people to vacant jobs worsened in every province in December, but the absolute numbers were dramatically different from one province to another.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/job-vacancies-were-lowest-in-3-years-in-december-1.2577323
Related report. Job vacancies, three-month average ending in December 2013
Canadian businesses reported 200,000 job vacancies in December, down 21,000 compared with 12 months earlier. There were 6.3 unemployed people for every job vacancy, up from 5.7 in December 2012. The increase in the unemployment-to-job vacancies ratio was the result of fewer job vacancies, as the number of unemployed people was little changed.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/140318/dq140318b-eng.pdf
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Canada; Document; Employment trend; In English; News; Source: CBC; Source: Government of Canada/Statistics Canada; Statistics 2011-2013; Trend - employment;
Canada. The Leaders’ Summit "Towards a National Strategy for Developing Essential Skills”
The Summit reunited 100 participants from education, community groups, industry and government participated in the first pan-Canadian Essential. Its aims were to present the challenges faced by a shortage of labor in Canada and present wining solutions to strengthen the development of Essential Skills in Canada.
http://www.accc.ca/essentialskills2011/index.php/en/eshome/the-leaders-summit
Summit Presentations
Why invest in Essential Skills : A business perspective
ACCC National Framework for Essential Skills
Increasing ES levels in sector occupations
ES for successful integration of immigrants in the Canadian economy
Looking forward Quality assurance of ES interventions
http://www.accc.ca/essentialskills2011/index.php/en/eshome/the-leaders-summit/summit-presentations
En français. Le Sommet des leaders «Vers une stratégie nationale pour le développement des compétences essentielles »
http://www.accc.ca/essentialskills2011/index.php/fr/accueil-ce/sommet-des-leaders
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Canada; Essential skills; In English; Source: ACCC - Association of Canadian Community Colleges; Trends;
Canada/British Columbia. An Update on the Economic Impact of International Education in British Columbia
In 2011/12 academic year, international students in British Columbia spent close to $2.1 billion on tuition, to pay for accommodation and food, and on discretionary items such as participating in arts, culture, and recreation activities. This sum is translated to a direct contribution equivalent to $1.48 billion in provincial GDP; supporting over 23,410 jobs; and almost $75 million in government revenue generated. Enrolment of international students in Canadian education and training institutes has been increasing steadily over the past decade, and BC is not exception. During the period between 2009/2010 academic year and 2011/12 academic year where data on student enrolment is directly comparable, the number of international students in BC grew from 94,000 to 106,600, at an average growth rate of 6.5% per year. This rate of growth is much faster than enrolment growth of domestic students.
http://www.bccie.bc.ca/sites/bccie_society/files/Kunin%20Report%202013%28Web%29.pdf
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Analysis; Canada/British Columbia; Economic benefits; In English; International students; Report; Source: BCCIE - British Columbia Council for International Education; Students - international; Target group: International students;
China. Developing Skills for Economic Transformation and Social Harmony in China
China has achieved unprecedented growth over the past three decades. The study focuses on ways to improve an education system to spur lifelong learning and ongoing economic growth.
http://issuu.com/world.bank.publications/docs/9781464800795
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Analysis; China; Development - skills; Document; Economic development; In English; Skills - development; Source: World Bank;
France & Germany. The shifting relationship between vocational and higher education in France and Germany: towards convergence?
Acknowledging important differences between countries, we compare the evolving relationship between HE and VET. We ask whether and how these two distinct organisational fields in France and Germany have changed in recent decades. Comparing institutional shifts, the article analyses whether long-standing differences in postsecondary education and training systems and the education/economy nexus in these two countries have remained stable. While the traditional typologies that contrast France and Germany have served as useful heuristic devices, they require revision to adequately represent incremental institutional change in these skill formation systems resulting from endogenous reforms and exogenous pressures due to Europeanisation.
http://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv52848
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Analysis - comparative; Analysis - trends; Comparative analysis; Education - higher; France; Germany; Higher education; In English; Source: VOCEDplus; Trend - analysis; VET - vocational education and training;
Lao PDR. Policy Review of TVET in Lao PDR
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system policy review for Lao PDR. The skills base among the workforce in Lao PDR is low, due in large part to the low quality of education and high dropout rates at the level of basic education. Migration of skilled workers to neighbouring countries adds to the difficulties for Lao enterprises in finding such workers. Lao enterprises, in particular small, non-export oriented and domestic-owned firms, rarely provide training opportunities for staff. System-wide education reforms are necessary to provide a competent workforce for future inclusive and sustained socio-economic development.
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002211/221146e.pdf
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Analysis - policy; Document; In English; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Policy - analysis; Review - VET; Source: UNESCO; VET - policy; VET - review;
UK. The Innovation Code: ensuring local decisions for skills meet the needs of learners and employers: an updated guide
Guide to help colleges and training organisations make the most of their freedoms and flexibilities in meeting the needs of their learners. This guide explains how the Innovation Code (the Code) can be used to do this.
http://readingroom.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/sfa/innovation_code_guide_v2.pdf?goback=%2Egde_4250493_member_184207829
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Colleges and Universities; Educational strategy; Guide; In English; Source: Skills Funding Agency; Target group: Colleges and institutes; United Kingdom;
Vietnam’s Workforce Needs New Skills for A Continued Economic Modernization
Cognitive, behavioral and technical skills are required for the Vietnamese workers to meet changing demands of employers.
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2013/11/29/vietnams-workforce-needs-new-skills-for-a-continued-economic-modernization-says-vietnam-development-report2014
Related report. Vietnam development report 2014 : preparing the work force for a modern market economy
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/11/26/000461832_20131126115640/Rendered/PDF/829400AR0P13040Box0379879B00PUBLIC0.pdf
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Analysis; In English; Press release; Report; Skills - needs; Source: World Bank; Vietnam;
Model curriculum for journalism education: a compendium of new syllabi
This compendium of new syllabi represents UNESCO’s strategic response to the question: How can journalism education continue to renew itself?
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002211/221199e.pdf
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Curriculum - model; In English; Journalists; Model - curriculum; Source: UNESCO; Target group: Journalists;
The right skills for the job? Rethinking training policies for workers
This book addresses the question of how to build and upgrade job relevant skills. Specifically, the authors focus on three types of training programs relevant for individuals who are either leaving formal general schooling or those who are already in the labor market. The types of employment discussed are pre-employment technical and vocational education and training (TVET); on-the-job training (OJT); and training-related active labor market programs (ALMPs).
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2012/07/11/000333038_20120711021256/Rendered/PDF/709080PUB0EPI0067869B09780821387146.pdf
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Analysis; Book; In English; Source: World Bank; Training - programs; VET - competence-based vocational education; Workforce - development;
Digital Competence in practice: An analysis of frameworks
This reports aims to identify, select and analyse current frameworks for the development of digital competence. Its objective is to understand how digital competence is currently understood and implemented in 15 cases, drawn from school curricula, implementation initiatives, certification schemes and academic papers. It develops a proposal for a common understanding of digital competence and identifies the sub-competences that compose it.
http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC68116.pdf
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Analysis; Case study; Digital skills; In English; Report; Skills - digital; Source: Institute for Prospective Technological Studies;
Embodied learning at work: making the mind-set shift from workplace to playspace
Valuing and validating embodied learning in the workplace makes space for individual learning and transformation and can increase organisational capacity for innovation, learning and change. Creative play and improvisation can facilitate learning, collaboration and creative problem solving. This article uses case studies to demonstrate embodied learning in action.
http://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv52647
Tags : 2014 May Newsletter; Case study; In English; Learning - process; Methodology; Source: VOCEDplus; Workforce - development; Workplace - learning;
