Africa. Revamping Education and Training for the Future of Work
At the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – encompassing the rapid evolution of robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology, and the internet-of-things – one-fifth of the global population under the age of 25 resides in rapidly growing Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). But African governments are struggling to tap into this demographic dividend and are unable to take full advantage of emerging technology. One reason why: the crippling gap between what African students are learning and what African employers are seeking.
Source: ACET – African Center for Economic Transformation

Australia. The best of both worlds? Integrating VET and higher education
There is renewed interest in better aligning vocational education and training (VET) and higher education (HE). The research finds that highly integrated arrangements are difficult and expensive to develop, and often difficult to sustain. These models may be more widespread and sustainable, however, if providers are supported with the expertise and resources to undertake mapping processes, where providers and their staff in the two sectors trust and value each other, where employers value both VET and HE, and students find demands associated with integrated offerings acceptable.
Source: NCVER – National Centre for Vocational Education ResearchCanada. Finding the Right Job: A Skills-Based Approach to Career Planning
Disruptions to labour markets caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with some sectors of the economy shedding jobs and others frantically searching for workers, made one thing clear. Workers’ ability to quickly identify and take advantage of emerging employment opportunities will determine their resilience, over the short and long terms. To help Canadians make the best career and training choices, we need to develop and implement more effective information tools.
Source: IRPP – Institute for Research on Public Policy

Canada. The Skills Imperative: Workforce Development Strategies Post-COVID 
Canada Lags Peers in Upskilling Workers, Needs to Plug Gaps
-Canada stands below the top-performing countries in skills development, and has no comprehensive approach toward lifelong learning.
-Long-term unemployed and low-income, low-educated workers are slipping between the cracks.
-Automation, digital innovation, globalization and demographic shifts have been reshaping the labor market, leading to some long-term structural changes and redefining the skills required to maintain a productive workforce – a trend that has been amplified by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
-The authors review the shortcomings of key current programs. For example, the federal government’s Canada Training Benefit, a universal skills development program, is intended only for employed Canadians who meet eligibility criteria and could permit marginalized groups to fall through the cracks. In particular, the requirements of being employed and having a minimum income of $10,000 prevent access to the program for the unemployed and those who are out of the labour force but need skills training to get to a job.
Source: C.D. Howe Institute

Canada. Helping Apprentices Prepare for Examinations: National Best Practices Forum Summary 2021
Participants discussed effective strategies to help prepare apprentices for the Red Seal multiple-choice certification exam.
En français. Canada.  Aider les apprentis à se préparer aux examens: Résumé du Forum national 2021 sur les pratiques exemplaires
Source: CAF/FCA – Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage /Canadian Apprenticeship Forum

EU. Apprenticeship governance and in-company training: where labour market and education meet
There is an increasing shift of attention from expanding apprenticeships to improving their quality and effectiveness. This brings into focus how apprenticeship is governed for greater relevance and matching to labour market needs, and how the content of what is taught at the workplace is designed and delivered.
Source: CEDEFOP –  European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

Latin America and the Caribbean. The Fast Track to New Skills : Short-Cycle Higher Education Programs in Latin America and the Caribbean
The report discusses how to create an environment where good programs are offered and students have the interest and means to attend them. It draws attention to a higher education sector that has been typically overlooked, both in research and policy. The report will be of interest to policy makers, researchers, and the public at large.
Source: World Bank

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vocational Education and Training: International Perspectives of Policy Makers and Practitioners
In a series of virtual bilateral workshops, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and their partner ministries in seven countries – Costa Rica, Ghana, Israel, Italy, Russia, South Africa, and USA – discussed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Vocational Education and Training (VET), employment, and youth. This publication documents the outcomes. The contributions range from hands-on practical reports to in-depth VET research findings, from rather analytical perspectives to policy consultancy and strategic ideas.
Source: The Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training

Understanding the impact of artificial intelligence on skills development
Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) contributes to sustainable development by fostering employment, decent work and lifelong learning. However, the effectiveness of a TVET system depends on its links and relevance to the labour market. As one of the major drivers of change, there is a need to better understand the impact of AI on labour markets, and consequently on TVET systems.
En français. Comprendre l’impact de l’intelligence artificielle sur le développement des compétences
Source: UNESCO-UNEVOC

A License to Skill: Embracing the Reskilling Revolution
The long-anticipated “future of work” arrived unexpectedly in early 2020. Employers completed years of anticipated digital transformation in just a few short weeks. Many employees worked fully remote for the first time, and we saw firsthand the importance of skills of the future.
Source: Cornerstone

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