Day 2 Module 2

1
Activities of UNESCO Bangkok and some
suggestions on collaboration between UNEVOC
network and UNESCO offices
Youngsup Choi UNESCO Bangkok
2
I. Activities of UNESCO Bangkok

• 1. Study on StW information base
• To examine the current situation of StW
  information base and to identify the areas of
  intervention from UNESCO
• Mainly focusing on developing countries but
  including some middle income countries of
  different sub regions
• Progress so far and next steps
• Oct 2010 - Jan 2011 Preparation of study plan
• Feb-Jul 2011 country studies
• Aug 2011 synthesis workshop
• Sep-Oct 2011 drafting synthesis report
• Nov-Dec 2011 Publication of booklet

3

• 2. TVET policy review in Lao PDR and Cambodia
• Part of strategic upstream policy advice of
  UNESCO offices (HQRBFO)
• Identification of the challenges and, areas of
  policy dialogue incl. capacity development
  through meetings w/ govt civil stakeholders
• 2010-Mar 2011 Preparatory stage incl. missions
  and desk research
• Cambodia Field mission (Jun), Review report
  (Jul-Sep), natl W/S (Oct 2011)
• Lao PDR Field mission (Jul, Sep), Review report
  (Oct-Nov)
• Issues identified
• Lack of coordination b/w key Mins, depts,
  centrl-provn govt.
• Limited demands for semi-skilled limited job
  opportunity of TVET (esp., sec. level TVET) ? low
  enrol. of sec. TVET large drop-outs
• Limited alignment w/ socio-economic strategy Not
  even govt driven, but supply-driven (TVET
  programs being congested to the areas which are
  easy to attract (miss- or little informed)
  students)

4

• 3. Vocationalization of Secondary education
• As part of secondary education regular program
  and CapEFA Laos
• Diversification of TVET supply Introduction of
  integrated school (gen ed voc ed), or inclusion
  of voc subjects to gen curriculum
• Supports to Lao PDR policy W/S study visit
  (Jul 2011)
• Review on the experiences of Thai, Aus, Mal and
  South Korea (W/S)
• Examine actual situation in Thai and Mal (study
  visit)
• Planned policy dialogue Sep-Dec 2011
• Publication on vocationalization of Sec. Ed.
• In association w/ UNEVOC Bonn
• Incl. Thai, Aus, Mal, China, and UZB (TBD)
• Review on the experiences and implications for
  ASP countries
• Country study (Oct), draft report (Dec),
  publication (Feb 2012)

5

• 4. Some more
• 3rd World TVET Congress Shanghai, China, May
  2012 (2nd Congress Seoul, Korea, 1999)
• Preparation of Global TVET report regional
  report by BKK
• Regional consultation TBD
• UNESCO-APEID conference on Creativity and
  Entrepreneurship Jakarta, Dec 2011
• Suggestion on career guidance for C E not
  only the reform of education programs but need
  for concern about the ways of identifying the
  talents and supporting the sustained development
• On the way of negotiation w/ Korean govt
• Skills development for Creative Economy in
  Thailand
• Development of UN wide action plan for the next 5
  yrs to support the skills development for CE in
  Thai.

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II. Suggestions on cooperation

• Key challenges for TVET in ASP
• Limited/scattered region-specific knowledge base
  compared to the extremely diverse policy requests
  from the member states, especially reflecting the
  specific/unique socio-economic-cultural situation
• Limited number of experts with understanding on
  the regional contexts and with the expertise on
  specific issues
• Limited within-country capacity on specific
  policy issues and over-dependence on external
  expertise which are altogether hindering the
  endogenous policy development and implementation

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• How to overcome this situation? Never by UNESCO
  or Intl Orgs alone
• Continued and concerted efforts of external and
  internal expertise towards the development of
  internal capacity
• More radically, led by internal expertise? e.
  g. Joint study/research led by internal
  expertise and supported by external expertise
• Role of UNEVOC centers Leading agency of
  internal capacity development while mobilizing
  external resources
• Role of Intl Orgs Raising the issues and
  providing technical resources
• However, dilemma for Intl Orgs? Pressure for
  showing results?