Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) connects education and the world of work. TVET is crucial to address economic, social and environmental demands by helping youth and adults develop the skills they need for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. In the past 6 years, UNESCO partnered with the Mongolian Government to advance the skills agenda. The 2019 UNESCO TVET and skills policy Review Report provided critical recommendations to ensure the TVET system in Mongolia is reformed to provide the human capital to contribute significantly to equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and supports transitions to green and digital economies.

The Second National TVET Forum focused on the key issues of:

Mismatch of Skills and Requirements: the mismatch between the skills of graduates from TVET institutions and the needs of the modern labor market. The rise in the youth unemployment rate, if it persists, stands in the way of Mongolia’s prospects in reaping the full benefits of its resources and human capital and achieving economic gains from its demographic dividend.
Inclusion: The forum explores strategies to promote equity and inclusion in TVET enrollment and participation through prioritizing the promotion of inclusive access to TVET, particularly for marginalized groups such as girls, women, persons with disabilities, and rural communities.

Re-formulating the pedagogical teaching approaches and standards: The rapid advancements in technology requires TVET programs to incorporate emerging technologies into their curricula and pedagogical approaches to ensure that graduates are prepared for jobs of the future.

Opening ceremony of the TVET National Forum ©Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO

Mr. Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren, H.E Minister of Education and Science highlighted in his opening speech that the Mongolian Government is paying special attention to the training of youth and the continued development of skills for adults throughout their lives. This is to ensure that Mongolia’s citizens are empowered with the technical skills to meet the needs of a changing labor market.

Mr. Jörn Rosenberg, H.E Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mongolia, underlined the need for skilled workforce is not only needed for Mongolia but also for the economies for the world. Mongolia has made notable achievement in TVET Sector and more support is needed in laying the solid foundation for the green economy for Mongolia.

Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia, reiterated in his opening remarks UNESCO’s commitment in supporting the Ministry of Education and Science in strengthening the quality of TVET Sector and its fundamental transformation to meet the demands of the labour market. UNESCO, together with the key valuable partners, will continue its firm support of the Government of Mongolia to advance the TVET and skills agenda for sustainable development in Mongolia.

Mr. Tapan Mishra, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mongolia, highlighted that TVET trains the valuable human capital to significantly contribute towards achieving SDGs in Mongolia. A TVET system with quality and equity will not only increase young people’s access to decent work, but will also contribute to the sustainable and green economic growth for Mongolia.

Mr. Friedrich Huebler, Head of UNESCO-UNEVOC, Bonn, called for more digital, green and sustainable TVET strategy with inclusion of the disadvantaged groups in Mongolia. He also highlighted the importance of the partnership of private sector and the involvement of youth as a central role in the TVET system.

Ms. Beate Dippmar, the Deputy Country Director of GIZ Mongolia, strengthened that the involvement of every stakeholder and individual is critical towards transformation of TVET system. TVET sector is a community with a shared vision. It is necessary to build strong alliances by mobilizing all relevant partners for the promotion of TVET.

During the two days of the forum, key issues addressed are:

Discussing policy issues: the current alignment, gaps, and challenges of TVET sector policy, TVET Lawand regulatory framework, TVET National Qualifications Framework, strategies, plan, and global priorities and framework.
Sharing best practices: The forum provided a platform for sharing best practices, innovations, and successful projects in the TVET sector, the TVET Post -Graduate programme,
Promoting collaboration: new opportunities for collaboration and partnerships between government, industry, researchers and education providers.
Strengthening partnerships: Partnerships that facilitate resource-sharing, joint projects, and other forms of collaboration that can help strengthen TVET systems, TVET Teachers and improve outcomes for learners and employers.
Advocacy and awareness-raising: advocacy for the value and importance of TVET and raising awareness about the benefits of TVET for individuals, employers, and communities.

The forum engaged various national and international presenters that shared their perspectives underpinned the topics of TVET teacher competency standard, in-service and pre-service training, the future of TVET (greening, digitalization, inclusion, gender equity), industry engagement in TVET teacher development, and skills reform and challenges for TVET teaching staff. Officials from the Ministry of Education and Sciences underscored that the Mongolian Government has strategically repositioned itself to strengthen the TVET institutions and TVET sector aligned to the needs of the labour market.

Mr. Calice Olivier Pieume, Chief of the Technical Cooperation Unit, Head of the UNEVOC Network Secretariat, UNESCO International Centre for TVET in Bonn, virtually presenting the UNEVOC Global Network © Mongolia National Commission for UNESCO

The forum had wide international attendance that informed the Mongolian TVET policy makers and researchers. Mr. Boehene Charkroun, Director of Lifelong Learning System and Policies of UNESCO presented on the TVET transformation for Sustainable Development. Mr. Robert Parua, Programme Specialist for Education, UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia introduced the UNESCO TVET 2022-2029 Global Strategy. Among the others, the forum also had the valuable presentations from Prof Yang Wenming, Director, UNESCO UNEVOC Centre, Shenzhen Polytechnic on TVET Digital Transformation in China, Prof. Qin Jingjun, Director of International Cooperation & Exchange, Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute on Enhance quality TVET teachers within China’s TVET reform and modernization, and Ms. Dahee Choi, Research Associate from Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET) on ROK’s success in Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in TVET sector.

Ms Dahee Choi, Research Associate, Center for International Cooperation, KRIVET, presented on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in TVET sector in Republic of Korea © Mongolia National Commission for UNESCO

The major outcome of the TVET National Forum was the adoption of the Declaration of Commitment to Transform Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Mongolia. The participants and development partner institutions participated recognized the fundamental role of TVET for the twenty-first century that brings a radically different knowledge- based economy, green economy and society with profound implications for Technical and Vocational Education and Training and represents an integral component of life-long learning.

The National TVET Forum was a great success with over 150 participants (48% female) that constituted of TVET professionals, policy experts, TVET graduates, TVET lecturers and teachers, policy makers, private sector, curriculum experts, labour market specialists, participants from TVET Institutions, UNEVOC Centres, and skills-based training institutions.