UNESCO-UNEVOC

UNESCO UNEVOC – Who we are

Our vision

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training acts as part of the United Nations mandate to promote peace, justice, equity, poverty alleviation, and greater social cohesion. The Centre assists Member States develop policies and practices concerning education for the world of work and skills development for employability and citizenship, to achieve:

• access for all
• high quality, relevant and effective programmes
• learning opportunities throughout life.

The International Centre contributes to increased opportunities for productive work, sustainable livelihoods, personal empowerment and socio-economic development, especially for youth, girls, women and the disadvantaged. Its emphasis is on helping meet the needs of developing countries, countries in transition and those in a post-conflict situation.

Our work

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre acts as a key component of UNESCO’s international programme on technical and vocational education and training. It also works to support UNESCO’s mandate for Education for All and Education for Sustainable Development.

The International Centre achieves this through taking action to strengthen and upgrade the worldwide UNEVOC Network (Flagship Programme), with particular reference to:

• Stimulating international and regional cooperation concerning human resource development
• Promoting UNESCO normative instruments and standards
• Promoting best and innovative practices in TVET
• Knowledge sharing
• Mobilizing expertise and resources
• Strengthening partnerships with other relevant agencies

Our ambition

For the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre to be recognized by UNESCO Member States, UNESCO Offices, United Nations agencies, and other partner organizations working in the field of skills development for employability and citizenship, as a truly international, effective and relevant centre of excellence in achieving our mission.

The UNEVOC Network

The UNEVOC Network is found in all UNESCO Regions and in most UNESCO Member States. The Network is made up of UNEVOC Centres, which are established in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and serve as focal points in the provision of services and platforms for international and regional cooperation in TVET... Among the institutions making up the Network are government departments, statutory authorities, public and private TVET institutions, quasi-public institutions, tertiary institutions providing advanced technological education and/or skills development centres, and TVET pre-service and in-service teacher training institutions.

The Network is instrumental in the production and dissemination of research, case studies, databases, publications, and enables the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre to perform its function as a clearinghouse, especially using the International Centre’s online services.

Since its creation, the UNEVOC Network is an exclusive global platform for TVET whereby UNESCO can pursue its integrated approach to further mainstream South-South and North-South-South cooperation. Through the Network, UNEVOC Centres can share knowledge and experiences related to all aspects of TVET, exchange country experiences and discuss issues of common relevance in meetings organized by themselves, by the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre or virtually through the UNEVOC e-Forum.