Vocational education resonates not only in Slovakia, but also on the international stage
11.09.2023 09:37
During the summer the International Labour Organization (ILO) held the 111th annual International Labour Conference at the Palace of Nations of the UN in Geneva. Around five thousand participants from among representatives of employers, employees and government delegates from the 187 ILO member states addressed a wide range of issues, including quality apprenticeship training. The Association of Industrial Unions and Transport (APZD) was represented at the conference by Jozef Kvoriak, Secretary General of the Engineering Industry Association of the Slovak Republic.
One of the areas the conference addressed was ensuring the quality of the education and vocational training system in order to enable equal access to employment opportunities and facilitate fair transitions.
It is another area in which the involvement of social partners and cooperation with other relevant stakeholders is decisive for the development of effective lifelong learning systems. In addition, effective measures are needed to support people through the transitions they face during their working lives.
A platform for sharing skills and lifelong learning
The conference built on the resolution on skills and lifelong learning adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 109th session (2021) in the ILO Strategy for Skills and Lifelong Learning 2022 – 2030. This document proposes the ILO Strategy for Skills and Lifelong Learning for 2022 – 2030 and an action plan for the first phase of implementation in 2022 – 2025, in order to put into effect the conclusions adopted in December 2021.
The main aim of the ILO lifelong learning strategy is to enable the development of resilient systems based on social dialogue that provide inclusive access to the development of high-quality skills and opportunities for lifelong learning for all. At the same time, the strategy also aims to support human development, free choice of employment and decent work for all.
As part of the implementation of the Strategy, the ILO created a supporting tool – the ILO Platform for Sharing Skills and Lifelong Learning. The aim of the platform is to make knowledge accessible in order to strengthen lifelong learning systems by sharing approaches, knowledge and experience.
Standards for apprenticeship education and training
During the conference the committee for setting standards for apprenticeship training also met. It drew up a Recommendation concerning quality apprenticeship training, which the International Labour Conference subsequently approved.
