Learning for Life, Work and the Future: Stimulating Reform in Southern Africa through Subregional Co-operation

Vocational Education
and Training Authority

United Republic of Tanzania

Call for Discussion Papers

This Call for Discussion Papers had been prepared by the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre, with inputs from colleagues from the Vocational Education and Training Authority, United Republic of Tanzania, the Department of Vocational Education and Training of Botswana, and from the National Institute of Technology, Norway.  The deadline was 15 June 2003.   Papers submitted are available here.

Call for Papers in PDF format (150 KB)

Background  |  Objective of Workshop  |  Purpose of Papers  |  Criteria for Participation  |  Principles  | Key Topics  |  Submission of Papers  |   Annex

Background

The Ministry of Education of Botswana (Gaborone) and the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre  (Bonn, Germany) have developed jointly an initiative entitled "Learning for Life, Work and the Future: Stimulating Reform in Southern Africa through Sub-regional Co-operation".

This initiative has been launched officially at a workshop under the same title that was held in Gaborone, Botswana, 5 to 8 December 2000. The main objective of the workshop was to stimulate regional co-operation for the reform of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the 14 Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  The SADC Member States are presently: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Eight project proposals have emerged from this workshop:

1. Enhancing access to effective technical and vocational education and training: a feasibility study

A large number of barriers to access TVET have been identified, which should be addressed by the activities mentioned in this project proposal.

2. The development of a quality assurance programme

The objective of this project is to establish quality assurance mechanisms for TVET up to diploma level in SADC) Member States.

3. Professional staff development programme in TVET

This project's objective is to improve the quality of the delivery of TVET in the SADC) region through the development of further staff training mechanisms.

4. The development of an information and communication technologies programme

The objective of this project is to facilitate the use of information and communication technologies in the world of work through the delivery of high quality TVET.

5. The development of a training programme for the unemployed and for the informal sector

This project's objective is to develop training in entrepreneurial skills and job creation and to make it accessible for the unemployed and people working in the informal sector.

6. The development of a regional qualifications framework

The objective of this project is to establish national qualifications frameworks in the participating countries, which will later be developed into a Regional Qualifications Framework with the ultimate goal to facilitate the mobility and transferability of an educated and skilled workforce.

7. HIV/AIDS in TVET staff development

HIV/Aids infection rates are particularly high in the region. Due to HIV/AIDS, a still growing number of young people is confronted with a declining number of available teaching staff. Therefore, all participants of society - including staff and students of TVET institutions - need to combat the further spreading of the virus. The project will focus on several activities related to this.

8. Information, knowledge management, networking

This project builds the basic for successful implementation of the other projects mentioned above. Its overall aim is to enhance the effectiveness of TVET departments in Member States' ministries through a systematised sub-regional information sharing.

More information is available at www.unevoc.unesco.org/southernafrica 

Objective of the Workshop

The above projects have so far developed at various speeds.  In late 2002, agreement was reached to prepare a workshop that would focus in particular on projects 2, 5 and 7.  Contacts have been made with the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) in the United Republic of Tanzania to prepare, jointly with the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre, a workshop for mid-2003.  Experts from Botswana, Zimbabwe, the United Republic of Tanzania and Norway as well as the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre are involved in its preparation.

The workshop will provide an opportunity for members of the UNEVOC Network and other stakeholders from SADC Member States to develop their collaboration in the project areas 2, 5 and 7:

2. The development of a quality assurance programme

5. The development of a training programme for the unemployed and for the informal sector

7. HIV/AIDS in TVET staff development

Participants in the workshop will do some stocktaking in the three above areas.  Moreover, they will be expected to develop patterns of collaboration within SADC that will facilitate sharing of information and expertise, to stimulate joint development efforts, and to establish networks among stakeholders engaged in the three above areas.

Purpose of the Discussion Papers

TVET experts from the SADC Member States are invited to contribute to the preparation of the workshop by submitting Discussion Papers.  Experts are invited to submit one or two Discussion Papers on the "Key Topics" mentioned further below.  These topics have been identified as relevant to TVET reform in several countries of the SADC sub-region. Experts will be contacted through various channels, e.g. the Ministries in charge of TVET, the UNEVOC Centres, National Commissions of UNESCO, etc.  Recipients of this Call for Papers are invited to widely circulate it to other interested colleagues. Furthermore, the Call for Papers is also be available at http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/southernafrica.

The submitted Discussion Papers will be reviewed by the LLWF Steering Committee with the help of an internationally renowned external evaluator. Selected Discussion Papers may be used as reference documents at the workshop, they may also be published on the website of the project, and they may also be used for any other project document or report.

Based on the review of the papers, the Steering Committee will decide whom to invite for participation in the workshop. For some of these participants, the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre will provide return travel to the venue in the United Republic of Tanzania and subsistence throughout the workshop.

Criteria for Participation

Participants at the workshop will be invited based on the evaluation of their submitted Discussion Paper(s). When taking a decision on invitations to the workshop, the Steering Committee will also apply the following criteria:

No fee will be paid for accepted papers. However, a number of invited participants will qualify for UNESCO sponsorship covering travel, subsistence and all conference costs.

Basic Principles

Key Topics

Each paper should focus on one of the following Key Topics:

Key topic  

Examples of key aspects  

Possible sub-themes for paper  

The development of a quality assurance programme

  • Issues and challenges in provision of quality TVET

  • Strategies for providing quality TVET

  • Computer based leaning as an instrument of providing quality TVET  

  • Experiences and case studies in providing quality TVET

  • Occupational standards formats prospects for harmonizing in the sub-region

  • Competence Based Education and Training and the need for standardized curricula

  • Development of Competence Based Education and Training learning materials

  • Roles of stakeholders in providing quality TVET

  • Implementation of computer based leaning in TVET reforms

  • Roles of regulatory bodies in ensuring quality in TVET

  • Developing awarding body capacities

  • Training quality assurance managers, verifiers and assessors

  • Quality TVET and sustainable financing  

  • Quality TVET and cost aspects

  • Training of DACUM chart and occupational standards developers

  • Designing and implementing quality focused registration and accreditation systems in TVET

The development of a training programme for the unemployed and for the informal sector

  • Attitudes to self-employment.

  • Prioritizing target groups (age, gender, background, geographical location etc.).

  • Training arena

  • Roles in training (public authorities, private training providers, NGOs, private industry, international donors).

  • Training curricula development and maintenance.

  • Recognition of training at national and regional (SADC) levels.  

  • Ensuring relevance and quality in training

  • Linking training graduates with entrepreneurship promotion programmes or schemes

  • Recruitment of students: identification, motivation and recruitment procedures.

  • Training in education institutions, or on other training arenas?

  • Content, duration and mode of delivery.

  • Financing of training (alternative principles, systems, sources).

  • Flexibility of training provision (time of delivery, content updating etc.).

  • Defining training standards and curricula (who, how, when).

  • Monitoring of delivery and outcomes

  • Mentoring and support services for small entrepreneurs.

  • Methods of linking traditional apprenticeship schemes in the informal sector with formal training

  • Approaches for recognizing prior learning

HIV/AIDS in TVET staff development

  • Teacher training curricula and adult learning models

  • Key skills and the professional development of vocational education teachers and trainers

  • Teaching methods which promote behavioural change

  • Designing training materials for competence and outcomes based education and training

  • Health and social care curricula in tackling HIV/AIDS

  • Policy development and implementation strategies for TVET managers

  • Designing and implementing a life skills curriculum focusing on combating HIV/AIDS in TVET; the role of TVET instructors

  • Experiences and case studies on HIV/AIDS intervention in TVET programmes

  • Theories and Models of behavioural change in practise

  • Counselling skills for teachers and trainers working with people living with HIV/AIDS

  • Contextualisation of HIV/AIDS in the key skills curricula

  • Developing interactive student centred learning packages which engage young people at risk

  • Kinaesthetics in the promotion of behavioural change

  • Health and social care outcomes and competences which promote positive living for the individual, family and the community

  • Health and social care outcomes and competences which address the Health and Welfare needs for those affected by HIV/AIDS

  • Team work and policy development in TVET institutions which challenge stereotypes, reduce bias and discrimination and improve equity

  • HIV/AIDS health and safety policies for TVET institutions  

  • HIV/AIDS: training and employment

A paper could, for instance, consist of: An analysis of the situation, including

and, where appropriate:

Submission of Discussion Papers

Discussion Papers should arrive no later than by 15 June 2003 at the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre together with the completed "Annex to Discussion Paper".  Kindly mark the submission: LLWF WORKSHOP 2003. These documents should be submitted preferably in digital word processing format (by e-mail, mail or courier) or by fax.

UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre
Mr Hans Kronner
Gorresstr. 15
53113 Bonn
Germany

Email: southernafrica@unevoc.unesco.org
Fax. [+49] (228) 24 33 777

Annex to Discussion Paper

Each Discussion Paper should be accompanied by the information requested below.

Contact details of submitting person:

Last name(s):

First name(s):

Title(s):

Gender:

Address (including country):

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

Information that might be required for visa and travel arrangements:

Citizenship:

Passport number:                  Issued (date):              Issued (place):                Expiry date:

Date of birth:

Place of birth (including country):

Special needs:

 

Other information on submitting person:

Profession:

Current Position:

Current Employer:

Your involvement in activities linked to TVET development

(what, when, where, in which function)

Add additional page if necessary.

Your key TVET areas of interest:

Information on discussion paper:

Key topic of your paper (please mark):

(    ) The development of a quality assurance programme

(    ) The development of a training programme for the unemployed and for the informal sector

(    ) HIV/AIDS in TVET staff development

 

Title of your paper (to be chosen freely):

The Discussion Paper(s) that you are submitting may be used as a reference document for the proposed workshop, and may likewise be posted in the UNEVOC website.  If you have any reservations with respect of that use of your Discussion Paper(s), please indicate: 

__________________________________________________________________________

 

I herewith confirm that I am the author of the above-referenced Discussion Paper.

 

Signature:

(Confirming statement in case of digital transmission)

Place and date:

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