No Longer a Last Resort: Transitioning youth into the workforce
through strengthened TVET education in Ethiopia and Kenya
Camille Joseph Khoury – Colleges and Institutes CanadaHannah Pugh – Dalhousie University
Catherine Walker – MEDA
1. The potential of the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to be a driver of employment and self-employment
2. Importance of developing market-driven programs aligned with practical skills needed by the workforce with meaningful integration of gender and other cross-cutting themes
3. Strategies to effectively engage with the private sector and promote entrepreneurship among young people
Agenda
1. Introduction to TVET institutions 2. Sector Challenges 3. CICan and Dalhousie/MEDA Programming Overview4. Group Problem Solving Sessions
a) Curriculum Developmentb) Private Sector Employment and Entrepreneurship
5. Panel Feedback 6. Wrap Up
So what is TVET anyways? Why talk about it?
• Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions
• Education and training which provides knowledge and skills for employment
• Recognized as the most practical avenue for acquiring readily employable skills for the world of work for young people
Knowledge Test
How much do you know about job availability for TVET graduates?
https://www.sli.do/
TVET Institutions and the GYEO
• Ready for the Global Workforce: How do we prepare youth for transition to the workforce and for the demands of today’s rapidly transforming global economy?
Quick Poll
What do you see as the most significant challenges facing the TVET sector?
https://www.sli.do/
Key Challenges Facing the Sector• Poor reputation among private
sector and potential students • Limited integration/linkages with
private sector • Alignment between
employer/market demands and course offerings
• Cultural barriers for girls’ entry • Inadequate funding compared to
other education streams • Limited focus on entrepreneurship• Limited opportunities for practical
learning and education• Poor quality infrastructure and
equipment
Initiatives Working in the TVET sector
Agricultural Transformation Through Stronger Vocational
Education (ATTSVE)
Ethiopia – 2014-2021
Dalhousie University, MEDA, McGill University, JUCAVM
Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP)
Kenya – 2016-2021
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)
Key Elements of TVET Programming
Institutional Strengthening
Instructor Training and
Programming Support
Networks and Linkages
Curriculum Development Overview
LMI
Gap analysis
Advisory committees
Curriculum & training
Evaluation
• Applying competency-based education and training (CBET) approaches
• Increasing alignment with market trends • Mainstreaming of gender, entrepreneurship and environment
Group Problem Solving Session #1 Curriculum Development
1. Competency Based Education and Training (CBET)
Key Lessons • Get industry on-board early• Think about technical skills and
knowledge and attitudes that must accompany those skills for them to be effective in a work setting.
• Invest in teacher training to communicate lessons through demonstration, instead of lecture
• Work with school leadership to ensure sustainable links with employers, community, student body
KEFEP Video
2. Market AnalysisKey Lessons • Importance of detailed market
assessment in the curriculum development and specialty selection process
• Benefit of partnerships with organizations experienced in business/economic development
• Inclusion and buy-in of stakeholders, alignment with government priorities, other initiatives
• Consider industries with easier entry points for youth
• Consider potential for both employment and entrepreneurship
3. Mainstreaming of Gender, Entrepreneurship, Environment
Key Lessons • Cross-cutting themes are effectively mainstreamed into curriculum using a
participatory approach and preceded and followed by training• Cross-cutting themes are not tokenistic, linked to relevant resources at
colleges and are related to each other• Integration of themes are supported by structure of gender/environment/
income generation offices, increasing understanding of these areas• Addressing gender equality and gender-based violence
Key Challenges for Discussion1. Navigating government approval processes and changing priorities 2. Shifting thinking around learning to more participatory methods3. Effective market analysis and prediction of future employment trends 4. Meaningful integration of gender and other cross-cutting themes 5. Changing opinions around the value of generalist vs. specialist
curriculum
https://www.sli.do/
Group Problem Solving Session #2: Private Sector Employment and
Entrepreneurship
1. Industry Advisory Committees
2. Industry Placement Programs
3. Business Plan Competitions and Coaching
1. Industry Advisory Committees Key Lessons • Advise on changes in the labour market
which may affect the employment of graduates or the viability of existing programs;
• Advise on requirements for new programs designed to meet emerging needs in the industry sector;
• Assist in the evaluation of program outcomes, and any other standards that may be applicable to the circumstances of each program;
• Support the curriculum development process by providing industry experts to serve as needs assessment/occupational analysis/program reviewers
2. Industry Placement Programs
Key Lessons • Importance of experiential learning during education• Ensuring meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with private
sector actors• Linking placements to learning outcomes • Ensuring TVETs have the resource needed to implement
Industry Placement Video
3. Business Plan Competitions and Coaching
Key Lessons• Importance of integration of
business/entrepreneurship skills into curriculum
• Need for continuous coaching and support during grant period and beyond
• Connect with other Market System actors and programs
• Understanding what motivates young people
• Benefits/draw-backs of working and starting a business consecutively
• Importance of financial management• Gender and group dynamics
Student SME Video
1. Engaging young women in business and placement programs 2. Keeping industry engaged in committees 3. Motivating private sector to host students and provide meaningful
placements4. Effective integration of classroom learning and industry placements 5. Motivating students to pursue entrepreneurship and effective business
implementation
Key Challenges for Discussion
https://www.sli.do/
Feedback Session
Project Resources
1. ATTSVE• Teacher Training and Learning Material (TTLM) Guides
• Business and Entrepreneurship • Gender
• Toolkit to Address Gender-Based Violence in Agricultural Colleges in Ethiopia
2. Colleges and Institutes Canada • Green Skills for Sustainable Economic Growth• Skills Development as a Means to Women's Empowerment• Student support services, particularly related to sexual harassment
and pay-for-grades in schools• http://www.supertecnica.co.mz/en/genero/
• TVET institutions have an important role to play in preparing and linking students with employment and self-employment opportunities
• Curriculum should: apply competency-based training, be based on market analysis, meaningfully integrate gender, environment, entrepreneurship
• Private sector and entrepreneurship can be integrated though: industry advisory committees, placement programs, business competitions
Q&A
