Digital toolkit for the International Labour Organization

The Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET) has won a mandate from the International Labour Organization (ILO). This involves creating a digital toolkit the main aim of which is to establish instructions and proven procedures for the successful integration of the development of transversal skills into the national education and training system.

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The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a special organisation of the United Nations that focuses on the world of employment. It draws up international labour and social standards, promotes labour rights and decent jobs, improves social protection and fosters dialogue in the world of employment. The ILO has a unique structure where representatives of governments, employers and trade unions cooperate. It has 187 member states and is the oldest organisation within the UN family.

According to the ILO, the world of employment is undergoing unprecedented change and many countries are faced with the challenge of a growing discrepancy between supply and demand in terms of qualifications. The ILO believes that certain transversal skills will become increasingly important in future for employees to succeed on the labour market.

The main aim of the ILO’s instruments for transversal skills is to improve the quality and relevance of training and recognition of skills and qualifications in the field of vocational education and training.

The mandate awarded to the Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET) involves the development of a digital toolkit that enables the implementation of core skills for the 21st century as defined by the ILO. SFIVET – or more specifically the International Relations Division in collaboration with the Research and Development Division – will set out guiding principles on the implementation of these transversal skills and define detailed guidelines on their integration into curricula and training courses etc. It will also establish good practices on how transversal skills may be taken into account in various relevant VET contexts, e.g. in the design of syllabuses and qualification procedures as well as in the classroom or workplace.

The timeframe for this mandate is January to May 2021. This digital toolkit’s user group includes political decision-makers and relevant stakeholders.