World Youth Skills Day
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[edit] What is the significance of World Youth Skills Day and when was it started?
In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.
World Youth Skills Day events have provided a unique opportunity for dialogue between young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers’ and workers’ organisations, policy makers and development partners. Participants have highlighted the ever-increasing significance of skills as the world is embarking on a transition towards a sustainable model of development.
Education and training are central to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The vision of the Incheon Declaration: Education 2030 is fully captured by Sustainable Development Goal 4 “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Education 2030 devotes considerable attention to technical and vocational skills development, specifically regarding access to affordable quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training; the acquisition of technical and vocational skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship; the elimination of gender disparity and ensuring access for the vulnerable. In this context, TVET is expected to address the multiple demands of an economic, social and environmental nature by helping youths and adults develop the skills they need.
TVET can equip youths with the skills required to access the world of work, including skills for self-employment. TVET can also improve responsiveness to changing skill-demands by companies and communities, increase productivity and increase wage levels. TVET can reduce access barriers to the world of work, for example through work-based learning, and ensuring that skills gained are recognised and certified. TVET can also offer skills development opportunities for low-skilled people who are under- or unemployed and individuals not in education, employment and training (NEETs).
[edit] What is the Incheon Declaration ?
UNESCO together with UNICEF, the World Bank, UNFPA, UNDP, UN Women and UNHCR organised the World Education Forum 2015 in Incheon, from 19 – 22 May 2015, hosted by the Republic of Korea. Over 1,600 participants from 160 countries, including over 120 Ministers, heads and members of delegations, heads of agencies and officials of multilateral and bilateral organisations, and representatives of civil society, the teaching profession, youth and the private sector, adopted the Incheon Declaration for Education 2030, which sets out a new vision for education for the next fifteen years.
For more information visit Education 2030; Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 4
[edit] World Youth Skills Day Theme for 2023
The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2023 is 'Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future'. It highlights the essential role that teachers, trainers and other educators play in providing skills for youth to transition to the labour market and to actively engage in their communities and societies.
Technological advancements and shifting labour market dynamics increasingly call for agile and adaptable skill sets. It is crucial that we empower young people to navigate these changes effectively. TVET is well placed to meet these demands by reducing access barriers to the world of work, ensuring that skills gained are relevant, recognised and certified, promoting green skills and practices, and offering skills development opportunities for youths who are not in education, employment and training.
For further information about the UN event visit https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-youth-skills-day
[edit] World Youth Skills Day previous themes
- World Youth Skills Day 2023 - Skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future.
- World Youth Skills Day 2022 - Transforming youth skills for the future.
- World Youth Skills Day 2021 - Re-imagining Youth Skills Post Pandemic.
- World Youth Skills Day 2020 - Skills for a Resilient Youth.
- World Youth Skills Day 2019 - Youth Skills for Sustainability and Innovation.
- World Youth Skills Day 2018 - Innovation and Sustainability
- World Youth Skills Day 2017 - Skills for the Future of Work.
- World Youth Skills Day 2016 - Skills Development to Improve Youth Employment.
- World Youth Skills Day 2015 - Youth skills for work and life in the post-2015 agenda.
- World Youth Skills Day 2014 - Year of Campaign launch by UN.
On World Youth Skills Day, let us unite in recognising the potential of young people as catalysts for change and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities they need to build a prosperous and sustainable world for all. Together, we can shape a brighter future where no young person is left behind.
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