Skills for Tomorrow: Building the Next Generation of Vocational Learning

The OECD's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) for Vocational Education and Training (VET) represents a transformative effort to assess and improve the quality, relevance, and impact of vocational education systems globally. By evaluating the preparedness of students in VET tracks for the challenges of the labor market, the PISA VET program helps participating countries identify gaps and opportunities for reform in their vocational education systems.

As countries increasingly recognize the need for skilled workers to drive economic growth and address the challenges of a rapidly evolving labor market, fostering collaboration among countries participating in the PISA VET program is crucial. By sharing best practices, aligning policy priorities, and leveraging collective expertise, countries can work together to strengthen their VET systems, enhance their labor market readiness, and improve the outcomes for students in vocational education. This is particularly true for the countries participating in the OECD PISA-VET initiative, but also for a wider network of countries keen to address critical challenges within the VET sector.

1. Enhance Cross-Country Learning

Facilitate the sharing of experiences, challenges, and solutions among countries participating in the PISA VET program and beyond to improve VET outcomes and policies.

2. Strengthen VET Systems

​​​​​​​Promote a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses within VET systems through comparative analysis focused on the integration of skills development and labor market demands.

3. Foster Policy Dialogue

​​​​​​​Create a platform for policymakers, educators, and industry stakeholders to engage in dialogue, discuss effective strategies, and develop coherent policies that foster stronger links between education and the labor market.

4. Promote Innovation and Best Practices

​​​​​​​Identify and share innovative approaches and best practices in vocational education, apprenticeship systems, and industry partnerships that lead to improved student outcomes.

5. Support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Align the program with the United Nations' SDGs, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), by advancing the skills of youth to support sustainable economic development.

6. Coalition and Network Building 

Develop longer-term collaboration between key actors in the global VET sector.

A diverse group of approximately 40 participants from countries participating in the PISA VET initiative (Australia, Belgium (Flanders), Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Mongolia, Netherlands, Portugal, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States), alongside other countries with a strong VET sector. The group included:

• Policymakers and education leaders responsible for VET programs
• Educators and administrators involved in the design and delivery of vocational education
• Industry representatives and employers who collaborate with VET systems
• Researchers and academic institutions focused on vocational education and workforce development
• International development agencies and non-governmental organizations

Geographic, cultural, and sectoral diversity were prioritized to ensure cross-pollination of ideas and approaches. 

In the months before the program, the group was invited to participate in a co-creation process to develop the agenda together to ensure that it reflects the key concerns of those coming to Salzburg.

Following the co-creation phase, participants met for 4.5 days at Schloss Leopoldskron, for a highly interactive program, designed to respond to their needs and move through stages of understanding and exploring key issues identified by the group beforehand, to thinking about solutions or ways of driving change around those key issues. The format included:

• Interactive workshops and peer-led sessions
• Case study roundtables
• Design labs for curriculum, policy, and partnerships

The second half of the time in Salzburg was spent in working groups focused on developing solutions for issues discussed in the first part of the program.  These working groups have the opportunity to continue collaborating online after leaving Salzburg for as long as it takes for their work to come to fruition. 

Participants:

Experienced...
•    A candid and open exchange with peers under the Chatham House Rule.
•    A retreat-like setting, with time and space to disconnect and reflect from a wider ecosystem and gain perspective.

Gained...
•    Connection to an active international community of outstanding leaders working on this topic.
•    Inspiration and learning from across the world and foresight into directions for future work.
•    Relationships for coalition building across organizational, professional, and geographical boundaries.
•    Access to a vast network of Salzburg Global Fellows working across sectors to shape a better world.

Gave and Received...
•    Promising practices and drawing on the group’s collective intelligence and experience to tackle challenges you face and leverage important opportunities.
•    Information about projects, approaches, resources, and case studies relevant to this topic.
•    Opportunities for peer mentoring on ways to incubate, replicate, adapt, and scale good practices.