UNESCO-UNEVOC Learning Forum in Bonn

This event, which included both in-person and online participation, was dedicated to exploring the path from competencies to excellence in vocational education.

Throughout the conference, experts delved into a range of pertinent topics, such as the European Vocational Education Excellence Initiative, the African Union's "Year of Education", strategies for quality assurance in the Philippines, and priorities for vocational education in the ASEAN region. In addition to these discussions, participants had the opportunity to witness firsthand how organisations like the German Post DHL Group, Kameha Grand Hotel and Asphalt- und Strassenbaufirma Widdig in Bornheim are incorporating sustainability and digitalisation into their vocational training practices.

The leaders of the BILT Group of Experts which include experts from the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training SFUVET, as well as from the École d'Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule (Cambodia) and the Boma International Hospitality College (Kenya), presented an overview of trends in the tourism and hospitality industry in the context of digitalisation and sustainability. They provide insights into the responses of vocational education policy and practice to the transformation in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. They also formulated recommendations for further actions to better align vocational education and training with the new requirements.

Furthermore, the BILT Learning Forum 2023 saw a remarkable development in international collaboration. During the event, SFUVET signed a cooperation agreement with Temasek Polytechnics in Singapore. This exciting partnership's first joint initiative will be the organisation of a one-week sustainability leadership program in Switzerland in May 2024, open to VET stakeholders in Singapore.