Improved Mechanisms for Skills Recognition and TVET Digitisation in ASEAN

Megatrends – technological advancements, globalisation, climate change, migration, and demographic change - are transforming the world of work. Informality continues to affect the majority of workers in developing countries and limits their opportunities to access learning and decent work opportunities. The challenges of skills recognition and utilisation across borders in particular for migrants and returning migrants is particularly key. These global challenges have only intensified further with the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the world of work. Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar have been heavily impacted. The COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for migrant workers as they return to their home countries due to loss of job. The AMS adopted the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development (HRD) for the Changing World of Work at the 36th ASEAN Summit in June 2020. Subsequently, the ASEAN HRD Roadmap was developed and launched at the High Level ASEAN HRD Conference in September 2020 to assist the implementation of the Declaration. With the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, ILO has facilitated a series of regional and national consultations and capacity building activities to support the implementation of MRS since 2014. Through these meetings, the role of MRS in officially recognizing technical/vocational skills (AQRF level 1-4) has been significantly promoted and emphasized. By now, the MRS initiative has been recognized in ASEAN as one of the three key regional initiatives in promoting skills recognition in the region, along with AQRF and MRA. The challenges surrounding the socio-economic landscape of the ASEAN region calls for a strategic approach to reskill and upskill people to boost their employability and ensure accelerated economic development in the region. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically revealed the vulnerability of skills and lifelong learning systems including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers that faced closures in the region. In a short span of time, TVET systems were challenged to move to distance and blended learning offers, which in many cases were are not well designed or implemented. The project will partner with relevant Korean institutions such as HRD KOREA, KOREATECH, National Institute for Lifelong Learning (NILE). And partnerships with the ASEAN Secretariat, AQRF Committee, IMT-GT and professional certification authority (such as BNSP), ASEAN TVET Council will be strengthened. The main objective of the project is to improve and enhance mechanism for skills recognition (at national and regional levels), TVET digitisation and enhanced knowledge sharing and partnership building in ASEAN. The project outcomes are: Outcome 1. Enhanced MRS in ASEAN piloted and agreed for future scaling up Outcome 2. Improved and enhanced digital Learning and skills recognition infrastructure in CLM countries to ensure employability for people affected by the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including women, youth, migrant workers and disadvantaged workers Outcome 3. Strengthened mechanisms and forward looking frameworks to enhance partnerships, regional dialogue and knowledge sharing on skills digitization and other future of work related aspects in place for the ASEAN

Project symbol

RAS/21/50/KOR

Admin unit

RO-Asia and the Pacific

Start date

01/06/2021

End date

31/07/2024

Total allocation

921149

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

878010

Development Partners

Republic of Korea, Ministry of Labour

Country/Countries

Asia and the Pacific - regional

Outcomes

Output 9.1. Improved coherence in multilateral support for the development and financing of integrated policy responses for social justice through decent work