UNESCO-UNEVOC International centre for technical and vocational education and training

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training assists UNESCO's 192 member states strengthen and upgrade their TVET systems.

The acquisition of skills for work, and for citizenship, is crucial for economic and social development. It is important for individuals, for communities and, at the aggregate level, for nations.

Ideally, TVET is relevant to the needs of the labour market, of high quality, and broadly accessible. This ideal is a far cry from reality for many UNESCO member states and hence UNESCO-UNEVOC gives priority in its work to those with the greatest need: developing nations, economies in transition and those in a post-conflict situation.

UNESCO-UNEVOC particularly focuses on contributing to the overarching UNESCO goals in TVET. These are to assist member states improve and integrate TVET as part of the global Education for All Campaign, and also to assist the alignment of TVET with the tenets of sustainable development.

UNESCO-UNEVOC is also the hub of a world-wide network of over 250 key organisations and institutions specialising in TVET in 157 countries worldwide. This UNEVOC Network includes government ministries, research facilities, planning and training institutions. The UNEVOC Network serves as a platform for information sharing and bringing people together in meetings and workshops as a means to improve TVET in different regions of the world.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training was established in 2000 and was inaugurated in Bonn in 2002.