Vocational and Professional Education and Training econference -

The Vocational and Professional Education and Training sector  (VPET) in Hong Kong, held an e-conference on the 15th of May. 

Video of the keynote and panel presentations, along with accompaning presentation slides are now availed via this link.

Of note - Olli-Pekka Heinonen's (Finnish National Agency for Education) presentation on 'Six seismic shifts in VPET'. These are:

- Shifting the education system to a Learning system

- Focus on mass education to personalised learning

- Individual professionalism towards shared and dynamic professionalism

- Instead of recruitment based HR to supporting learning organisations

- Shift from fixed mindset to growth mindset 

- Instead of providing a map, ensure the skills required to be able to use a compass

Good overview on how to meet the challenges posed by the future of work.

On a similar vein, Professor Chris Hubbard (Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University in the UK) on 'Making vocational education work in a changing world'. Stressed how work was changing faster than education change. Detailed the 4 steps to gear up education systems to cope with the rapid change in work:

- Put the individual learner at the centre

- Create multiple 'pathways' to prosperity

- Buld connections between government, employers and educational institutions

- Ensure accountability measures drive flexibilities

There were plenary/thematic sessions on:

- applied education and future skills in the digital era

- why workplace learning counts?

- Skills change lives

- AI, data analytics, cybersecurity: Are digital skills enough for workplace?

In these, a selection of presentations were made with some accompanied by presentation slides.

A reflection session closed the econference.

Good to see the layout of an e-conference. I particularly liked the reflection session at the end but may also be useful to have small reflective sessions after each keynote/thematic session. 

Matthew Crawford on satisfaction from trades work - ITF conference 2018

Last week, the annual Industry Training Federation (ITF) conference was held in Welllington. A range of invited speakers presented on a way ahead for NZ with regards to vocational education and workplace based training.

I was not able to get to the conference but the conference twitter feed provided photos and summaries of various presentations. The overall theme of the conference was 'Skills in a changing World'. Speakers concentrated on providing statistics on what the future might bring with regards to demographics in NZ, possible scenarios of work in the future, call for equity to ensure vocational education was availed to groups currently with high youth numbers (Maori and Pacifika) but poorly represented (women, range of ethnicities which have grown in numbers etc.)

One of the keynote speakers was Matthew Crawford, author of the book - Shop class as soul craft - see here for summary / overview on this blog. Matthew also summarised some of the concepts in the book on a Radio NZ interview. A short interview, giving more updated examples then in the book but reiterating the need to look beyond a degree for work preparation. Some 'white collar' work may not provide the job satisfaction or earning potential of trades work.

So although not able to be at the conference, the various social medii provided some opportunity to keep in touch with the overall tone of the conference. NZ has to address the need to ensure there is equity of access to all types of work for all its citizens. Otherwise, the replacement of the mainly pakeha (white) and male workforce in especially the vocational occupations, will be a continual challenge.