Employer engagement in TVET: for the many or the few?
I recently chaired a panel discussion as part of a British Council seminar on how the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector can work with micro and small businesses and the informal economy. In my capacity as lead for the Skills for Prosperity (S4P) Hub, I reflected on this topic in the context of relevant interventions being used in S4P.
The UK aid-funded S4P programme works across Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to improve skill levels, employment rates and productivity of beneficiaries, particularly those from marginalised groups. To this end, we focus on improving fragmented education systems and creating more robust education to employment pipelines in sectors which are key to these countries’ growth.
Engaging employers in the design and delivery of TVET interventions is at the heart of S4P and critical to achieving the overall programme ambitions. S4P uses various employer engagement approaches, tailored to the specific objectives and operating context of each country.
Approaches range from developing a job placement scheme in Mexico and occupational standards and curricula in Kenya to working with the private sector to enhance national apprenticeships in Nigeria. We have also been delivering employer training sessions to support the transition of young trainees into the workplace in South Africa and building the capacity of Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) in Malaysia.
Could these approaches also be used to engage with micro and small businesses and the informal economy?
The simple answer is yes and while it isn’t a specific aim of the programme, S4P engages with these stakeholders at the local level. This is because the programme has a focus on working with disadvantaged and marginalised groups, often in geographies with widespread poverty. However, it isn’t an easy undertaking.
Some micro and small businesses offer apprenticeships, but they often face barriers, such as the financial and time commitment and limited resources to provide training. In the UK, small companies have tackled this challenge by grouping together to take on an apprentice. This approach also benefits the apprentice, as they gain wider experience from working in different settings.
SSBs should have a good understanding of their respective industry sectors, but they often find it easier to work with the formal economy and larger companies. Some sectors, such as the creative and cultural industries, are predominantly made up of small companies and freelancers. This means that the relevant SSBs have to find ways to reach out to these stakeholders. The various engagement strategies that they use include online consultations and working through smaller, relevant representative groups. They also build partnerships with larger companies who work with micro and small businesses in their supply chains.
Working with the informal economy is even more challenging, but if successful it can potentially support the movement of jobs into the formal economy and contribute to improved pay and working conditions. In S4P, we are working with small, community-based organisations and vocational training centres in rural and disadvantaged areas. This is probably one of the most effective routes to reach the informal economy.
What approaches have worked for you to engage micro and small businesses and the informal economy with the TVET sector? Let us know in the comments below.
