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Skills for decent work, life and sustainable development: Vocational education and the sustainable development goals

Author

Listed:
  • McGrath, Simon
  • Alla-Mensah, Joyceline
  • Langthaler, Margarita

Abstract

While Vocational Education and Training (VET) was almost absent from earlier international development frameworks, the Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) attach greater importance to it. VET is an integral part of the education SDG (SDG 4) and its transversal role for a global transformation is widely acknowledged. However, the conceptual and policy debate is lagging behind. This Briefing Paper analyses the VET and SDG debates from different angles. In the first part, the paper traces the history of VET in international development cooperation and summarises the discussion on current VET concepts, policies and practices in the SDG context with a focus on migration. In the second part, the Briefing Paper, in drawing on a number of theoretical approaches, examines how skills and VET are conceptualised in the broader context of poverty reduction, growth and decent work. Finally, the Paper reflects on the potential contribution of Germanophone VET models to a new human and sustainable development paradigm that arises out of the Agenda 2030 and the SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • McGrath, Simon & Alla-Mensah, Joyceline & Langthaler, Margarita, 2018. "Skills for decent work, life and sustainable development: Vocational education and the sustainable development goals," Briefing Papers 18, Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:oefseb:18
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. McGrath, Simon & Powell, Lesley, 2016. "Skills for sustainable development: Transforming vocational education and training beyond 2015," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 12-19.
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    Cited by:

    1. Esuka Mike-Valery Yume & Prof. Johannes Tabi Atemnkeng & Dr. Christopher Eho Olong, 2024. "Breaking the Chains of Poverty: Unraveling the Influence of Decent Work in Cameroon’s Journey towards Prosperity," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(11), pages 1457-1470, November.
    2. Alexandra-Nicoleta Ciucu (Durnoi) & Kosyo Stoychev & Camelia Delcea & Vanesa Madalina Vargas & Carmen Pauna, 2024. "Regional SDG Performance in Bulgaria and Romania: Poverty, Education, and Decent Work," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 26(Special 1), pages 1208-1208, November.
    3. Nicklich, Manuel & Blank, Marco & Pfeiffer, Sabine, 2025. "Realizing decent work in a "sandwich" position: Assessing VET trainers' working conditions in times of multiple transformations," International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training (IJRVET), European Research Network in Vocational Education and Training (VETNET), European Educational Research Association, vol. 12(1), pages 101-126.

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