Unleashing the power of educational technology in TVET systems

This report explores the opportunities presented by [educational technology] EdTech for [technical and vocational education and training] TVET systems around the world, with particular emphasis on developing countries. It seeks to further an understanding of the role of EdTech in transforming the TVET system. It focuses on emerging EdTech trends and the opportunities for both the private sector and government to capitalize on using EdTech to support education and employment outcomes. The report goes beyond the formal definition and role of TVET and considers the broader technical skills landscape, i.e. any educational offering that supports technical skills and employability. The report discusses how digitization is transforming the role of EdTech in TVET and skills development. However, a discussion of specific digital technologies is outside the scope of this report. Further description of specific technologies and how they change skills needs can be found in ILO (2020), 'The digitization of TVET and skills systems' [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 141.510]. Additionally, as the report focuses on the opportunities for EdTech to support systemic TVET outcomes, it covers opportunities to support more accessible and affordable TVET outcomes; however, it does not seek to provide detailed analysis of how EdTech can support specific challenges affecting inclusive access. It does, however, include a dedicated review of procurement models and policy levers for governments to consider when seeking to catalyze greater use of EdTech in TVET.

The report is structured as follows: Chapter 1, 'A framework for analyzing the opportunities and risks of EdTech in vocational education', proposes a new framework to guide the analysis of EdTech opportunities and risks presented in the rest of the report; Chapter 2, 'Vocational EdTech trends in emerging markets', describes the key trends shaping the TVET industry and the opportunities for EdTech to be harnessed within TVET; Chapter 3, 'Emerging business models and funding sources for EdTech in vocational education', identifies the characteristics of EdTech business models and where innovative EdTech models are pushing the frontiers and capitalizing on new opportunities; Chapter 4, 'Evidence on the effectiveness of vocational EdTech deployment on skills development and access', summarizes existing evidence on the effectiveness of EdTech deployment and highlights the importance of combining EdTech deployment with systems to monitor outcomes; Chapter 5, 'Procurement models for governments', explores how public procurement relates to EdTech in TVET, together with existing models and frameworks in EdTech. It then uses this information to develop a hybrid procurement framework for TVET EdTech and outlines imperatives for operationalizing the framework; Chapter 6, 'Policy levers to support EdTech in vocational education', illustrates, using practical examples, how different policy levers can be applied to promote the effective use of EdTech in TVET.

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