WorldSkills Champions invited to help launch the new OECD Youth Policy Toolkit

Three WorldSkills Champions Trust representatives joined members of the global skills community in Maia, Portugal to launch the OECD Youth Policy Toolkit. João Teixeira, Mihle Mvelakubi, and Dan McCabe helped unveil and discuss the new toolkit designed to help policymakers put young people at the heart of their skills strategies.

Featuring more than 70 case studies, the OECD Youth Policy Toolkit will help policymakers implement the OECD Youth Recommendation, which was adopted by its members in June 2022. It offers practical advice and best practice examples put forward by all 38 OECD member countries. Their intention is that governments and NGOs can use the toolkit to learn from successful strategies, and develop TVET policies that effectively address the challenges young people face in today’s workforce.

The launch was hosted by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth and included keynote speakers and panel discussions to explore these challenges and identify positive steps policymakers can take to raise the perception of skills education, stimulate entrepreneurship, and attract more young people to skills-based employment.

During the event, OECD advocated for whole-government approaches to skills development, access to quality jobs, social inclusion, mental health, and meaningful youth participation and representation so that young people can actively participate in economic, public, and social life.

The WorldSkills community was represented by members of the WorldSkills Champions Trust who joined panel discussions throughout the day. Dan, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Europe took part in the opening panel to unveil the toolkit.

He supported the open sharing of information, saying, “Often we forget that we are a global society, and governments work independently from each other. With the toolkit, OECD are finding what works well and sharing it in a common space that can be easily accessed by all countries, not just OECD members. It is a fantastic tool and will ensure youth benefit from the very best governing methods and policies.”

Dan reflected afterwards on how important it was to involve young people in the discussion. He said, “To have policymakers asking us what is important for young people was really great. I felt privileged to be part of the conversation and to represent young people who are often under-represented and sometimes not even at the table at all.”

Mihle, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Africa, took part in the panel on “Skills and Competencies” with João, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Europe. He sees huge value in the toolkit and how it could inform more inclusive youth-centred policies.

He said, “The toolkit has guidance on several aspects like Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Skills Development, Career Guidance, and Employment. These are the things that will empower us as young people to contribute positively to our economy, leading to a better and sustainable community.”

Mihle and João’s panel discussion explored the importance of aligning skills education to the specialist needs of rapidly changing industries. As an instructor and trainer, Mihle is particularly alert to this.

He reflects, “In our discussion, we talk about how essential skills are for young people to thrive in the labour market, particularly in sectors that require specialized knowledge or technical expertise. As an instructor I found this topic very valuable and important to discuss because I know this is a particular concern for young people in developing countries as they transition from school into workplace.”

The toolkit is available on the OECD website.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, strongly encourages WorldSkills Members and Global Partners to look at the toolkit and the case studies. He says, “Our ongoing partnership with OECD continues to deliver huge value. This toolkit is a rich source of insights, and I urge our community to pay attention to the guidance within it so we can drive progress for young people at a national and international level.”