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Digitalisation and Learning
Online skills development, distance learning and teaching under COVID-19 restrictions
 The Covid pandemic and the resulting restrictions have fundamentally changed learning and teaching all over the world. The context for learning has become more complex and dynamic. Educational managers and teachers are challenged to find new ways to foster inclusive quality learning and to leave no one behind. They need to innovate teaching practices and the use of digital technologies to overcome new restrictions of conventional forms of face-to-face learning and teaching.
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Various actors in vocational skills development (VSD) have started to launch distance learning offers to support apprentices & VET students under COVID-19 restrictions. Some could build on existing experience and solutions from the last years. Others have to start from scratch. SDC IED network supports project leaders and programme offices in the challenging task of designing, implementing and controlling distance learning offers during and after the corona crisis.
Working Aids
SDC
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SDC and its partners have supported several hundred thousand learners who were excluded from educational opportunities due to Covid-19 restrictions. In over 20 projects on four continents, pioneering teams have implemented innovative digital solutions in supporting vulnerable learners in basic education, vocational training, and lifelong learning. This Technical guide provides practitioners in the field and decision makers with practical advice on how to develop effective and sustainable ICT-based educational solutions for inclusive learning. You can learn how to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to support participative learning.
Case Studies
SDC
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Education faces new challenges – reaching vulnerable learners in new ways of digital learning Since Spring 2020 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has reached, together with its partners, several hundred thousand learners who were excluded from educational opportunities, due to Covid-19 restrictions. Some 20 pioneering teams have implemented innovative solutions on four continents, using digital technologies.
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The project Vocational Training for Young People at Risk of Exclusion (ProJoven) in Honduras aims to improve the efficiency of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system and to ensure the integration of vulnerable youth. Due to Covid-19 schools and TVET institutions in Honduras are closed since mid-March 2020. The project decided to digitize all curricula and teaching and learning material and introduce a platform to offer virtual training. Additionally, the young learners can use the physical equipment in the workshops on the day they are allowed to move freely. ProJoven also agreed to equip their fabrication laboratory, where students started producing personal protection equipment to prevent the spread of Covid-19 through the use of 3D printers. Have a look at the pdf to access the full story.
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The Skills for Jobs project in Albania is designed to address key challenges in Vocational Education and Training (VET). At the core of the Skills for Jobs approach are work-based learning, the application of industry standards in VET trainings and a business mindset in the management of VET institutions. Under Covid-19 the MESOVET online platform has become the core answer to assure distance learning and therefore the learning progression of Albanian students and trainees. To find out more about the project’s response to Covid-19 have a look at the project description in the pdf.
HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation
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This case study was done less than two years after the project started supporting key market actors in the IT sector. It was therefore unlikely to already demonstrate the full eventual impact of the IT firms on jobs for young women and men. Two leading actors of the IT sector in BiH – HUB 387 and Bit Alliance – were used as entry to stimulate broader changes in the sector. The MarketMakers project were able to bring about greater awareness of IT as a career choice and an increasing number of students choosing IT education; improved public-private dialogue for changing perceptions of the IT sector in Government and the growth of trust between the Government and the private sector; and trust and interaction among IT private firms where entrepreneurship and innovation are valued, encouraging small companies and start-ups to grow more aggressively.
Relevant News
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01 Dec 2021
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20 Sep 2021
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24 Apr 2020
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06 Apr 2020
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04 Dec 2019
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22 Jan 2019
 01 December 2021
In the last 18 months, SDC and its partners have supported several hundred thousand learners who were excluded from educational opportunities due to Covid-19 restrictions. In over 20 projects on four continents, pioneering teams have implemented innovative digital solutions in supporting vulnerable learners in basic education, vocational training, and lifelong learning. For more information go to the event. Copy ics file of the event to your calendar.
20 September 2021
Given the economic situation in many countries in Latin America, it is more important than ever to provide a perspective for young people and create employment opportunities. Through the Professional Technical Training project in Bolivia, Swisscontact has been supporting the development of different digital applications. Swisscontact has done this for example with two apps that aim to help young people and job seekers integrate into the labour market. >> Read the whole article
24 April 2020
Vocational education and training is profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially the support of practice-related skills development is a huge challenge in times of restricted access to the workplace and/or schools, but also the change from learning and teaching in the classroom to learning at home. The presentation of the SDC-project “Skills for Jobs”, implemented by SWISSCONTACT shows how a VET project is coping successfully with the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. Contact: Fation Dragoshi (project manager) and Sidita Dibra (deputy project manager)
06 April 2020
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has produced some interesting resources that are relevant to this discussion. COL has developed three online courses to build TVET educators' capability in flexible learning. The courses are designed to be facilitated in cohorts, but anyone can view them and learn from them:
04 December 2019
The last webinars of our series "ICT for Vocational Education and Training (ICT4VET)" took place last week. The discussions during the webinars clearly demonstrated that technology enhanced learning is a topic that is of interest for many of our community members. We collected everything related to the webinars on our dedicated event page. Let us know if and how the webinars have helped you. >> event page
22 January 2019
This handbook supports the transfer and adaptation of career development tools used in guidance, early school leaving prevention, employment services, youth centres and other organisations. It provides insights for policy-makers and managers of careers into how to use the potential of ICT to help people find training and jobs, increase their employability, and develop their competences. Using detailed analysis of the most established and effective practices in the EU, it also offers a decision-making tool, to help readers select the best options for their local context and target group(s).
Relevant Events
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03 Oct 2023
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02 Dec 2021
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09 Dec 2020
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09 Apr 2020
online
03 Oct 2023
03 October 2023
03 October 2023
03 October
Two and a half years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis, societies all-over the world are still suffering from the impact of the pandemic. The TVET and the Education systems in general have not been spared and the lack of system-level digital strategies, poor technological infrastructure, and weak teachers’ e-readiness, has exposed important inequalities in the global skills development picture. Emerging technologies such as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (all together known as XR - Extended Reality) can support TVET and Education systems in easing the impact of future disruptions, ensuring not only continuity of training delivery but also an impact in terms of scalability, personalization, safety, and cost-effectiveness, to drive the sustainable improvement of Skills Development opportunities, far beyond the pandemic response. During this talk, we will converse about the ongoing advancement of collaboratively developed action-oriented solutions in the field of Extended Reality applications for skills development to respond to the challenges brought forth by the stakeholders involved in the digital innovation process of some of the ASEAN countries we had the opportunity to work with, at the ITCILO. The FoBBIZ Talk will be held in English. For more information about the event and registration (until 02.10.) click here.
02 Dec 2021
02 December 2021
02 December 2021
02 December
Webinar “Innovative approaches to Digitalisation and Learning”
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Dear colleagues In the last 18 months, SDC and its partners have supported several hundred thousand learners who were excluded from educational opportunities due to Covid-19 restrictions. In over 20 projects on four continents, pioneering teams have implemented innovative digital solutions in supporting vulnerable learners in basic education, vocational training, and lifelong learning. We are looking forward to present you selected achievements and findings of these projects and introduce you to the products of rich discussions among practitioners: a Technical Guide on how to develop effective and sustainable educational solutions based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and a Case Collection of the findings of 16 project to inspire the effective use of ICT-supported learning solutions. Below you will find the agenda of the online event, which will be held in English. We are exploring the possibility of simultaneous translation into French. Download your event to your calendar The LINK to access the Webinar Simultaneous translation into French will be provided. We are looking forward to your participation in the discussion on SDC’s engagement in digitalisation and learning, finding answers on how to ensure quality education and training for all using innovative learning solutions. SDC Education Network and Inclusive Economic Development IED Network Digitalisation & Learning Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SD
09 Dec 2020
09 December to
09 December to
09 December
After a short break, we have continued the discussions in our CoP on how to reach vulnerable learners and how to support matchmaking between colleges, enterprises and apprentices. We are planning to have meetings according to the needs of the members and communicate the topics and dates of upcoming sessions via dgroups. The findings are always online about one week after the meeting. Hemos lanzado una CdP en español con un enfoque en proyectos en América Latina y el Caribe (LAC). 16 participantes han compartido su experiencia y recogido preguntas. Nuestra próxima sesión tendrá lugar el 9 de diciembre de 11.00-12.30 a.m. (UTC-4), abordando varias preguntas en el área del aprendizaje interactivo y las fases prácticas apoyado por las TIC. Join us! You are welcome to join our lively discussions! In our online sessions 5-15 participants share their experiences and discuss upcoming questions. - To register as a member of our English-speaking CoP with some 55 members, please send your name, surname and affiliation to Fabienne Tödtli (fabienne.toedtli@eda.admin.ch). As member of this CoP you will receive invitations and have access to our internal workspace.
- Para inscribirse en la CdP de habla hispana, por favor contacte con Urs Gröhbiel (urs.groehbiel@snbi.ch – entiendo un poquito español, las sesiones se traducen del inglés al español).
09 Apr 2020 in online
09 April 2020
09 April 2020
in online
09 April in online
In the face of the corona virus disease (COVID-19), governments are taking unprecedented measures including school closures that have so far affected over 1.4 billion learners worldwide. The SDC Education Network is planning a webinar on 9 April 2020 on Education in health emergencies in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar will provide guidance on education programming in such exceptional times and provide an opportunity for SDC Network members to discuss their concerns, share experiences and ask questions. The webinar takes place on April 9th - 9h-10h (Swiss Time) in English
- 14h-15h (Swiss Time) in French
Please note, that the webinar is for SDC staff only. Other people interested in participating, please write to education@eda.admin.ch.
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