This paper represents the latest in a line of papers and think pieces that the author has prepared on this topic -- for the UK government, the UK Skills and Productivity Board, and the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council -- since 2014. It seeks to explain why trying to bring skills supply into closer alignment with demand for skills…

This paper investigates the role of micro-credentials (MCs) in addressing educational challenges in the English-speaking Caribbean, with a focus on their potential to align with regional education policies and strategic development goals (SDGs), particularly SDG4: Education for All. Drawing on policy documents, strategic plans, and other resources…

Purpose: Employability is an established research theme in Western literature; however, in developing economies, the concept remains unclear and underresearched. This study addresses this lacuna by exploring how Sri Lankan higher education (HE) administrators conceptualise employability and which capitals they perceive as needing development to…

Vietnam's economy and education system have had remarkable success in recent decades, yet there are concerns about the declining returns to higher education since 2008. We document this decline in returns to higher education and propose four hypotheses to explain it. Analysis of the VLSS/VHLSS and LFS data provides little evidence for three of…

Developing human resources and matching job profiles are essential tasks to promote economic and social growth. The technology-related job market has undergone significant changes over recent years, mainly due to technological advances that have pushed industry toward new demands for skilled professionals. This change in required skills and…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the process of large-scale organizational change in a community-based enterprise in Myanmar. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study methodology was selected to understand the phenomenon of change in a community-based enterprise in Myanmar. Data were collected over a four-week…

The nature of global labor markets places new demands on the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector in developing countries. Capacity building programs have become a strategy for governments to increase the standard of TVET. The aim of this article is to analyze conditions for the formation of an intended and enacted…

An examination into the origins of rights' discourse and contemporary debates around child labour in developing countries, illustrates some of the problems with the discursive uses that children's rights is put to, and its weakness as a means of addressing issues of social justice. Addressing the discourse around child labour, and how this is…

The objective of this study was to explore and empirically investigate the relationship between the labour force across educational levels and foreign direct investment (FDI), and to facilitate comparisons of education statistics and indicators across countries based on uniform and internationally agreed definitions. The analysis focuses on OECD…

Despite the increasing research attention on international graduates' employability and vocational development, most studies have focused on their employability in developed countries; little is known about their employability in developing countries such as China. In this qualitative study, 15 international graduates from two Chinese universities…

The objectives of this study are to examine whether the current accounting curricula of Jordanian universities fit the Jordanian market demand, in addition to determining the skills and competences that Jordanian businesses require from accounting graduates. To achieve these objectives, an analysis of current accounting curricula of Jordanian…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to improve the understanding of the drivers and determinants of skills demand in South Africa, given the country's history and its current design as a developmental state. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, a mixed methods approach is used. The study draws information from in-depth interviews with…

The dual learning system gained prominence as part of the education system in Kazakhstan, involving training students in close collaboration with businesses to equip them with the skills and expertise needed for a modern workforce. This study contributes to existing literature examining the adoption and implementation of German-originated training…

Micro-credentials are certifications that evaluate knowledge and skills acquired through specific learning experiences. This research explores the perceptions of education and industry leaders in Mauritius regarding recognition, ease of application, and value of micro-credentials in higher education. Interviews were conducted with 10 education and…

The virtual conference on the Artificial Intelligence in education and training was held from 11 to 15 November 2019. It was open to all members of the UNESCO-UNEVOC TVeT Forum, an online community with more than 6500 members. The conference sought to gather knowledge, insights, experiences and practices from the international TVET community on…