The event featured participation from project partners involved in the KoEF-funded initiative, “Employability and Lifelong Learning in Technical and Vocational Professions: A Joint Partnership Research Project in Austria and Ethiopia”. These Ethiopian partners, with travel costs covered by KoEF funding, also contributed to the discussions by delivering presentations in thematic working groups. Among the Ethiopian contributors was Mr. Yekunmoamlak Alemu, an OeAD alumnus who received his PhD from the University of Klagenfurt in 2006.
The conference included two keynote speeches during the plenary session, followed by engaging discussions and presentations in thematic working groups. These sessions provided invaluable opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and exploring future collaborations across regions and sectors. For more details, refer to the programme brochure.
Summary of the Presentation by the Ethiopian Team
Topic: Capacity Development of Trainers on Greening TVET in Ethiopian Polytechnic Colleges
Presenters: Befekadu Zeleke, Demoze Degefa, and Yekunmoamlak Alemu
Key Highlights:
The presentation began by outlining Ethiopia’s geographical location, population, and economic foundation. The historical development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Ethiopia was also explored, emphasizing the need for significant improvements in quality, relevance, and alignment with green objectives. In 2018, Ethiopia had 1,672 TVET institutions (670 public, 952 private, and 50 NGO-operated), showcasing both the scale and challenges of the system.
A major focus was on the Capacity Building on Green TVET Project, which aims to enhance TVET’s role in addressing climate change and environmental degradation through education and training. The presentation outlined the project’s specific objectives and discussed its key outputs and activities, which include equipping trainers with tools and knowledge for greening TVET.
Opportunities for integrating green elements into education, such as green economy, technology, and skills, were discussed. However, challenges such as limited institutional capacity, a lack of skilled human resources, and insufficient policy support for implementing a resilient Green Economy were also highlighted.
To address these issues, the Ethiopian team proposed several actionable steps:
1. Establishing awareness programs on the benefits of green TVET.
2. Incorporating green TVET into trainer development programs.
3. Reviewing and revising TVET curricula to include green courses and programs.
4. Developing comprehensive green skill standards and certification systems.
5. Promoting green values, ethical standards, and behaviors in technical education.
6. Encouraging policymakers to support basic and green skills to prepare workers for emerging workplace challenges.
7. Ensuring coherent policies and coordinated implementation of education and training for sustainable development
Concluding Remarks
The conference successfully facilitated dialogue between experts from the Global South and North, fostering valuable exchanges on greening skills. It also enabled the Ethiopian team to network with various organizations, paving the way for future partnerships. Special thanks are extended to OeAD for financial support and to our collaborators Margarita Langthaler (ÖFSE), Monika Kastner (University of Klagenfurt), and Peter Schlögl (University of Klagenfurt) for their excellent facilitation. A highlight of the event was the presentation of organic Ethiopian coffee, adding a unique touch of hospitality to the proceedings.
Additional information about the conference can be found in the ÖFSE conference report.
