UNESCO's Global Skills Academy

The UNESCO's Global Skills Academy is a pioneering initiative led by UNESCO in partnership with the UNEVOC Network. Its primary objectives are to promote and strengthen skills training programs that align with contemporary technological advancements, ultimately creating opportunities for employability and entrepreneurship. By bringing together over 230 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions from 150 countries, the Academy is creating a robust platform for global skills development.

UNESCO's Global Skills Academy is more than an educational initiative; it's a collaborative endeavor that fosters connections among individual learners, institutions, and governments. Through the joint efforts of UNESCO's Global Education Coalition partners, the Academy offers diverse training opportunities to empower youth and adults with the skills and competencies necessary to thrive in today's dynamic job market.

The mission of UNESCO's Global Skills Academy is of utmost importance, given the urgent need to address the skills gap. Statistics show that more than one in five people aged 15 to 34 are not engaged in education, employment, or training, posing a significant threat to individual and collective futures. In a world of constant change, the Academy's focus on fostering essential 21st-century skills, including digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and green technologies, is crucial. Its programs are tailored to the evolving labor market, offering opportunities for skilling, upskilling, and reskilling.

The UNESCO's Global Skills Academy's endeavors align closely with the 2022-2029 UNESCO Strategy for TVET, which aims to transform vocational education to support successful and equitable transitions in the workforce. By 2029, the Global Skills Academy hopes to equip millions of learners with the tools to secure decent jobs, contributing to more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economies worldwide.

According to Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University Islamabad, as we look to the future, the success of the UNESCO's Global Skills Academy will be measured not only by the number of participants but also by the tangible impact it has on individuals and societies. In a world where the only constant is technological change, equipping people with the right skills aligned with technological advancements is not just an educational imperative; it's a global necessity.