UNESCO Instruments which Encourage the Use of New Information and Communication Technologies in Learning and Training

Revised Recommendation Concerning Technical and Vocational Education (2001)

II. Technical and vocational education in relation to the educational process: objectives

8. In terms of the needs and aspirations of individuals, technical and vocational education should:
   4. enable an individual to cope with the rapid advances in information and communication technology.

III. Policy, planning and administration

16. National policy should foster research related to technical and vocational education, with particular emphasis on its potential within lifelong learning, and directed to its improvement and relevance to the prevailing socio-economic context. This research should be carried out at national and institutional levels, as well as through individual initiative. To this end:
    3. the positive results of research and experimentation should be widely disseminated using all available media, especially information and communication technology;

V. Technical and vocational education as preparation for an occupational field

Programme content

36. All programmes of technical and vocational education as preparation for an occupational field should:
    3. include an appropriate balance between general subjects, science and technology, as well as subjects such as computer literacy, information and communication technology, the environment and studies of both the theoretical and practical aspects of the occupational field;

38. While based on the above general principles and components, and thus pursuing in all cases broader educational aims, programmes in their practical aspect should be designed taking into account special occupational requirements, especially in "new" professions and those undergoing change, and particularly the use of the new information and communication technology as a tool for enhancing the effectiveness of all vocations, including those considered traditional.

42. Programmes preparing for occupations in small industry, individual farming or the artisan trades, particularly for self-employment, should include entrepreneurship and elementary information and communication technology studies to enable those engaged in such occupations to take responsibility for production, marketing, competent management and the rational organization of the enterprise.

VI. Technical and vocational education as continuing education

51. Programmes of continuing technical and vocational education should:
    3. be programmed to accommodate the potential that information and communication technology has to offer.

IX. Staff

Teaching staff

81. Preparation for technical and vocational teaching should preferably be offered as a tertiary programme, requiring completion of secondary education or its equivalent for entrance. All programmes should be designed with the following objectives in mind:
    2. to develop in future teachers the ability to teach both the theoretical and the practical aspects of their field, with special emphasis on the need to use, whenever possible, the information and communication technologies;

84. The professional preparation of all technical and vocational teachers should include the following elements in pre-service training and in-service upgrading programmes:
    4. training in the choice and use of contemporary teaching techniques and aids, including information/communication technologies;

Administrative and guidance staff

90. The heads of technical and vocational education establishments should devote a significant portion of their time to the educational and scientific aspects of their work. Sufficient staff should be available to provide the following services:
    4. academic support services such as libraries, information and communication technology centres and information resource centres.

X. International cooperation

95. There is significant scope for countries to share their experience in technical and vocational education. There is a need for mutual cooperative assistance between all countries, regardless of their state of development. Provision should be made at the national, regional and international levels for the regular exchange, making use of contemporary information and communication technologies, of information, documentation, and materials obtained from research and development, in particular:

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