approaches of sustainable vocational education and training · 2016-04-25 · this definition...

Approaches of

Sustainable Vocational Education and Training

Zukunft schaffen mit Qualität – Nachhaltigkeit in der

Dr. Klaus-Dieter Mertineit [email protected]

Zukunft schaffen mit Qualität – Nachhaltigkeit in der

beruflichen Bildung

Sustainable Quality in Vocational Education and Training

Wuppertal, 3 April 2014

Dr. Klaus-Dieter Mertineit

Institut für nachhaltige Berufsbildung & Management-Services GmbH

Overview

� Global challenges

� Overall concept of sustainable development

� Green(ing) the economy

� Different approaches in VET


� Different approaches in VET

� Greening VET in practice

� Reminder: Global challenges

� Lessons learnt

Global challenges

� Growth of population

� Poverty

� Hunger/diseases

� Lack of education


� Lack of education

� Acess to clean water and adequate sanitation

� Loss of agricultural areas / desertification

� Pollution of the sea and overfishing

� Rapid loss of biodiversity

� Global warming

Overall concept of sustainable development

“Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own

needs.”

World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, Our common future, chapter 2: Towards sustainable development


Greening the economy

Green Economy

� Contribution to a sustainable development

� Key message: environmental sustainability and economic progress are no opposites

� Concept: different understanding


� Concept: different understanding

12.03.2015

In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low-carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. Practically speaking, a green economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity

and ecosystem services” (UNEP 2011, 16).

Dr. Klaus-Dieter Mertineit HCD for Vocational Education and Training, Mannheim


Green Jobs

“Green jobs are defined as jobs that reduce the environmental impact of enterprises and economic sectors, ultimately to levels that are sustainable.

This definition covers work (…) that contributes to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment while also meeting the criteria for decent



the quality of the environment while also meeting the criteria for decent work – adequate wages, safe conditions, workers’ rights, social dialogue and social protection. It also covers activities related to both mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.“ (ILO/CEDEFOP 2011, 4)


Distinction between green and greening

Green: Economic sector (or job) which contributes relevantly to nature conservation, climate and environmental protection etc.: renewable energy, sustainable forestry, organic agriculture, green civil construction, water supply, waste water treatment, waste management etc.) � In general green is the result of a transformation process.


Dr. Klaus-Dieter Mertineit

result of a transformation process.

Greening: Process of the ecological transformation of the economy or economic sectors or companies (or jobs): reduction of water, air and soil pollution, avoidance of waste, protection of eco systems and bio diversity, minimizing consumption of energy and resources.

� The distinction between green and conventional economy seems to be artificial as well as between green and conventional jobs

� Greening of economy and jobs seems to be a more appropriate strategy than creating green economic sectors with specific green jobs.

Different approaches in VET

Environmental VET: Environmental expertise

Environmental expertise is an integral part of vocational coping skills. It refers to the ability to recognise, assess and minimise direct and indirect negative impact on the environment.

In detail, environmental expertise entails the following areas:


� (Environmental) knowledge relating to specific occupations or across occupations;

� The willingness to take responsibility for and take steps towards the preservation of the environment; and

� The ability, commitment and willingness to take environmental protection into consideration in professional practice.


VET towards SD

Competences for sustainable occupational actions are an integral component of an individual’s overall vocational coping skills.

What is meant here are skills, abilities and the willingness to recognise and to


assess the direct and indirect effects of occupational activities on the environment as well as on the living and working conditions of other human beings (of present and future generations) and to avoid negative effects as much as possible.


VET towards SD

Teaching and learning processes in the context of general education address the responsibility of an individual as a consumer. In contrast to that, considering aspects of sustainability in an integrative way in the context of TVET requires that individuals take on producer responsibility in areas


TVET requires that individuals take on producer responsibility in areas where they can act and make decisions.

Employees: ca. 2,000,000

� Water supply & sewage disposal: 100,000

� Waste disposal & recycling: 200,000

� Renewable energies: 380,000

Green VET in practice: macro level



Employment structure

� Skilled workers biggest group (41%)

� High amount of academics (engineers)

� Lack of skilled workers is a big obstacle of growth

� Even if specific green economic sector can be identified: This does not



� Even if specific green economic sector can be identified: This does not mean that jobs provided can be entered only by people with greenoccupations.


General approach

� Green basic skills in all state-recognized occupations (standard in theoccupational profile)

� Main focus in relevant occupations

� Spezialisation by means of a few environmental occupations



� Spezialisation by means of a few environmental occupations

� Additional qualifications on advanced training level

12.03.2015


Green VET in practice: meso level

Why should TVET institutions become green?

� TVET plays an essential role for an economic and social transition towards sustainability.

� As colleges and other TVET institutions are the place where TVET manifests itself, they have to become green, too.


itself, they have to become green, too.

� Beside technical skills a raise of awareness and a change of mindset is needed.

� Colleges should be role models for greening and live what they preach.


Sustainable TVET institutions

� take on responsibility for a sustainable future

� are led by vision, inspiration and integrity and directed by processes

� see themselves as a source of impetus, a service for skills training, and a recognised strategic partner for the sustainable development of their region


recognised strategic partner for the sustainable development of their region

� promote the commitment and the competences of their staff and involve their internal stakeholders in the development of the school

� are an exemplary space for living and learning

� orient themselves toward characteristics of good instruction and promote sustainability skills

� are an adaptive place for teaching and learning


Greening TVET institution concept


Fritz-Erler Vocational College Pforzheim: Greening of a FET College based on an Environmental Management System

Vocational and Technician College Butzbach:Renewable energy & energy efficiency: nucleus of training and green school development



Dr. Klaus-Dieter MertineitHCD for Vocational Education and Training, Mannheim



Dr. Klaus-Dieter MertineitHCD for Vocational Education and Training, Mannheim

Reminder: Global challenges

� Global warming is only one of the global challenges we have to face.

� The global crisis is caused by the resource-intensive and growth-oriented economic model and lifestyle of the rich countries.

� The problem is shifted from culture to technology issues.


� The problem is shifted from culture to technology issues.


� Mind the date: Earth Overshoot Day!

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Germany: 2.57

South Africa: 1.46


Living so that, today and in the future, all have a sufficient standard of

living.


We just have one earth - emigration to Mars is no option!

Conclusion

� In the context of the UN Decade, VET has been neglected in a “stepmotherly” way and remains too insignificant. The attempts so far to perpetuate the multifaceted individual initiatives, to combine them and develop them systematically, have failed.

� Sustainability/climate protection is usually considered to be a “technical” issue


issue

� Sustainable VET is still in the comfort zone; the global challenges are not met adequately.

� Sustainability should become the main emphasis of VET, both in theory and practice. Conventional VET promotes the conventional economy.

� Sustainable development is a core task of TVET institutions; these should become places of critical reflection and stimulation.

� Until now VET is far away from having an adequate understanding of sustainability. Let’s develop it together!

Thank you for your attention!


ContactDr. Klaus-Dieter Mertineit

Institute for Sustainable TVET and Management Services GmbH

Institut für nachhaltige Berufsbildung & Management-Services GmbH

Fischerstrasse 5

D-30167 Hannover

Tel.: ++49 (0)511 - 210 45 70

Mobile: ++49 (0)171 - 22 777 21

E-Mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

URL: www.sustainable-tvet.com; www.nachhaltige-berufsbildung.com

approaches of sustainable vocational education and training · 2016-04-25 · this definition...

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