Webinar: Labour Market Relevance and Quality Assurance of Apprenticeships

Background

The International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency, is running a free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Quality Apprenticeships. The MOOC aims to support policy-makers and practitioners in the design and implementation of quality apprenticeships in the fast-changing world of work and to address the challenges posed by COVID-19.

The MOOC consists of a 7-week online learning course that requires only 2-4 hours of learning time per week. The course adopts a participatory and activity-oriented approach. Throughout the course, participants will go through diverse learning content and activities including interactive lessons, videos, webinars, peer-to-peer workgroups, mapping exercises and checklists. The centerpiece of the MOOC is that participants will also have the opportunity to establish a global network of policy-makers and practitioners from different countries to share experience and innovative practices.

Objective of webinar

During the MOOC, several webinars would be organized to provide a platform for an open discussion between experts and participants in which insights, ideas and concerns are shared. This webinar will be organised on the pattern of a research symposium, taking up an in-depth case study of an emerging economy/ BRICS countries. In this manner, the webinar would benefit a number of countries around the world.

Specifically, the objectives of this webinar are:

What are the main components of quality assurance system for apprenticeships in South Africa that ensures the labour market relevance of apprenticeship programs? In particular,

o How is the process to select occupations for apprenticeships aligned to the Labour Market needs?

o How are the social partners and other stakeholders involved in the design of curriculum?

o What are some of the assessment strategies and processes developed and implemented for apprenticeship qualifications?

o How is an apprenticeship registered, monitored and certificated within a quality apprenticeship system?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the quality assurance system?

How the labour market relevance of apprenticeship programs be improved?

Audience

The webinar is designed for more than 1300 policy makes and practitioners from more than 125 countries who have joined the MOOC on quality apprenticeships.

About the webinars

The webinars provide a platform for international experts to share their knowledge and experience on various topics regarding apprenticeships. Speakers and participants will be encouraged to engage in an open discussion in which knowledge, insights, innovative ideas can be shared among the international community of apprenticeship policy-makers and practitioners.

Language

The working language of the webinar will be English.

Agenda

6 August 2020
11:00 - 11:10	Introductory Remarks, Webinar Structure & Format By Ashwani Aggarwal, Team Leader for WBL, Apprenticeships, RPL, ILO
11:10 - 11:20	Overview of plans and priorities of African Development Bank for TVET By Ms. Hendrina Chalwe Doroba (tbc)
11:20 - 11:30	Overview of South African Quality Apprenticeship System By Zukile Mvalo, Deputy General Director, Skills Branch, Department of Higher Education & Training, RSA
11:30 - 12:00	Presentation on Labour Market Relevance and Quality Assurance system for apprenticeships in South Africa By Vijayen Naidoo, CEO of Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, RSA
12:00 - 12:15	Respondent 1 to Presentation by CEO of QCTO By Jeanne Esterhuizen, President of Retail Motor Industry, RSA
12:15 - 12:30	Respondent 2 to Presentation by CEO of QCTO By Ashwani Aggarwal, Team Leader for WBL, Apprenticeships, RPL, ILO
12:30 - 13:00	Questions & Answers & Closing Remarks Moderated by Florus Prinsloo, Work Based Learning Business Coach, RSA.

Technical specifications

The webinar will be conducted on the ITCILO e-campus platform through webex conferencing software.

A dry run with the panelists for testing the technology will be scheduled prior to the event to test the technology. ITCILO IT Service will provide technical support during the webinars.

After the webinar

Summary report