What do we mean by ‘skills for employability’?

By ‘skills for employability’ we mean the knowledge, skills and competences which help you negotiate the labour market and secure a job. These are not just the technical or vocational skills but the softer skills such as entrepreneurship, problem solving, team work as well as information and technology and communication skills.

Why skills for employability?

With the speed of global competition it is now the quality of skills in the labour market that has become increasingly important across the world. Today nations are competing on the skills of their people to be more productive, attract more investment and be quicker to respond to opportunities.

The skills gap is affecting many countries – even highly developed countries. For example if there is a shortage of skills in a nation, it may have to resort to importing skilled migrant labour or its businesses may remain endlessly trapped in low value markets.

You are more likely to be employed and tend to be better paid if you are highly skilled.

Whether you are a young person or an adult, you are probably already aware of the challenges you face in getting the right skills for working in an increasingly competitive world. SFE helps you match your skills with what today’s employers need.

What is the Skills for Employability programme?

Skills for Employability (SFE) is a programme that builds the skills of young people and adults so they are able to work and compete in today’s globalised world. It does this by encouraging closer links between education and industry with a focus on strengthening the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector.

How long does the project last?

Four years. 2007 – 2011.

Which countries are taking part in this project?

From central and southern Asia: Afghanistan. Bangladesh. Iran. Kazakhstan. Nepal. Pakistan. Uzbekistan.

The United Kingdom.

In central and southern Asia, Skills for Employability hopes to:

• strengthen national reforms in technical and vocational education and address the needs of industry
• establish examples of good practice in new curriculum models in important sectors of the economy by creating closer links between education with industry through occupational standards
• develop the technical and generic skills employers need
• train young people in these skills through relevant curricula in technical institutes, colleges, and schools  
• equip young people with transferable skills for employment: problem solving, team work, intercultural understanding, improving one’s performance and English
• help young people make informed choices about work and careers and
• involve them in new entrepreneurship programmes.

By 2011 we hope to have

• built 14 sustainable college partnerships
• trained over 1,000 trainers and
• helped equip 100,000s of young people for the global economy.

How does SFE work?

• college partnerships between the central and southern Asia region and the UK to establish curriculum models that are tailored to meet the specific needs of industry in priority sectors
• providing global skills for young people by equipping them with the technical and generic skills that employers require and by including English as part of the curricula
• providing space for intercultural debate on work and career
• policy dialogue with leaders in education and industry and a high profile International Enterprise award for young people to encourage entrepreneurship and reward creativity.

Who can get involved?