Skills policy seminars and study tours

Our skills policy seminars bring together experts and policy makers from around the world to build on learning from the UK and explore important global priorities for skills and employability.

The seminars are a unique opportunity for learning, discussion and networking as well as gaining first-hand experience through visits to leading institutions and organisations. Designed to promote understanding of innovative approaches to technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and raise awareness of the global TVET picture, they are a great catalyst for UK-overseas collaboration.

Seminars in 2016-17

The seminar themes are chosen to meet the priorities of our global network. In 2016-17 we will be inviting international delegates including government officials, policy makers, employers, donor agency representatives and senior level practitioners to join us in discussing:

How do we fund and shape vocational education and training for the 21 Century?

When: 31 May - 2 June 2016

Where: London

This event will address the key strategic issues in creating a skilled workforce which contributes to economic growth. Themes such as funding, oversight, flexibility and planning for the future will be addressed.

The seminar, whilst being led by the British Council, is intended to be interactive and include opportunities for delegates to share their own experiences and challenges as well as being able to hear from UK contributors.

Improving employer and learner engagement in vocational education

When: 15 - 17 November 2016

Where: Birmingham

This event will introduce delegates to the main components of the UK Vocational Education and Training System. We will also address key issues such as employer engagement, quality assurance, apprenticeships and occupational standards.

There will be interactive elements and delegates will have an opportunity to share best practice and network with colleagues. Key to the programme will be a visit to the Skills Show, the UK’s largest skills event, which attracts 80,000 visitors and features careers advice and skills competitions. We will also have employer and college visits on one of the days.

How important is enterprise training to job creation? Embedding enterprise in technical and vocational education

When: 7 - 9 March 2017

Where: Scotland

This event will introduce delegates to the current UK and global thinking on the role that enterprise and entrepreneurial training has in a wider skills agenda.

We will address key issues such as: should enterprise training be part of, or additional to technical training, access to finance, the role of mentoring, reaching disadvantaged groups and the role of different stakeholders.

We will provide a range of views from business, government and education and will also have visits to businesses, innovation hubs and colleges.

Study tours

Study tours provide an opportunity to experience UK best practice and innovation in TVET. They are organised in conjunction with our British Council country offices and provide an insight to the UK skills sector linked to the priorities of the delegates.

What our delegates say

"A unique opportunity to share best practices. It was a great effort on the part of the British Council." (Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik, Government of Punjab, Pakistan)

"The field visits were relevant and allowed for comparison with what is being implemented in Trinidad and Tobago." (Balchan Ramberran, National Training Agency, Trinidad and Tobago)

"Enhance new project possibilities with the British Council and new partnerships." (Patricia Arenas, Secretary of Education, Colombia)