Outputs:
1. Compendium of Best Practices
- Purpose: Compile a comprehensive compendium of best practices related to the adaptation of QF to address the challenges posed by AI and emerging technologies in the workforce.
- Duration: 4 months.
- Location: Collaborative effort among APEC member economies.
- Expected Scope and Scale: A comprehensive document featuring insights, case studies, and best practices from various APEC economies
(Australia, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will be surveyed as they all have a national qualifications framework ranging from first to third generation of QF with different maturity or implementation levels, as well as including developed and developing economies), highlighting successful approaches to QF adaptation of digital skills.
- Methodology: To identify best practices, at least the following criteria must be assessed: wheter the practice had any impacts on informal economies, wether the practice had the potential for replication in other contexts, wether the practice improved the time needed to adapt educational and traning programs in order to respond to the abilities requirements. To gather the information and data required, at least the following means must be employed: consultation with officers from QF agencies or government officers from labour and/or education ministries in charge of their QF, follow-up interviews with people implementing the practices in order to understand the underlying elements of the best practice and review its impact, as well as its accuracy. Where interviews were not possible reports, legislation and policies, and other written materials must be consulted to document the practice. Also, each best practice should describe the following points: a summary of the approach, key reults achieved, lessons learned and replication.
- Document structure: The compendium must have, at least, 50 pages addressing the following contents: Introduction, background, methodology, best practices supporting education and/or training programs, best practices supporting formal and/or informal economies, conclusions. The present document will be appended to the end of the project's Summary report.
- Timelines: January 2024 (contractor hiring), February-March 2024
(collection of APEC members economies’ best practices), April 2024
(completion).
2. 2-Days Workshop in Peru
- Purpose: Organize a workshop to enhance the capacity of APEC member economies in addressing AI-related workforce challenges by sharing best practices, lessons learned, and challenges in adapting their QF.
- Duration: 2 days.
- Location:Arequipa, Peru.
- Expected Scope and Scale: The workshop will gather experts and policymakers from APEC member economies to exchange knowledge and experiences related to QF adaptation in the context of AI, delivered in fully in-person format.
- Timelines: March 2024 (drafted agenda and topics), March 2024
(participants’ invitations/confirmations), May 2024 (workshop).
- Rough agenda:
First day:
- Welcome words from the foreign ministry’s representative
- Ex-ante evaluation of participants' knowledge about the impact of technologies on educational and training systems
- Presentation from Expert #1 (Topic: Present and future of disruptive technologies and their impacts on jobs and society)
- Presentation from Expert #2 (Topic: How Australia’s NFQ deals with new technologies’ adoption)
- Presentation from Expert #3 (Topic: How Singapore’s NFQ deals with new technologies’ adoption)
- Intermediate (lunch)
- Presentation from Expert #4 (Topic: How Chile’s NFQ deals with new technologies’ adoption)
- Presentation from Expert #5 (Topic: Ensuring gender equality and equal opportunities for women in new technologies’ adoption)
- Panel Discussion with all experts
- Summary and/or conclusions of the day
Second Day:
- Welcome words from the foreign ministry’s representative
- Implementing the Six Thinking Hats methodology in order to draft a common strategy among APEC economies to address proper upskilling and reskilling (Part I: productive discussions and idea generation)
- Intermediate (lunch)
- Implementing the Six Thinking Hats methodology in order to draft a common strategy among APEC economies to address proper upskilling and reskilling (Part II: Strategy draft).
- Summary and/or conclusions of the day
- Ex-post evaluation of participants' knowledge about the impact of technologies on educational and training systems
- Closing words by the foreign ministry’s representative
Note: The experts will be part of the Blue Hat (Facilitation and Organization) group on day 2.
3. Summary Report
- Purpose: Develop a comprehensive summary report that captures the key insights, recommendations, and outcomes of the project, contributing to enriching policymakers, the APEC’s HRDWG, and other APEC fora.
- Duration: 1 month, to be completed after the workshop.
- Location: Peru (preparation and compilation by the project team).
- Expected Scope and Scale: A detailed report summarizing the findings, discussions, and recommendations from the project, as well as the conclusion of the compendium, serving as a valuable resource for APEC member economies.
- Document structure: Introduction which provides context and background information about the workshop, such as the title, date, location, duration, facilitator, and number of participants; main section that summarize the main topics, insights, and outcomes of the workshop, emphasizing the takeaways that participants will get it in an action-oriented way; a section to describe a call to action and/or recommendations, perhaps a question for further discussion in the conclusion; a conclusive section.
- Lenght: 20 pages (not including the aforementioned compendium)
- Timelines: June 2024 (completion).
Outcomes:
1. Enhanced adaptation of QF to digital skills:
- APEC member economies demonstrate an improved capacity to adapt their QFs to address the challenges posed by AI and emerging technologies in the workforce.
- Participating institutions and policymakers adopt strategies and approaches highlighted in the Compendium of Best Practices to align their QFs with the demands of the digital era.
- Enhanced gender equality and equal opportunities for women in AI-related fields of work.
2. Knowledge sharing and collaboration across APEC economies:
- A culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration is fostered among APEC member economies, leading to the exchange of best practices and lessons learned in QF adaptation.
- Institutions and policymakers actively engage in collaborative efforts, such as the 2-day Workshop in Peru, to share their experiences and challenges.
- Strengthened regional cooperation and synergy in addressing workforce challenges posed by AI in successful strategies and approaches to QF adaptation among APEC economies.
3. Informed policy and decision-making with actionable recommendations:
- Policymakers and institutions across APEC economies possess valuable insights and a set of actionable recommendations derived from the Summary Report related to workforce development in the digital age.
- Policymakers and institutions utilize the findings and specific recommendations outlined in the Summary Report to shape their workforce development policies, strategies, and action plans.
- Evidence-based policies and actionable recommendations that address the impact of AI and digital technologies on workforce development, lifelong learning, and equal opportunities for women.
4. Increased knowledge of the participants about the impact of technologies on education and training systems:
- Knowledge about how technology impacts professional development for educators and trainers
- Understand the need to develop policies that support the integration of technology in education and training at local, national, and international levels
Beneficiaries:
The project's direct participants and users primarily include officials from Ministries of Education, Labour, Industry, Production, and Commerce, decision and policy makers, curricular design experts (TVET and Higher Education), and instructional design experts from APEC member economies. These participants, with diverse qualifications and roles, will use the project's outputs to inform policy decisions, shape educational curricula, and develop strategies for workforce development that align with the demands of the digital era. They will benefit by gaining insights, best practices, and recommendations for fostering inclusive, digital-ready labor markets, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth and equitable development. Indirect beneficiaries encompass a broader audience, including workers, businesspeople and students of all APEC economies. Workers, representing diverse skill levels and industries, will indirectly benefit from the project as they enter the workforce equipped with skills that align with the demands of AI and emerging technologies, enhancing their employability and career prospects. Businesspeople, including entrepreneurs and industry leaders, will also indirectly benefit from a more skilled and adaptable workforce, enhancing their ability to compete in the global digital marketplace. Finally, students, ranging from TVET programs to higher education institutions and lifelong learners, stand to gain valuable skills and knowledge that prepare them for the digital economy, fostering lifelong learning and enhancing their future career opportunities. In this way, the project's impact extends beyond its direct participants to empower a wider community of individuals across APEC member economies.
