On 15 July 2014, the UN (United Nations) celebrated the first World Youth Skills Day. Since that day, the celebration has become an opportunity for young people, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, firms, employers' and workers' organisations, policymakers and development partners to discuss and re-think the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.

Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future  

This year, the focus is on the theme "Skilling teachers, trainers, and youth for a transformative future". The theme highlights the critical role of teachers and trainers in providing essential skills to young people, enabling them to thrive in the labour market and be active in their communities.

Due to technological advancements and the evolution of the job market, it is fundamental to equip young people with the right skills to easily navigate these changes. TVET plays a crucial role in meeting these demands. By breaking down barriers to entry into the job market, providing relevant and certified skills, promoting eco-friendly practices, and offering skills development opportunities for youth not in education, employment, and training, TVET ensures that young people have the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. 

According to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres,

Equipping young people with quality education, training and skills is essential. This World Youth Skills Day reminds us that teachers stand at the forefront of this great global effort.

Education and training are at the core of the 2030 Agenda. The vision of the Incheon Declaration: is captured by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality and promote lifelong opportunity for all". In this context, TVET is expected to take up the challenge of helping youth and adults to develop the essential skills to enter the job market and have decent jobs. 

Better Internet for Kids for World Youth Skills Day 

Like the UN, Better Internet for Kids (BIK) believes skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future is fundamental. Indeed, we work with teachers, educators, and other professionals around Europe to enable them to equip children and young people with the digital and media literacy skills needed to use the digital environment in a responsible, respectful, critical, and creative way. Teachers and educators need to be given the tools, resources, and training to transmit their skills and knowledge to the youth.

Learn more about our actions and initiatives to skill teachers and trainers on Better Internet for Kids portal. 

• The resource repository on the BIK portal collects various educational resources provided by Safer Internet Centres (SICs) designed to help teachers, parents and carers, children and young people discover the online world safely and help them learn new skills.
• While technology advances, children and young people spend more time online to learn new things, socialise or express themselves. Understanding children's digital lives is essential to teachers and educators. We have developed the Core Education Toolkit to help you get comfortable with key topics and debates about children and online technologies. 
• Learn the basics of online safety on the BIK Teacher Corner – here, you will find information, resources and guidelines to help educate and support young people to safely and positively navigate their digital world.

Learn more about World Youth Skills Day on the website of the United Nations and check #WorldYouthSkillsDay on social media. 

• Type: awareness, youth
• Date:2023-07-15
• Author:BIK Team

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