The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre in Bonn, Germany, has recently appointed DIT (Dublin Institute of Technology) as the UNEVOC National Centre for Ireland.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre assists UN Member States in developing policies and practices for specialised Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to promote sustainable socio-economic development for all. Currently, there are 150 countries hosting UNEVOC National Centres.

As UNEVOC National Centre for Ireland, DIT will engage in information generation and dissemination by engaging in research and scholarship collaborations and partnerships, and organising events and activities relating to TVET. Initial priority areas of interest include pedagogy, quality and best practice in TVET. DIT intends to host a one-day conference on TVET later this year.

Commenting on the award, Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT said; “DIT is in a unique position to make a positive contribution to the development work of UNESCO-UNEVOC. The Institute has over 100 years experience in the delivery and provision of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and a reputation for excellence in apprenticeship, skills and craft education. We look forward to both sharing our knowledge with, and learning from, the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of colleague UNEVOC National Centres ".

Mr Rupert McClean, Director of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre said: “It is with immense pleasure that I announce that the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, has become a UNEVOC Centre. By becoming a UNEVOC Centre, it joins an international network in the area of technical and vocational education and training. The accession to the UNEVOC Network follows on the endorsement of the nomination by the Irish National Committee for UNESCO”.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference of 1999 agreed to establish an International Centre specialising in TVET, termed UNEVOC International Centre. The UNEVOC International Centre was charged with strengthening TVET in UNESCO Member States through:

1) Focusing on specific TVET areas, including the promotion of best practice, the development of systems, improving access and assuring quality.
2) Developing a UNEVOC network of National Centres that will engage in knowledge sharing, develop collaborations and partnerships and grow advisory services and human resource development strategies.