WHAT'S THE ISSUE?

Southeast Asia is confronted with significant skills and labour market challenges. The region is growing at a rapid pace, industry is becoming more diversified, and job requirements are demanding more complex and sophisticated skills. 

A highly skilled labour force is increasingly important for economies to remain competitive and achieve sustainable growth. Effective skills strategies can play a significant role in helping national economies to adjust to changes in working practices, advances in technology, and challenges associated with globalisation.

ABOUT THE NETWORK

The aim of the OECD’s Southeast Asia Regional Policy Network on Education and Skills is to foster knowledge exchange in support of national growth and regional integration by encouraging a whole-of-government approach to the formation and implementation of skills policies.

The SEARPN on Education and Skills builds on the platform of the OECD’s Employment and Skills Strategies in Southeast Asia (ESSSA) initiative, which has been networking skills and labour ministries from ASEAN and OECD Member States since 2008.

IN FOCUS

More information on the 13th session coming soon. 

PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS

OECD Skills Strategy Southeast Asia: Skills for a Post-COVID Recovery and Growth (2023) | Report summary (2023)

Vocational Education and Training in Thailand (2021)

Employment and Skills Strategies in Indonesia  (2020)

The role of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in fostering inclusive growth at the local level in Southeast Asia (2018)

Employment and Skills Strategies in the Philippines (2017)

Building local responsiveness in employment and skills systems in Southeast Asia

PAST MEETINGS

12th edition: 30 November 2022,  | Summary

11th edition: 24 November 2021, Virtual | Summary

10th edition: 21-22 November 2018, Lao PDR ｜ Summary

9th edition: 11-12 Oct. 2017, Viet Nam｜ Summary

8th edition: 11-12 Oct. 2016, Philippines｜ Summary

 7th edition: 7-8 October 2015, Cambodia｜ Summary

6th edition: 17-18 Sept. 2014, Thailand｜ Summary

LINKS

OECD LEED Programme

OECD Centre for Skills

Additional reports, research and events on Southeast Asia

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and neighbouring economies such as China, India, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

JOIN US

The Network is open to local governments, employment services, training institutions, local and international development strategies.