Labour market
The labour market plays an important role in NICHE projects, expressed through a focus on technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Nuffic has prepared a TVET strategy document which describes the selection process with regard to interventions and intervention areas.
Level and focus of intervention in TVET
NICHE focuses on the formal tertiary level of TVET. However, in some situations we may also include formal pre-tertiary TVET, beyond junior secondary school level, which deals with groups of youngsters who enter the labour market and form a major share of the mid-level workforce in NICHE countries.
Both public and private TVET providers are eligible for support. Assistance to TVET-related regulatory bodies stems from the desire to support improvements in the institutional context.
Possible areas for support at the institutional level are:
- establishment of overseeing structures (policymaking, quality assurance, assessment and funding);
- development of national quality frameworks;
- establishment of stronger labour market linkages;
- development of competency profiles.
Support to providers
At TVET provider level NICHE can support staff development, curriculum development, development of student attachment programmes, strengthening of linkages with the labour market, ICT mainstreaming in TVET or infrastructure development.
NICHE only allows up to 20% of the total project budget to be spent on this. This applies to all NICHE interventions, to make sure the focus remains on the soft aspects of capacity development.
Gender and labour market
The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has premised that the NICHE programme should pay special attention to gender balance and labour market issues. TVET offers women a good opportunity to enter the labour market, but many trades and vocations are still considered typically male or female.
NICHE interventions will challenge this stereotyping through gender-sensitive training programmes which seek to improve female participation and provide equal opportunities.
Creating strong linkages
Current TVET programmes in most NICHE countries are not demand driven or developed to meet labour market demands. In these countries, the challenge will be to support the development of competencies that are relevant to industrial needs and to create a productive and competitive labour force.
NICHE interventions will pursue strong linkages between TVET providers and the labour market to create a perfect match between demand and supply.
More information
Downoad the NICHE TVET strategy document (158.7 kB)