Getting new members is of course driven by two main factors:
- First having a set of programs and activities that are of interest to TVET professionals and institutions worldwide.
- Getting the word out to potential new members.
The two of course feed each other: without the former, the latter will not improve; and without the latter the former cannot be supported. And, we are “competing” with other international, regional, and national organizations for the attention and involvement of TVET professionals.
We have over the years developed a good set of programs that I have been involved with, (i.e. regional and international conferences, newsletter, journal, micro grants, website etc.), and made adjustments to reflect changes in our surrounding environment.
We now need to update our 2015-2020 work plan.
The IVETA N. American region is large with varying interests (as are several other regions), and this presents a real challenge with the 50 US States and 13 provinces in North America spread over a broad geographic region from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from the Arctic to the Caribbean.
My responses reflect the above setting and the fact that I have TVET experience in both domestically, internationally, and a background of training in both the USA and Canada.
1) How are you planning on gaining new members across your region?
Because of the size and geographic breadth of the region I intend to primarily focus on working with and through key TVET organizations in Canada and the US via both email, verbal, and on-site contacts.
- I have already sent an introductory email to the over 100 former members to determine their interest in rejoining IVETA. I will be following up in early 2022 with more specific information about IVETA.
- I have initiated email and verbal contacts, and will continue to work with four of the key domestic TVET institutions in North America to do so to develop linkages with IVETA:
The Canadian Vocational Association (CVA) – of which I am a member and they are active internationally. I have had little response yet but know some individual members. Next time I am in Canada I will meet with key members.
The US Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) of which I am a member, they are supportive and interested in working with IVETA as they have done in the past (i.e. at their 2022 conference – which a number of Canadians attend). I will be in DC in 2022 and will arrange an in-person visit to ACTE.
Epsilon Pi Tau (EPT) which focuses on post-secondary technology education and TVET teacher training. I am a member and they have international members.
American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) which has over 1000 members from two- year post-secondary institutions of which are involved in international work. When I am in DC I intend to meet with key staff at AACC.
2) What events and initiatives have you planned to network and reach new members? See above.
The CVA has an excellent newsletter with an international section. I will be submitting an article on IVETA for their newsletter. CVA also provides targeted TVET technical assistance to some developing countries on DACUM, something that IVETA may want to think about on selected topics. They have not had a national conference recently, but if they do, IVETA should be present with an exhibit and or a presentation.
ACTE has already informally agreed to work with IVETA to support international sessions at the 2022 conference in Las Vegas – which is a major event with several thousand participants and a wide array TVET goods and services – including international participants and exhibits. IVETA has done this successfully several times in the past.
AACC, as noted above, I will visit directly with them and they hold a large national conference at which IVETA should consider having a booth/display and proposing a presentation at their conference.
EPT, I will submit a written summary of IVETA for their newsletter.
2) Are there any TVET organizations that we can affiliate with in your region that will be happy to sign up for our membership?
See above, as I continue contacts with the four listed organizations, and others, I will raise the issue of joining IVETA as an organizational member.
3) How can IVETA add value to the NA region (and other regions) in 2022?
This question relates to my initial comments about how membership and IVETA programs and services interact and I have already outlined how I will continue to work with key agencies. Most North American TVET organizations and institutions are well developed, but still willing and interested in sharing and learning from other countries, in particular OECD countries including the EU.
However, their interests in working with Middle/Lower income developing countries is often more in providing TVET technical assistance to them through bilateral and multilateral funding agencies, which I have experience in working with (i.e, the US United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Canadian international Development Agency (CIDA), World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Labor Organization. EU, AFDB, IADB, AUSAID, DFID etc.).
Question: Given the interest of some N. American TVET institutions, organizations, and some IVETA members in finding out about working with developing countries and accessing multi-lateral and bilateral funding opportunities, should IVETA develop a new product including:
- Letting its members know about general sources of TVET development funding opportunities? This is not that difficult to do. I get regular updates from several funding agencies (see attached weekly summary from the Asian Development Bank for the education training sector). There are lots of opportunities for individuals as well as organizations – often several billion dollars of total funding from multiple agencies, or
- Developing and updating an actual database of specific TVET funding opportunities? from major multilateral funding agencies, and perhaps selected bilateral funding agencies. Several years ago a group of US institutions interested in international TVET work developed this database which was updated regularly by them and the software was maintained by one of them. I have contacted this organization to see if the software is still available.
Dave Fretwell
VP North America
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