How can VET policies be more accountable and transparent?

Speakers

Bohrene Chakroun, chief of section of Youth, Literacy and Skills Development, Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning Systems, UNESCO

Mariia Symonova, a young activist, Ukraine

Arevik Anapiosyan, Executive Director, Institute of Public Policy think tank, Armenia

Moderator Mihaylo Milovanovitch, ETF

Governments and institutions should behave in an open and responsive manner, so stakeholders can be informed and empowered to act.

Transparency and accountability are the twin principles meant to make public policy clear, open, understood, and responsible. Commendable principles, but how are they relevant for VET?

Transparency and accountability promote diversification of involvement, which in turn promotes decentralisation. But does it always make reforms more effective, or see decentralisation as good? As state-dominated decision-making gives way to more fluid and flexible approaches, the interconnected and interdependent positions of all VET actors become more apparent. Their actions become more visible, and expectations of expected behaviour changes.

Increasing transparency and accountability, however, can bring unexpected and at times unwelcome consequences. They cannot mean ‘all things to all people’ and conflicts of interest become inevitable. The risk of a growing bureaucracy associated with greater levels of transparency and accountability could impact stakeholders’ responsiveness in a rapidly changing environment. And, even the best-intentioned moves towards greater transparency and accountability, could founder on the lack of an adequate evidence base.

Questions

Do you think that some of the decisions that directly affect you could be taken in a more transparent way?

Should decision makers be more accountable and transparent to you?

Are you accountable to someone as a VET participant or stakeholder? If yes, to whom?

Should your obligations to be accountable and transparent be improved?

Does transparency and accountability lead to administrative burden and interference in your work?

Are you aware of relevant good practices? If yes, what are they?