Enhancing TVET through digital transformation in developing countries

Digital transformation is a complex process that with varying impacts across economic sectors. In the education and training sector, digital transformation in TVET can involve TVET operational systems (administration, finance, human resources, building infrastructure and maintenance, student registration, etc.); classroom delivery (learning management, instructional delivery methods, etc.); and the actual knowledge and skill component of the curriculum, for example by integrating productivity software such as word processors or spreadsheets into students’ learning outcomes. The integration of digital skills in the TVET curriculum allows learners to acquire the changing skills and knowledge (tacit and explicit) required to function in a digitalizing society, economy and labour market. Digital transformation in TVET is also transforming the dominant modalities of traditional face-to-face learning and teaching to involve multiple configurations of actors (learners, teachers and technologies/apps) in space and time (when, where, who, how). This means that digital transformation in TVET offers opportunities for teachers to reconsider their pedagogical assumptions, behaviours and relationships with students.