The terminology of employability is adopted in this forum though; based on the above perception, it is an inevitable requirement to enhance the function of the competency training system and its evaluation system which will be a base of the training system. I believe the current requirement in the training and evaluation system has quite a different facet compared to that of 20 years ago. So I believe that that is a critical common factor beyond the diversity in every country. In this context, I believe it will be a critical theme that how to establish the competency training and evaluation system which involve the above requirement for every country.
There have been too many arguments revealed in this forum, but I believe they could be grouped into three arguments' categories. One of which is how to set up a mechanism or a system which appropriately meets the needs of industries and corporations. We should consider this facet as one of the most important requirements. At the same time, we should consider what to do about its governance is also an important requirement.
The second requirement is to establish an open system for the development of the competency training and evaluation system. I mean, the open system is equivalent to the comprehensive evaluation system. It also means that, when the educational trainings are implemented, many alternatives should be flexibly prepared to meet the labor market needs and corporations' needs. It also means that the existing thinking which is inclining to "Education and Vocational Training are to be separately implemented" should be terminated. Take for example in the case of Australia; it is enhancing the linkage between education and vocational training, and the linkage between in-plant training and outside training. I believe it is very important to flexibly set up a pathway between different training organizations in different phases. This is the second requirement about how to set up its flexible mechanism when we think of enhancing the relevant function.
The Third requirement is how to handle the competency or the key skill training and its evaluation which is a critical factor in the rapidly changing business environment. I believe it is important that how to develop a tool or a mechanism for appropriately handling that. However, when the tool or the mechanism of these common requirements is actually developed, the specific needs and characteristics in each country should be taking into consideration. In such a case, I believe the role of the government is expected to be important. I also believe it is very important to develop a good tool or a mechanism by sharing the best practice in other countries and exchanging relevant information with each other beyond its national boundary so that an appropriate system could be developed in each country.
In the above context, the problem is what kinds of mechanisms are appropriate. Take for example; it is an important opportunity to discuss among the participants like this forum to gather all over the countries of APEC. However, it takes money and time to gather relevant members for a meeting at a particular place, such as in Japan in this forum. It takes more than 24 hours to come to Japan from Chile. In the age of IT, for example, in Canada, all education and vocational training system, and their evaluation system as well as their relevant tool have been introduced in the Web. So I believe this kind of tool will be very convenient if APEC could build a similar system within the regions in the future. Anyway, it is very important to set up for exchanging the best practice with each other in relevant countries. I believe it is very important that each APEC country develops the competency training and evaluation system which can enforce their function and improve workers' competency for contributing economic development in own country.