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Summary
Our society is
continuously moving towards a knowledge-based economy: an economy in
which the application of knowledge replaces capital, raw materials, and
labour as the main means of production. The synergy of combining new
information and communication technologies with human skills has
dramatically altered job content and skills requirements at the
workplace. Good jobs have become technologically complex and are
demanding sophisticated work skills. Simple, routine and low-level
functions are diminishing. The perception of the role of human
interventions in the economic transactions has also changed. The
potential contribution that an individual can make in acquiring and
applying knowledge for improving processes, products and services is
becoming more important than the physical labour. The knowledge embodied
in a product has become a key element of production.
It is apparent
that our future requires education and innovation to develop and
maintain an efficient, competitive and successful workforce. Today's
youth has a critical role to play in fueling the New Economy. As
tomorrow's workforce, today's youth will have to compete in an
increasingly knowledge-based society. To succeed in today's
ever-changing global economy, today's youth must be exposed to the
necessary skills and knowledge the New Economy demands and the abundant
professional opportunities it has to offer.
To engage all key
stakeholders in a discussion regarding skill development for the New
Economy, the Canadian Vocational Association (CVA) and UNEVOC-Canada,
the Canadian Centre for UNESCO’s International Project on Technical
and Vocational Education will co-host an international conference:
DEVELOPING
SKILLS FOR THE NEW ECONOMY
October 17-19, 2002
Conference
Venue:
Delta Winnipeg
350 St. Mary Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 3J2 Canada