Implementing Next Generation Sector Skills Bodies
Online
Implementing Next Generation Sector Skills Bodies
Designing and strengthening sectoral approaches to skills development
5–30 October 2026
Key features
New Evidence from International Practice
Engage with ILO’s latest findings and guidance on how sector skills bodies are evolving to meet future skills challenges
Global Expert Dialogue
Exchange experiences and perspectives with policymakers, social partners and international specialists from the international community in a unique interactive learning environment
Action-Orientated Capacity Building
Experience participative learning through case studies and group discussions to promote application in real world contexts
Introduction to the course
Sector Skills Bodies (SSBs) - known variously as Sector Skills Councils, Jobs and Skills Councils, and other titles, have been a popular policy response in international practice to bridge the gap between labour market needs and the skills system at a sectoral level - bringing employers, workers, government and education and training institutions together around shared evidence and priorities, as a structure for improving skills relevance and employability.
Emerging global practice now reveals a paradigm shift in SSB mandates as they respond to the rapidly evolving skills landscape. Many SSBs are moving beyond a narrow focus on standards and training to combine inclusive skills development with business development capabilities, expanding their services to help enterprises and workers respond to technological change, strengthen productivity and innovation and support the 'Just Transition' to sustainable economies.
The Implementing Next Generation Sector Skills Bodies course equips participants to design, establish and implement new SSBs and invites representatives from skills systems with established SSBs to review and revitalize their operations in the light of innovative new international practices. The course content will draw evidence and examples from the newly launched ILO publication: Next generation Sector Skills Bodies: Driving productivity, innovation, decent work and social justice. It will provide an international peer-learning opportunity and an opportunity to bring innovative practices into national systems - strengthen industry-skills linkages for improved human capital development and skilled decent employment.
Who attends this course?
The Implementing Next Generation Skills Bodies course is designed for parties with a role or an interest in aligning skills systems to meet current and future labour market demands. This includes:
- Policymakers and officials from ministries of labour, TVET, education, employment and sectoral line ministries seeking to implement structures to improve skills relevance and productivity
- Representatives of employers' and workers' organisations, industry associations, chambers and enterprise networks
- Board members and secretariats of sector skills bodies, national skills authorities, TVET councils and related institutions
- Leaders and specialists from training providers, labour market information institutions and public employment services
- Technical experts and staff from development partners focusing on skills development reform or increasing private sector engagement in the skills system.
The participation of full tripartite country delegations (government, workers and employers) is strongly encouraged to support integrated dialogue and policy coherence. ITC ILO promotes the equal participation of women and men and the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
What will I learn?
The Implementing Next Generation Sector Skills Bodies course will draw on the latest global practice to illustrate how effective sectoral skills bodies are implemented and operationalised in their national contexts. It will explore how their remit and scope can develop over time to play an increasingly strategic role in improving skills and productivity, and will equip participants with tools and models to implement or reform models of inclusive, industry-led skills system collaboration.
After this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the strategic rationale for sectoral approaches and assess when an SSB is an appropriate response to skills, productivity and decent work challenges.
- Analyse the different SSB functions that are emerging in international practice
- Compare different models of governance and financing and discuss how these structures inform the capabilities, scope and outputs of an SSB
- Apply labour market analysis and industry foresight at the sectoral level
- Evaluate the factors that contribute to SSB effectiveness and the common challenges that hinder implementation and sustainability.
Course Content and Methodology
Module 1: Introducing Next Generation Sector Skills Bodies – roles and responsibilities.
This module introduces Sector Skills Bodies as a mechanism to connect the world of education and training with the world of work. It examines why sector-level structures can respond more rapidly to changing technologies, trade conditions and other factors that continually shape labour market needs. It then moves on to analyse the three main categories of roles and responsibilities adopted by effective SSBs in different national contexts, and highlights their shifting mandate with particular emphasis on recent innovations and emerging trends in international SSB models.
The first case study webinar provides a deep dive into one SSB and provides an example of how AI is integrated into real-time skills anticipation and forecasting.
Module 2: Governance, social dialogue, oversight and sustainable financing
In this module, participants will explore the institutional arrangements that ensure an SSB is legitimate, effective and accountable. The module will investigate why clear governance structures are so critical to the success of SSBs, and explore the relationship between governance, mandate and capacity of the SSB. It will then consider the main financing options inviting participants to analyse the trade-offs between lower-cost committee structures and more autonomous SSBs with a formalised scope.
Module 3: Skills needs anticipation, skills utilisation and the SPEED methodology
Module 3 provides a guide through the main data and methodologies for analysing skills needs and then progresses to explore the skills cycle, which considers not only how skills are developed, but how skills are deployed and utilised in the workplace. The ILO Skills for Productivity, Environment and Economic Development (SPEED) model is introduced as a systematic framework for analysing current and future skills needs, identifying system-wide challenges while facilitating a just transition towards environmentally sustainable societies and economies for all.
The second case study will follow a SPEED methodology in a national context to share the experience of how the process can lead to practical and new skills innovations.
Module 4: Challenges, risks and success factors for effective SSB implementation
While SSB models across international practice can be extremely varied, there are several challenges and difficulties that are commonly experienced, especially in the establishment phases. This module diagnoses these challenges and discusses the root causes and potential solutions. The phased roadmap approach is outlined, alongside the identification of critical success factors that can help to unblock operational barriers and unlock the effective operationalization of SSBs within national skills systems.
Why choose this course?
- Learn from ILO’s most recent findings on Next Generation Sector Skills Bodies
Engage with the latest evidence and guidance to explore Sector Skills Bodies across global practice, and analyze trends and success factors to unlock insights to strengthen industry-skills partnerships in multiple contexts
- Concrete tools and takeaways
Access tried and tested ILO frameworks and methodologies that can be applied in your professional practice.
- Case study examples
Hear about the recent innovations from SSB and skills system leaders, including experiences of the challenges faced in implementing change.
- International tripartite peer exchange
Interact with the international community of policymakers, employers’ and workers’ representatives, practitioners and ILO specialists who are working on this topic to gain fresh perspectives and innovations.
Common questions
Who should participate in the Next Generation Sector Skills Bodies course?
The course is designed for government officials, representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations, national skills and TVET institutions, skills financing and coordinating bodies, development partners and other professionals who are interested or involved in establishing sector skills bodies or improving skills system relevance to labour market needs.
Do I need previous experience in working with Sector Skills Bodies?
No. The course is designed to be accessible for both experienced practitioners and those who are seeking to build foundational knowledge on improving skills system relevance, public-private partnership or sectoral skills mechanisms. However, the course will be most relevant to those who already have some experience of working with a national skills system or skills-related policies.
How much time should I dedicate to the course?
The course requires approximately 30 hours of learning, which will include:
- 6 x 90 minute webinars
- Self-paced online learning
- Focused recommended reading
- Short assignments and quizzes
Is attendance at the live webinars mandatory?
Attendance at the live webinars is encouraged, however in the event of a conflicting schedule, webinars will be recorded and can be accessed for one week after the live sessions
Can country or tripartite delegations apply?
Yes. Applications from country teams are encouraged, particularly delegations that include representatives of government and employers’ and workers’ organizations. Cross-ministerial participation can also strengthen policy coherence and enable participants to examine a common challenge from different institutional perspectives.
Will I receive an ITCILO certificate?
An ITCILO certificate of participation will be awarded to participants who complete the activities.
What is the course fee and how can I pay?
The course fee is indicated on the course information page. Detailed payment instructions will be provided during the registration process. More on https://www.itcilo.org/applications-payments-cancellation.
Can my employer or organization sponsor my participation?
Yes. Many participants are sponsored by their employer, institution, development partner, or donor organization. Supporting documentation needs to be provided during the application process.
Are scholarships available?
A limited number of scholarships may be available for selected courses. Scholarships are awarded through a competitive selection process based on the information provided in the application, eligibility criteria and available funding. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants need to submit their registration.
