SKILLS FORMATION IN LATIN AMERICA

SKILLS FORMATION AND BUSINESS COORDINATION IN CHILE AND BRAZIL

Description: Brazil and Chile are among the countries that have advanced the most in terms of skills formation in the Latin American region in the last decade. Their Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems, however, differ dramatically in terms of business involvement, and this has important consequences for the type of skills provided and the overall character of the TVET system. While Brazil focuses on business demand for skills, Chile focuses on improving the skills of a large pool of low-skilled workers. Accordingly, they can be labelled "productivist" and "residual" TVET systems respectively. This project investigates how business coordination institutions affect business demand for skills, but also their participation in the TVET system and in related policy processes.

Duration: 2019-2022

Funding: Conicyt, Chile (Fondecyt de Iniciación 11190487)
Partners: Universidad Federal Fluminense, Universidade Sao Paulo.

SKILLS FORMATION AND EMPLOYER ASSOCIATIONS: A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF MEXICO

Description: This paper questions the idea that low levels of coordination between employers, employees and the state in Latin America are at the basis of deficient skills formation schemes. We advance a study of business organizations and skills formation in Mexico, introducing the distinction between "politically-oriented" and "policy-oriented" business organizations. Instead of looking at peak level "politically-oriented" employer organizations, as the proponents of a Hierarchical variety of market economy (HME) do, we argue that a different and important story is told by looking at regional-level organizations. These more "policy-oriented" business associations have the capacity to coordinate with the State and promote successful skills formation programs at the sub-national level. We contribute to theory building with respect to the relationship between business organizations and public policy in Latin America., particularly in the field of skills formation.

Co-authors: Mariana Rangel (ITESM, México), Juan Bogliaccini (UC, Uruguay)