Five years of the Alliance for Dual VET in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Alliance for Dual VET in Latin America and the Caribbean marked its fifth anniversary with a virtual event on 30 June 2026. Over 150 representatives from vocational education and training institutions, ministries, social partners and universities looked back on the Alliance’s development and discussed how dual VET models could be successfully implemented even in economies with a high proportion of informal employment.

As a co-initiator, BIBB has been supporting the development of the regional network since 2021. Together with ILO/Cinterfor, acting as the Technical Secretariat, and 17 partner institutions, a platform has been created that facilitates exchange, collaborative learning and the further development of dual vocational education and training in the region.

Five years of collaboration as the foundation for a strong network

A video looked back at the key milestones since 2021, before five institutional representatives, under the motto ‘Five years of the Alliance: five minutes, five voices, five messages’, outlined the Alliance’s development from their respective perspectives.

Milestones of the Alliance – from BIBB’s perspective

Michael Wiechert, Deputy Head of the ‘International Vocational Education and Training’ department at BIBB, explained that five milestones had shaped the development of the network: growing trust, the coordination structure with a rotating presidency, a common language, a shared conviction regarding the value of dual vocational training, and increasing international visibility. He explained that the Alliance had been deliberately designed as an open network – a space for continuous exchange and collaborative learning. “Five years on, it is clear that the Alliance has become a stable, trustworthy and productive space for regional cooperation,” said Wiechert.

Three presidencies – one shared journey

Silvia Alejandra Guzmán Saldaña, Academic Secretary of CONALEP (Mexico) and representative of the first presidency (2021–2023), explained that the Alliance’s founding phase had been shaped by five guiding principles: shared learning, putting people first, dual vocational education and training as a social opportunity, talent development and shared responsibility. “The differences between us have never been obstacles, but rather our greatest strength,” said Guzmán, describing the spirit that has underpinned the Alliance since 2021.

Maira Morla Pineda, Director of INFOTEP (Dominican Republic) and Presidency in 2024, explained that quality is achieved through cooperation, that dual VET requires genuine social dialogue between the state, businesses and workers’ organisations, and that a modern legal framework – such as ILO Recommendation No. 208 – is indispensable. “Behind every figure there is a person,” emphasised Morla, “and that is precisely where the true meaning of dual vocational education and training lies: ‘When we work together, we don’t just create programmes – we create real opportunities for people.’”

Anna Beatriz Waehneldt, Head of Vocational Training at the national department of SENAC (Brazil) and President-elect for 2025, explained that digitalisation, the green economy and new technologies required flexible and future-oriented training models. She noted that in Brazil, only a small proportion of young people currently participate in dual programmes, and that there is great potential in this area.

Vision for the future: Creating a ‘knowledge highway’

Elena Montobbio, Director of ILO/Cinterfor and Head of the Technical Secretariat, stated that the Alliance should grow, involve more stakeholders, translate insights more effectively into practice, reach more young people and remain a regional point of reference. She described the Alliance using a powerful metaphor: “The Alliance is a benchmark today – tomorrow it should be a ‘highway of knowledge’ along which good practice spreads rapidly.”

A dynamic year under new leadership

With SENATI taking over the fourth presidency in 2026, the Alliance will continue on this path with renewed momentum. Within the Co-ordination Group, SENATI, ILO/Cinterfor and BIBB will jointly be responsible for operational and strategic management.

Dual VET in contexts of high informality

The second part of the event focused on the question of how dual vocational education and training could be implemented in economies with a high degree of informality.

Jürgen Knoll, Head of Department at TZH Stade of the Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Stade Chamber of Crafts, explained how small businesses could implement dual vocational training despite limited resources – for example, through cooperation consortia, regional networks and inter-company apprentice training (ÜLU). Advisory services, matching schemes and information on funding made it easier to get started.

Maritza Huitrón, Academic Resources Coordinator (CONALEP, Mexico), explained that the Ministerial Decree (Acuerdo Secretarial 28/11/25) sets out clear requirements for training venues, such as the legal registration of participating companies, criteria for infrastructure and trainer qualifications. Another new aspect is that the decree sets out requirements regarding non-violence, anti-discrimination and equality in training. CONALEP is implementing specific campaigns and programmes aimed at making dual VET more inclusive, promoting women in technical professions and bridging information gaps to increase the involvement of SMEs.

Julio Surco, president of a Peruvian SME association, explained that many small businesses do not have the necessary technical equipment. Partnerships with vocational training institutions could bridge this gap and strengthen competitiveness.

Conclusion

During the concluding discussion, it became clear that informality remains a key structural barrier to dual vocational training in the region. VET institutions are therefore increasingly collaborating with businesses of all sizes, defining minimum standards and reaching out to vulnerable groups to ensure access and quality.

After five years, the Alliance has developed into a reliable platform for cooperation, innovation and the exchange of experiences. It enables its members to learn from one another, develop joint solutions and advance dual vocational education and training in the region. For BIBB, it remains a key component of international cooperation in vocational education and training.

The next webinar will take place on 12 August 2026.