This is the second time for the country to host such a prestigious event after holding it in 2012. Last year, Las Vega hosted it in America.

It is estimated that delegates from 50-member countries will enter Malawi for this event.

Despite taking skills development to another height, hosting the event brings side gains for the host nation.

Tourism and economy are such areas that will surely blossom courtesy of the event.

Let us look at skills development first, being the overall objective of the conference.

Head of corporate affairs for the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) Authority, Lewis Msasa, says the conference will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss, network, share best practices and developments in the global TVET and skills development sector.

“The theme is about how TVET can be modernized to create sustainable jobs and to contribute to economic transformation.

“This is important because it ensures that TVET graduates have the skills and knowledge that need to be successful in the workforce, and that TVET systems are aligned with the needs of the economy,” he said.

The conference will also have sub-themes which delegates will take time brainstorm on such as advancing industry-led TVET fit for local and international job Markets.

“This sub-theme is about how TVET can be made more responsive to the needs of industry, both locally and internationally. This is important in order ensure that TVET graduates have the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for, which in turn enhances employability and skills utilization, hence boosting economic growth.

“Another one is reinforcing training delivery and assessment systems in TVET. This one is about how to improve the quality of training delivery and assessment in TVET in order ensure that TVET graduates have the relevant skills and knowledge that they need to be successful in at the workplace,” said Msasa.

Other sub-themes are Advancing Technology for Sustainable and Resilient TVET Provision, TEVET Qualifications and International skills mobility and Strengthening governance and financial systems in TEVET.

This is also in line with the Enabler 5 of the Malawi 2063 vision which strives for human capital development.

“We shall be a highly knowledgeable people with relevant quality education that incorporates a strong element of academic excellence and technical and vocational skills fit for the labour market, entrepreneurship and implementation of the Vision,” states the enabler.

The conference will be hosted just a month after the country’s commemoration of a tourism month whereby awareness is raised to woo people to patronize the country’s hospitality destinations.

The lake-shore district of Mangochi will host both local and international delegates on the shores of Lake Malawi at Sunbird Nkopola.

Msasa feels this also complements the campaign to elevate the tourism sector by selling Malawi to the foreign delegates; thereby, advancing the Malawi 2063 which strives to make Malawi a self-reliant nation.

The vision stipulates that “we shall particularly harness the potential of our fresh-water Lake Malawi, national parks and our beautiful mountains to create regional and international conference centers that will be well serviced with all the requisite economic infrastructure and amenities.

“Malawi shall be among the first destinations of choice for international conferences in the region. This will be facilitated by deliberate and intensified marketing of our tourism industry.”

Economics lecturer and deputy vice chancellor of the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Dr. Betchani Tchereni, says all this translate into economic growth of the country.

“Hosting the conference brings short term and direct benefits for the country. Foreign delegates will use our services such as hotels and they will leave forex in the country. That is direct and short-term benefit which the country will get from it.

“Malawians will also showcase their products and advertise them. When the delegates go back to their respective countries, they will recall the good things which they are going to see in the country and they will come again.

“Malawians should capitalize on the conference to sell their products and maximize exports which is a solution to the forex shortage which the country is going through,” he said.