Athens, Ga. – Richard Lynch, a professor of occupational studies in the University of Georgia College of Education, recently represented North America at a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) international conference on the qualifications of vocational and technical teachers.
Lynch addressed delegates from 35 different countries on career and technical education in the United States and the standards necessary to ensure technical and vocational teachers are qualified to train the workforce, especially in developing countries.
The conference, which took place Nov. 8-10 in Hangzhou, China, was sponsored by UNEVOC (UNESCO International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training), UNESCO Office Beijing, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and the University of Bremen, Germany.
Lynch was selected by UNESCO to represent North America on the education planning community because of his knowledge of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) for teachers.
“The leadership at UNESCO and its collaborators are trying to address the need to train teachers who can teach [through education programs] technicians, health workers, repair persons, engineers and such,” said Lynch. “There is a critical shortage worldwide of teachers for technical, vocational education and training – especially in developing countries. In China alone, one province opened up 75 technical schools last year.”
Lynch serves as co-director of the Occupational Research Group in the College of Education and was director of the college’s former School of Leadership and Lifelong Learning.
During the 1998-99 academic year, Lynch was on leave from UGA and on a special assignment with the Office of Vocational and Adult Education in the U.S. Department of Education.
He was asked specifically to chart directions for the future of high school vocational education. His recent monograph, “New Directions for High School Career and Technical Education in the 21st Century,” is a result of that work. He has authored more than 100 publications related to career and technical education, primarily on teacher education, work-based learning and reform in high school vocational education.