The crisis triggered by COVID-19 led, before the end of the first quarter of 2020, to an almost total closure of face-to-face activities in vocational training institutions in the region.

In one of the first measurements carried out by ILO/Cinterfor it was noted that at least 85% of face-to-face training activities had been suspended during this period, affecting more than 30 vocational training institutions, which received more than 20 million learners during 2019.

Several papers have described and observed the developments of this crisis during the rest of 2020 and most of 2021. Already in 2022, institutions specialised in training and skills development for work have started to reopen their face-to-face training sessions, with varying degrees and strategies. In this context, the need arises for this study which presents an analysis and assessment, not only of the lessons learned during the critical period, but also of the new features of this almost post-cool normality in which new trends are taking root at a surprising speed and many of them could persist steadily in the new scenario of training for work.

This study, carried out by CAF and ILO/Cinterfor, was conducted in a sample of four Vocational Training Institutions (VTIs) in the region: Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje Industrial (SENAI) in Brazil, Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) in Colombia, Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje (INA) in Costa Rica and Instituto Nacional de Formación Técnica Profesional (INFOTEP) in the Dominican Republic.

To accompany the presentation of the Report, a videoconference was held on Tuesday 29 March at 11 a.m. in Uruguay.  Access the recording and agenda of the event.