Sustainability as a Driver for Vocational Education and Competitiveness

The modern world faces a series of global challenges, and sustainable development as a strategy of civilization, which is an alternative to economic growth, is called upon to answer them. In 2015, in connection with the adoption by the United Nations of the 17 goals in the field of sustainable development for the period up to 2030, special training is needed to implement innovative and breakthrough projects. Such projects are aimed at improving competitiveness through the development and implementation of the best available technologies, strengthening human capital. This problem is relevant both for the Russian Federation and the whole world. In the paper, on the basis of constructivist, systemic, and convergent approaches, proposals for improving the effectiveness of vocational education and training for sustainable development are formulated. The paper summarizes results of scientific and methodological research and presents successful practices. The results of scientometric analysis indicate a disproportion in the study of sustainable development issues associated with a significant predominance of economic research. This makes it difficult to conduct a disciplinary review of the problem and prepare appropriate educational programs. The feasibility of a practice-oriented approach to vocational education in the interests of sustainable development, based on the participation of students in the implementation of “agendas 21” at the institutional level (for an educational organization, production enterprise) is justified. The previously developed competency-based model for training a specialist in sustainable development is complemented by a number of “soft” skills.