Guided Self-assessment is a versatile process that can and should be customized to fit the specific circumstances and level of development of each TVET institution. Each TVET institution sets its own priorities, which could encompass objectives such as reducing unemployment, aligning skills with employer needs, and supporting national development initiatives. These priorities will differ based on the unique situation of each institution, its stakeholders, and the national context. This approach involves a comprehensive examination of evidence and the interplay between the balanced scorecard dimensions across the entire system.
Key features of this process include:

• It is a participatory process that gathers input from a variety of internal stakeholders
• It encourages assessment and reflection based on performance data, strengths, and areas for improvement rather than solely aiming for high scores
• It operates in a cyclical manner, integrating regular self-assessment into the institution’s routine management and continuous improvement efforts to enhance innovation.

In an ideal scenario, a responsible coordinator within the institution manages he entire GSA process, which may take four to five days depending on the depth of assessment required. The duration is flexible and can be adjusted to suit the unique context of each TVET institution (a sample guided self-assessment schedule is provided in Annex 1). The GSA should be conducted in five sessions:

1. An introductory meeting with internal stakeholders to establish a shared understanding of expectations and the local context. This session also confirms the program and fine-tunes the assessment tools.
2. Consultation with internal stakeholders from the VET institution, using balanced scorecard and ecosystem map.
3. Identification of Innovative Practices (IP): Building on strengths and positive outcomes identified during internal stakeholder consultations, the TVET institution develops a narrative of its innovative practice.
4. Innovation Action planning and development: Based on the opportunities for improvement identified during internal stakeholder consultations, the IAP workshop determines the first priority for addressing these opportunities within the TVET institution. The workshop also focuses on creating an IAP aligned with the institution’s priorities and available human and financial resources.
5. The final session is the consolidated results presentation, where the aggregated findings from the GSA tools are presented and discussed to the VET institution’s senior management.