Lyna Mohamad
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation for Vocational and Technical Education and Training Regional Centre (SEAMEO Voctech) inked two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with higher learning institutions to mark a collaboration encompassing the conduct of training, including skills training and professional development programmes, and technical assistance on capacity building and other training activities for human resource development.
The signing between SEAMEO, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Philippines Normal University (PNU) was carried out during a visit by Vice President of the Philippines and Secretary of the Department of Education Sara Zimmerman Duterte to the centre yesterday.
“In conjunction with the momentous occasion of Vice President Duterte’s inaugural visit to SEAMEO Voctech, a signing of MoUs with UBD and PNU will accord another milestone, this time to collaborate on developing and offering TVET teacher-training programmes to the SEAMEO region,” said Centre Director Alias bin Haji Abu Bakar
Vice President Duterte visited SEAMEO Voctech TVET Regional Centre in her capacity as the SEAMEO Council President and was accompanied by Philippines Assistant Secretary of Education Sunshine Charry A Fajarda.
Welcoming the Philippines Vice President to the centre were Ambassador of the Philippines to Brunei Darussalam Marian Jocelyn R Tirol-Ignacio, Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati and Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the MoE (Higher Education) Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the MoE Dr Chin Wei Keh.
Alias signed on behalf of SEAMEO Voctech in both MoUs, while UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle signed on behalf of the university for the MoU between SEAMEO Voctech and UBD, while PNU Vice President of Academics Dr Jennie V Jocson signed the MoU between SEAMEO Voctech and PNU.
Prior to the signing ceremony, Vice President Duterte launched the new SEAMEO Voctech website in support of the centre after which she witnessed the signing of the MoUs.
During the visit, the vice president and accompanying delegates were briefed on the TVET Centre’s achievements so far in the fiscal year 2022-2023, including 45 training programmes and workshops conducted, the on-going research led by the centre on ‘The Readiness of TVET Institutions for IR 4.0 in Southeast Asia’ and the recent launch of the ASEAN TVET Council web page, powered by the regional knowledge hub SEA-VET.net and hosted by the TVET Regional Centre with the support of its partner GIZ-RECOTVET.
The visit concluded with the Vice President planting a tree to commemorate her official visit to the centre.
Senior officials of MoE, representatives from the SEAMEO Secretariat (SEAMES), headed by its director Datuk Dr Habibah binti Abdul Rahim and Alias with the centre’s management, officers and staff and officials from the embassy, were also present.
