Rokiah Mahmud
Researchers from Southeast Asia completed a training workshop to prepare for a study on the region’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institution’s readiness for the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) on Thursday.
Twenty-four researchers from nine Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO Voctech) member states participated in the three-day workshop.
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Chin Wei Keh, in a speech said the research project is vital to assess where member countries are in terms of the readiness for IR 4.0 so that policy intervention and initiatives can be implemented.
“It is hoped that this study will provide the data and information to help TVET institutions develop a roadmap on how to bring their readiness for IR 4.0 to the next level,” he said, expressing hopes that the workshop has better prepared and empowered the team of researchers for their roles in the research project.
Course coordinator Dr Paryono noted the encouraging progress of the research.
“Our team of researchers produced a conceptual framework model similar to the Smart Industry Readiness Index, and developed assessment matrices for the study. The team will combine these assessment matrices into a survey questionnaire,” he said
“These assessment matrices will not only provide TVET institutions with a tool to assess their current status of readiness for IR 4.0 but also to develop a roadmap on how to progress to the next level,” he added.
The Inter-Centre Collaboration Regional Research Project on ‘Readiness of TVET institutions for IR 4.0 in Southeast Asia’ is approved and partially funded by the SEAMEO Secretariat, with collaboration from the nine participating SEAMEO member states and support from strategic partners.
The research is expected to be completed in March 2023, according to the centre.
