Rokiah Mahmud
SEA-VET platform has become a regional one-stop hub for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) information and is now extending its function to e-learning. This new phase is made possible with the collaboration between Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO Voctech) and GIZ RECOTVET, said Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh.
The minister, who was the guest of honour, made these remarks during the launch of the SEA-VET learning platform and SEAMEO Voctech Smart Lab as well as the signing of a number of memorandum of agreement (MoA) Addendum last Saturday.
Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah hoped that SEAMEO Voctech’s Smart Lab will provide an avenue for TVET teachers, learners, and learning media developers, to collaborate and co-develop resources using interactive technology including gaming, simulation, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), extended reality (XR), and mixed reality (MR) to improve teaching and learning.
“Digitalising is critically dependent upon the digital competences of its teachers. It is SEA-VET platform’s, Smart Lab’s and relevant industry players’ duty to ensure that TVET teachers are well-supported.
“I applaud SEAMEO Voctech for staying true to its mandate in assisting the SEAMEO member countries to identify and solve problems in TVET,” the minister said.
The ceremony proceeded with the signing of MoA between SEAMEO Voctech and LabTech International which was signed by its President Dr Steven Carl McKee and witnessed by Labtech Academy General Manager Bard Ker.
Meanwhile, the signing of MoA between the Centre and FESTO Didactic SE took place in hybrid mode with the minister and Ambassador of Germany to Brunei Darussalam Gerda Winkler as witnesses to the signing. Signing on behalf of SEAMEO Voctech was Centre Director Alias bin Haji Abu Bakar and witnessed by Deputy Director for Professional Affairs Dr Paryono.
The MoA signing entails cooperation between the organisations in providing virtual TVET online courses for continuous professional development for TVET management and instructors in the region; to work together on providing accreditations of courses with awarding bodies or associations; as well as to promote, coordinate and undertake research and development activities in Southeast Asia and beyond.
A certificate presentation for the local participants for the In-Country Training Programme: Training of Trainers on Automotive Technology and Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) Technology through virtual TVET was also held before concluding with a tour to the SEA-VET learning platform and the SEAMEO Voctech Smart Lab.
