Lyna Mohamad
Technical and vocational education and training’s (TVET) strong link to employment means it has to keep pace with changes in demands of the industries and be prepared for future needs to stay relevant and sustainability.
This was said by Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO Voctech) Centre Director Alias bin Haji Abu Bakar during the opening ceremony of a focus group discussion for research project on ‘The Readiness of TVET Institutions for IR4.0 in Southeast Asia’ and a signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the SEAMEO Voctech and ASEAN Future Workforce Council (AFWC) yesterday.
He said the emergence of new technologies led to the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) transforming the ways businesses are operated shifting from traditional methods such as manual application to smart technologies creating a demand for different skills and competencies. This resulted in TVET institutions being tasked to reassess their curriculum, gauge their preparedness and align their systems and processes to meet the needs of IR4.0.
He said this is the reason of the centre embarking on the regional inter-centre research collaboration (ICC) on ‘The Readiness of TVET Institutions for IR4.0 in Southeast Asia’.
The director said the research sees participation by nine ASEAN member states – Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Laos – represented by ministries, universities, educational institutions and sister SEAMEO centres.
He expressed hope that the research’s results will be instrumental for TVET institutions across the region to prepare themselves for IR4.0.
Alias said collaborations and partnerships are crucial for organisations and institutions to enrich their offerings and create platforms for the exchange of information and collaborative initiatives.
He said SEAMEO Voctech, as a member of the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC), is inking memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AFWC to strengthen the linkages among TVET stakeholders in the region.
The director said the MoU shows the importance of the role that the private sector play in TVET and improving its quality and making it demand-driven.
He said the MoU is aimed at making TVET be more responsive to the needs of stakeholders and preparing graduates with the technical skills and knowledge for effective participation in the workforce.
Alias said the focus group discussion is being led by researchers and they will discuss the expectations of the industries when adopting IR4.0 in their work processes.
He expressed hope that it will shed light on interesting and important information that will enrich the research.
The director said the study should also expand to expand beyond TVET to help other industries map out their readiness for IR4.0 and beyond with participation by ministries and agencies, adding that it will help in realising Brunei’s vision to become a Smart Nation.
