Latest news with #AseanTVETCouncil
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
M'sia is first in Asean to offer TVET accreditation
Future readiness: Ahmad Zahid speaking during a press conference at the Asean TVET Council 4th Regional Policy Dialogue. — Bernama MELAKA: Malaysia has become the first Asean country to offer accreditation recognition for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), marking a major step forward in harmonising skills certification across member nations, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said the initiative was agreed upon during a meeting with ministers and senior officials from the region, aimed at aligning and coordinating accreditation standards. 'We have held meetings with ministers and senior officials from all Asean member states to ensure that accreditation for the TVET industry can be standardised and we have reached a consensus. 'Malaysia will take the lead as the first nation to offer this form of accreditation for acceptance throughout Asean,' he told a press conference at the Asean TVET Council 4th Regional Policy Dialogue yesterday. Ahmad Zahid said the government is currently aligning TVET courses with the evolving needs of industry players to ensure their continued relevance and to make them a preferred option for students pursuing higher education. 'We hope this will continue to shift the mindset of parents, who previously regarded TVET courses as a last resort for their children,' he said. Earlier in his speech, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister touched on the need for Asean to bridge the skills gap by promoting industry-driven, demand-based training programmes. He emphasised the importance of shaping a regional talent pipeline aligned with the needs of factories, plantations and emerging green industries. To achieve this, he said, industries must co-develop training modules, share apprenticeship opportunities and open up cross-border job prospects. 'We must also develop TVET as a comprehensive ecosystem by aligning education, industry, infrastructure, certification and digital access, all guided by data,' he said. As Asean Chair this year, Ahmad Zahid reiterated Malaysia's readiness to coordinate and lead the way. 'We propose the formalisation of Malaysia as the Asean TVET certification and excellence hub. We look forward to the full support of all member states in making this a shared regional legacy,' he said. He added that TVET is no longer peripheral but is central to national economic strategies. 'In this global race for relevance, skills are the new currency. Malaysia is not only championing skills development but also laying the foundation for Asean to emerge as a TVET powerhouse. 'Let us work together to ensure TVET remains accessible, relevant and future-proof for all. Let us commit to building an Asean where no talent is left untapped and no community left behind,' he said. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will officiate the National TVET Day 2025 celebration today.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia to pioneer Asean TVET accreditation, says Zahid
MELAKA: Malaysia has become the first country in the Asean region to offer accreditation recognition for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The Deputy Prime Minister said that Asean member states had reached a consensus on this recognition during a recent meeting involving ministers and senior officials. 'We successfully reached an agreement, and Malaysia will take the lead as the first nation to offer this form of accreditation for acceptance throughout Asean,' he said following his keynote address at the Asean TVET Council 4th Regional Policy Dialogue (ATC 4th RPD) here on Wednesday (June 11). Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, as well as representatives from Asean, Germany and Australia were also present. Ahmad Zahid stated that the dialogue focuses on establishing an Asean-wide ecosystem that prioritises TVET in the region's future, with the Asean TVET Council tasked with connecting policies, aligning standards, and promoting shared progress. Earlier in his speech, he urged Asean to bridge the skills gap by promoting industry-driven, demand-based training programmes. He said it was essential to align the regional talent pipeline with the needs of factories, plantations and emerging green industries. He said that industries must co-develop training modules, share apprenticeship opportunities and open up cross-border job prospects for this to be achieved. "Thirdly, we must develop TVET as a comprehensive ecosystem by aligning education, industry, infrastructure, certification and digital access, all guided by data and coordinated through the ATC,' he 'We propose the formalisation of Malaysia as the Asean TVET Certification and Excellence Hub and we look forward to the full support of all member states in making this a shared regional legacy,' he said. "In this global race for relevance, skills are the new currency. Malaysia is not only championing skills development but also laying the foundation for Asean to emerge as a TVET powerhouse," he said.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Asean TVET Council must chart a clear path forward, says Zahid
MELAKA: The Asean TVET Council 4th Regional Policy Dialogue (ATC 4th RPD) must chart a clear way forward for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( pic ). He said the dialogue is about building an Asean-wide ecosystem, one that places TVET at the centre of the region's future, with the Asean TVET Council as the nerve centre that connects policies, aligns standards, and drives shared growth. "First, we must expand TVET access to rural communities, especially youth, because the future cannot be built on urban skills alone. "In Malaysia, GiatMara, a long-standing TVET institution under Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and my ministry, has shown what's possible. It has equipped rural youth with skills, and over 50 graduates have become millionaires in various technical fields," he said in his keynote address at the ATC 4th RPD, themed "TVET for Rural and Regional Advancement" here on Wednesday (June 11). Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, Melaka State Secretary Datuk Azhar Arshad, Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang and representatives from Asean, Germany and Australia. He emphasised that Asean must work to bridge the skills gap by promoting industry-driven, demand-based training programmes. According to him, the region needs a talent pipeline shaped by the needs of factories, plantations, and emerging green industries across Asean, and to achieve this, it requires industries to co-develop training, share apprenticeships, and open cross-border job opportunities. "Thirdly, we must build TVET as a full ecosystem, aligning education, industry, infrastructure, certification and digital access, all guided by data and coordinated by ATC," he said. Ahmad Zahid said that as Asean Chair this year, Malaysia is ready to coordinate and lead. "We propose the formalisation of Malaysia as the Asean TVET Certification and Excellence Hub, and we look forward to the full support of all member states in making this a shared regional legacy," he said. He said TVET is no longer on the sidelines, as it now stands at the very centre of national economic strategies, and in this global race for relevance, skills are the new currency. "Malaysia is not only championing skills development, but also laying the groundwork for Asean to become a TVET powerhouse. "Let us work together to ensure TVET remains accessible, relevant and future-proof for all. Let us commit to building an Asean where no talent is left untapped and no community is left behind. "With the right mix of training, mentorship and market access, TVET becomes a powerful tool for poverty eradication and generational change," he said. – Bernama
New Straits Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Zahid: Malaysia aims to be Asean's TVET certification hub
LONDON: Malaysia is forging strategic partnerships with international educational institutions and industry players, including those from the United Kingdom (UK), to develop a regionally recognised certification and centre of excellence for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government aims not only to produce skilled workers but also to position Malaysia as a credible TVET training and certification reference centre for the Asean region. "To meet the demands of the Asean market, we have the Asean TVET Council, which we will activate not only for recognition purposes but also to attract students from Asean countries to pursue their studies at TVET institutions in Malaysia, without compromising opportunities for Malaysian students," he said. He said this after delivering a keynote address on TVET at University College London (UCL) here on Monday, which was attended by senior lecturers and students from the institution. Meanwhile, Zahid added that he had engaged in discussions with several Asean ministers responsible for employment and regional cooperation on TVET development. Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National TVET Committee, in his speech, said that Malaysia is prepared to become a global platform for producing world-class TVET talent, equipped to meet the demands of the industrial market. "We are ready to lead, but we recognise that we cannot do it alone. We will achieve this through close collaboration with Asean, global partners, and Malaysians abroad who share the vision of building a skilled, competitive generation ready to face the future," he said. He also shared that student enrolment in TVET institutions rose to 436,285 last year, with 53.5 per cent of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders opting for TVET pathways. He said this reflects a positive shift in public perception, as TVET is no longer seen as a second-choice option. Zahid also announced that Malaysia will host the 4th Asean TVET Council Regional Policy Dialogue this month, in conjunction with National TVET Day 2025. Themed 'TVET untuk Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Serantau' (TVET for Rural and Regional Development), the dialogue will bring together delegations from Asean, Australia, and Germany to explore how TVET can drive inclusive growth, empower youth, and develop rural communities, as well as foster innovation exchange, industry collaboration, and national transformation. – BERNAMA
