Making skills-based edu work for all

The Star

4 days ago

Inclusivity in all sectors is a must – and it is important that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) providers as well as industry leaders ensure opportunities are accessible to talents regardless of their gender, said the UK Minister of State for Women and Equalities, Baroness Smith of Malvern, Jacqui Smith.
Smith, who is also the country's Minister of State for Skills, shared how she is often surprised when employers in the UK tell her that they are facing skill gaps in areas like construction and engineering.
'Then, I look around the workplace and think to myself, well, 'You're not really recruiting from a whole half of the population here, are you?'
'Having said that, there is growing awareness among industry players of the need for gender inclusivity in TVET.
'We have a construction skills mission board in England that I sit on, and it was the employers themselves who said that we've got to be much better at diversifying our training so that we're attracting girls and women into the construction industry; otherwise, we're never going to fill our skills gaps.
'We need to ensure that there are role models that girls will be able to look up to and see that there are women doing really well in construction, engineering and in digital,' she said in an interview with StarEdu.
Smith was in the country for an official visit and was attending the Chevening Alumni reception in Kuala Lumpur on July 31.
In her role as Minister of State for Women and Equalities, Smith leads efforts on gender equality, women's rights, and the UK equality framework.
Women, she stressed, have got a place in all technical and vocational sectors. Citing the UK's industrial strategy, she named key areas where female talent is essential for national growth.
'There is strong potential for women to excel in all sectors, particularly in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, engineering, as well as the digital and creative industries.
'Unless we can get all the talent that we possibly can into these areas, we're not going to achieve as much.
'We want to grow and we know that it's going to take the skills of all our people in order to achieve that growth,' she said, stressing that inclusion is not merely about equity, but also quintessential national success.
TVET, a first choice
To make TVET a top choice for students, a coordinated effort is needed to reshape perceptions and embed real-world relevance, said Smith.
Relevance to real-world jobs is critical, as it makes the pathway into employment feel more tangible and backed by occupational standards for individuals, she added.
As Minister of State for Skills, Smith, who is responsible for Skills England, T Levels, Technical Excellence Colleges, and local skills improvement plans, oversees higher technical education, adult learning, apprenticeships, and careers support.
'The curriculum and courses should be co-designed with employers, ensuring a direct link to actual job roles and the industries that will ultimately make use of those skills.
'And to show the relevance of the learning, it's important to give people the opportunity to do placements and actually experience what it's like to work in that particular area,' she said, adding that the government, employers and other stakeholders also need to put out strong messages about the quality of TVET.
Shifting perceptions
Smith said the British government is actively working to shift public perception about the value and opportunities in vocational routes through nationwide communication campaigns.
These initiatives, she shared, aim to inform people about the available TVET pathways, the various options they can pursue, and how these routes can lead to good jobs.
'People in leadership roles, particularly in policy and education, have probably gone through a higher education route and haven't experienced the vocational pathway.
'Having successful leaders who came from vocational backgrounds can help change public perceptions and promote TVET's credibility.
'For example, when I meet chief executives or senior people in companies who have themselves been apprentices and can then talk about it and say, 'Look, I've reached the most senior levels and I've come through a technical and vocational route' – that's very powerful for people,' she said, adding that changing the perception of TVET is a challenge across the world.
'We need to start at an early stage with the right career advice and guidance,' she said.
Malaysia–UK collaboration
Smith said she is feeling really enthusiastic about collaborations between the UK and Malaysia – particularly in education.
'I think we already have common values, our belief in education, our people-to-people connections, and our commitment to democracy.
'There are lots of things that would bring us together, but education is a really good opportunity to make a bridge,' she said.
As part of her visit, Smith participated in the UK-Malaysia Skills Dialogue at TWI South East Asia to discuss TVET and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration between UK and Malaysian training providers.
'People increasingly spend their working lives in a global economy.
'Countries like Malaysia and the UK that are focused on increasing our income and our growth will have a shared need for developing our TVET.
'And that's something where we can sort of learn from each other, teach each other, and where it's appropriate, actually have active collaboration,' she said. — BY JAAYNE JEEVITA