Latest news with #AseanTVETConference
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Towards a skilled Asean workforce
KUALA LUMPUR: The establishment of an Asean Green and Digital Skills Taskforce can unite the region and keep it future-ready, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council chairman, said the proposed regional movement would allow for concrete action and measurable targets. 'Perhaps from this very gathering, we can establish a new regional movement that unites us while cultivating the talent our region needs,' he said when launching the Asean TVET Conference at the World Trade Centre here yesterday. He said the success of any one nation (in Asean) in TVET is no longer enough. 'Our workforce is increasingly regional and our challenges are shared,' he said of Malaysia's proposal to establish an Asean TVET Certification and Excellence Hub, which aims to function as a central body that will set benchmarks, ensure mutual recognition and promote mobility for skilled workers across borders. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, stressed the need to pioneer cross-border apprenticeship programmes. 'This way, a student from the Philippines can train in Malaysia, an Indonesian in Vietnam and a Thai graduate in Singapore – turning Asean integration into a living reality through the movement of skills and knowledge,' he said, emphasising that Malaysia's TVET journey does not stop at its borders. According to him, Malaysia has forged impactful pathways, including 5,125 industrial placements in China, collaboration with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi, and skills exchanges with Japan, Germany and Australia. The Deputy Prime Minister added that 53.56% of Malaysia's secondary school leavers chose TVET as their first choice in 2024. Graduate employability, he said, currently stands at 95.1%, reflecting how skills training is matching job opportunities. 'Applications to national TVET institutions have since surged past 200,000. We have also introduced new certification levels which are equivalent to higher education qualifications. 'This gives our advanced technical graduates the credibility to compete on the global stage,' he said, adding that the minimum wage coverage has also been expanded to include semi-skilled and TVET graduates. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, who was also present at the event, said Asean should be a platform for experience-sharing in skills training. 'The different stages of our industrialisation and the different sectors, where each has our respective own competitive advantages, will enable us to complement each other,' he said in his remarks at the launch. Citing Malaysia's extensive experience in the high-tech manufacturing sector, specifically semiconductors, he said the country also aspires to be a world-class skills training centre. 'Our unique national experience will surely be useful to fellow member states who are perhaps exploring similar paths. Malaysia too, can benefit from learning from our neighbours,' said Sim. The Asean TVET Conference is jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation and the Skills Development Fund Corporation Malaysia. It is the fourth flagship platform under the Asean Year of Skills 2025. Themed 'Advancing Digital and Green Transformations through an Inclusive and Future-Ready TVET System', the two-day conference explores how the region can enhance the quality, relevance and accessibility of TVET to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Asean must deepen collaboration in skills training
KUALA LUMPUR: Asean must deepen collaboration in skills training to meet the demands of the 21st-century economy, said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. He said the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), such as the newly launched ChatGPT 5.0, has confirmed fears that AI could replace conventionally trained personnel, diminishing the signalling value of academic degrees. "In an age when AI can do the thinking, the world still needs those who can build, repair, operate, communicate, supervise, organise - these are human and social elements requiring skills, competence and trust," he said in his opening remark at the Asean TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), which was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the National TVET Council (MTVET) chairman. Sim proposed three measures to strengthen Asean cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), namely sharing experiences in skills training, creating a common certification framework for mutual recognition and investing more in skills education. He said Malaysia, which spends about RM10 billion annually on TVET, has already opened its National Training Week to Asean participants, offering over 72,000 free training courses valued at RM400 million to 3.5 million people. "Malaysia aspires for Asean to be one of the most skilled regions in the world… when the geo-economics is unstable and unpredictable, we must be committed to building the future now," he said. Meanwhile, in a pre-recorded introductory speech, Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn called for TVET systems to become catalysts for innovation, inclusivity and productivity in the face of rapid digital and green transitions. "The convergence of digital innovation and the green transition is reshaping our economies, industries and labour markets. "TVET must evolve beyond its traditional role to become a catalyst for innovation, inclusivity and enhanced productivity," he said. He also urged stronger partnerships between training institutions and industry, integration of green skills into curricula, and scalable innovations to equip Asean's workforce for a low-carbon economy, stressing that "the Asean Year of Skills 2025 is a call to action… Let us ensure our skills ecosystems are not only fit for the future, but actively shaped." Meanwhile, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) assistant director-general and regional director for Asia and the Pacific, Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, in a pre-recorded welcoming speech, urged Asean to align TVET systems with digital and green transition demands to ensure inclusive and accessible training opportunities for all. "It is a great honour to address you at the opening of this ATVET. "The ILO is proud to work alongside Asean and its member states in promoting the skills policies that are inclusive, future-oriented and firmly grounded in decent work," she said. She said that outdated competencies, limited training capacity and weak industry linkages limit the potential of learners and enterprises, stressing that "no one can be left behind when it comes to accessing new training opportunities" as Asean economies evolve. The ATVET 2025, themed Advancing Digital and Green Transformations through an Inclusive and Future-Ready TVET System, brings together over 1,500 delegates for two days of discussions to advance TVET as a driver of inclusive digital and green transitions across Asean. Jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation and the Skills Development Fund Corporation Malaysia, the event is the fourth flagship platform under the Asean Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, featuring 23 speakers and participants comprising policymakers, industry leaders, education providers, workers' organisations and international partners.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia records 95.1pct TVET graduate job placement rate
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia now records a 95.1 per cent job placement rate for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, who are also now included under the expanded minimum wage framework, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today. He said this reflects that skills training is finally aligning with job opportunities. "53.56 per cent of the country's secondary school leavers in 2024 chose TVET as their first option, marking a significant shift in national education trends. "There are now more than 430,000 students enrolled nationwide, and applications to national TVET institutions have surpassed 200,000," he said at the opening of the Asean TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL). Zahid, who chairs the National TVET Council, said the government's transformation agenda aims to ensure training remains relevant to market needs, inclusive across all communities, and coordinated under a single national vision. "When I was entrusted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2023 to chair the National TVET Council, I knew this was more than just a policy role," he said. He said Malaysia's TVET ecosystem is being positioned as a regional hub for training and certification, with efforts to attract students from other Asean countries while maintaining opportunities for Malaysians. "Our goal is not just to produce skilled workers, but to make Malaysia a credible reference centre for TVET in Asean," he said. Zahid highlighted Malaysia's international collaborations, from 5,125 industrial placements in China, to partnerships with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI in Abu Dhabi, and skills exchanges with Japan, Germany, and Australia. "In this era, the success of one nation in TVET is no longer enough. "Our workforce is increasingly regional, and our challenges are shared. This is why Malaysia proposed the establishment of an Asean TVET Certification & Excellence Hub. "We have gone to the world to strengthen our agenda, ensuring our talent is globally competitive," he said. These TVET reforms form part of a national mission to propel Malaysia into the world's top 20 of the Global Innovation Index and to create 1.2 million high-value jobs in manufacturing and the digital economy within the next five years. In June, Zahid said Malaysia was forging strategic partnerships with international educational institutions and industry players, including those from the United Kingdom, to develop a regionally recognised certification and a centre of excellence for TVET. The two-day conference is jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) and the Skills Development Fund Corporation, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Asean. Held under the Asean Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, the conference brings together over 1,000 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders and educators, to address skills gaps, share best practices, and explore strategies for future-ready workforce development. Also present at the opening ceremony were Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof, HRD Corp chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid, and HRD Corp chief executive officer Dr Syed Alwi Mohamed Sultan. Key discussion areas include strengthening regional collaboration within Asean, bridging skills gaps, aligning TVET with industrial transformation, and breaking barriers to make TVET more inclusive for women, youth, and marginalised communities.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
DPM Zahid moots setting up taskforce to cultivate regional TVET workforce talent in Asean
KUALA LUMPUR: The establishment of an Asean Green and Digital Skills taskforce can unite the region in concrete action and measurable targets, keeping the region future-ready, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Mooting this, the Deputy Prime Minister said this would also ensure steadfast mutual support to cultivate talents needed in the region. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National TVET council chairman, said the success of one nation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) was no longer enough. 'Our workforce is increasingly regional, and our challenges are shared,' he said when launching the Asean TVET Conference held at the World Trade Centre here on Wednesday (Aug 13). He said Malaysia's proposal to establish an Asean TVET Certification and Excellence Hub, which aimed to function as a central body that would set benchmarks, ensure mutual recognition and promote mobility for skilled workers across borders. Ahmad Zahid further stressed the need to pioneer cross-border apprenticeship programmes. 'Here, a student from the Philippines can train in Malaysia, an Indonesian in Vietnam and a Thai graduate in Singapore - turning Asean integration into a living reality through the movement of skills and knowledge,' he said. He said Malaysia's TVET journey does not stop at its borders. According to him, Malaysia has forged impactful pathways, including 5,125 industrial placements in China, collaboration with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of AI in Abu Dhabi and skills exchanges with Japan, Germany and Australia. 'We have gone to the world to strengthen our agenda, ensuring our talent is globally competitive,' he said. The Deputy Prime Minister said some 53.56% of Malaysia's secondary school leavers chose TVET as their first choice last year. Graduate employability, he said, currently stands at 95.1%, reflecting how skills training is matching job opportunities. 'Applications to national TVET institutions have since surged past 200,000. We have also introduced new certification levels, which are equivalent to higher education qualifications. 'This gives our advanced technical graduates the credibility to compete on the global stage,' he said, adding that the minimum wage coverage has also been expanded to include semi-skilled and TVET graduates. In his remarks, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said Asean should be a platform for experience-sharing in skills training. 'The different stages of our industrialisation and the different sectors where each has our respective own competitive advantages will enable us to complement each other,' he said. Citing Malaysia's extensive experience in the high-tech manufacturing sector, specifically semiconductors, he said the country also aspires to be a world-class skills training centre. 'Our unique national experience will surely be useful to fellow member states who are perhaps exploring similar paths. Malaysia too can benefit from learning from our neighbours,' said Sim. The Asean TVET Conference was jointly organised by the Human Resource Development Corporation and the Skills Development Fund Corporation Malaysia. It is the fourth flagship platform under the Asean Year of Skills 2025. Themed 'Advancing Digital and Green Transformations through an Inclusive and Future-Ready TVET System', the two-day conference explores how the region can enhance the quality, relevance and accessibility of TVET to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.
