Malaysia, UK develop TVET capability
THE first Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) seminar was held in Kota Kinabalu last Monday.
Organised by the British High Commission and Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA), the seminar was jointly opened by Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching and British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell.
“Today TVET holds the key towards driving the engine of industrial and economic growth in the competitive global market, “said Dr Yap.
The UK, with a strong track record in both academics and TVET, is a global leader in supporting other countries to develop excellence in their respective education and training systems. It is well-placed to support Malaysia by sharing its experience and bringing in the necessary expertise. The UK’s Department for International Trade has a dedicated education sector team that works with overseas govern- ments, states and businesses that want to engage UK partners in large-scale education projects.
Treadell said: “The UK and Malaysia have an incredible long standing relationship and education partnership is at the heart of it.”
“Under our ongoing Education is GREAT campaign, we are making UK expertise in education and training accessible to Malaysia at the national level and state level, in areas such as education and training provision; educational technology and resources; English language teaching; qualifications, assessment and quality assurance; as well as professional development and leadership,” she said.
SEDIA has been proactive in the Sabah’s human capital development agenda. One of the initiatives sees SEDIA collaborating with TVET institutions in Sabah to help produce quality skilled workforce for Sabah.
SEDIA president and chief executive Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari said that: “As the agency for overseeing the Sabah Development Corridor, SEDIA links relevant stakeholders involved in the human capital development arena in the state.”
During a visit to Sabah in 2016, Treadell was impressed with the state’s development and potential.
“I am delighted that the UK is the partner of choice to work with Sabah in delivering on its human capital development aspiration.
“The UK can share its expertise in developing skills and competencies for the sectors which account for a total of 114,000 jobs required by the Sabah Development Corridor,” Treadell added.