Kuala lumpur: Sending Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) instructors abroad for industry attachment and specialised training should be a top priority to ensure the success of Malaysia's new high-technology training programmes scheduled to begin in July, according to education experts.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, National TVET Council member Prof Dr Ramlee Mustapha emphasized the importance of this initiative to enhance the capabilities of local educators, many of whom have been trained in traditional technical disciplines. He highlighted the introduction of emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cryptology, and green technology into the national TVET ecosystem and stressed that challenges related to infrastructure and instructor expertise must be addressed through exposure to advanced training systems overseas.
Prof Dr Ramlee suggested that TVET instructors should participate in attachment programmes in countries like the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan, where robust links between industry and training institutions are well-established. He pointed out that Germany's dual-training model and the AI innovation ecosystem in the United States offer valuable examples for Malaysia to adapt and significantly enhance its educators' capabilities.
During the National TVET Day celebration last Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that all government training and research institutions would be required to offer programmes in new technology areas starting in July. Prof Dr Ramlee identified one of the biggest challenges facing the sector as the shortage of instructors with expertise in machine learning, industrial automation, big data analytics, and green engineering systems. Without continuous professional development through international collaboration and industry certification, he warned that educators might struggle to effectively deliver future-oriented curricula.
Investment in developing instructor competencies is essential for the TVET MADANI agenda to produce a highly skilled workforce capable of competing globally, Prof Dr Ramlee added.
Meanwhile, Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Hasril Amiruddin, dean of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education, remarked that developing competent instructors must go hand in hand with the design of training modules. He suggested that implementation be phased, focusing on curriculum development, instructor expertise, and adequate learning facilities, given the varying levels of readiness among institutions.
Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Hasril stressed the need for strategic collaboration with industry players to ensure curricula and training programmes remain aligned with rapid technological advances and evolving labour market demands. He said that the government's initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to transforming the national TVET ecosystem, which has significant potential to produce the skilled workforce needed to drive economic growth and support strategic industries.
He concluded by noting that the focus on TVET 2.0 aligns with national needs in high-impact sectors, including smart agriculture, food security, automation, digitalisation, and other emerging technologies that can strengthen the country's economic competitiveness.