Preparing TVET educators for the Next Generation
International conferenceKuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 12-13 December 2011
In close collaboration with Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education
(CPSC) (Manila, Philippines), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (Magdeburg, Germany) and the Department of Polytechnic Education, Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia), and with various partner organizations through EDUEXPO 2011, UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre organised the international conference on Preparing TVET educators for the Next Generation.
The conference, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 12 to 13 December 2011, objectified to reflect on the significance of global challenges in TVET educators’ development and aimed to stimulate efforts and participation in discussions among decision makers, policy implementers, senior administrators, curriculum developers, and academic professionals to build awareness and information on emerging issues and cooperation frameworks for the development of TVET educators.
Over 200 delegates from Australia, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Egypt, Fiji, Germany, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK and USA attended the conference and discussed the significant role of teachers as agents of change for the next generation. The joint organizers welcomed all the delegates to the conference and expressed their highest appreciation for their participation. Mr. Shyamal Majumdar, who was the inaugural speaker during the conference, delivered a keynote address and emphasized that teacher education must be a top priority, the teacher being the key change agent for progress to be made. It was furthermore mentioned that there is an increasing need to make preparations for the changes in the mode of delivery and to offer curriculum with strong industrial relevance. Finally, participants discussed the emergence of an innovation-led economy, ICT revolution, and sustainable development as the principal drivers of change in society.
The conference concluded with a set of “Next Gen Imperatives 2011” which put forward essential recommendations and action points for policy makers, senior administrators, curriculum planners, TVET practitioners and other relevant individuals and organizations to focus on teacher education in TVET in addressing global issues and challenges facing TVET educators’ development. The “Next Gen Imperatives 2011” underscores the need for more concentrated efforts on capacity building of TVET educators including a teacher qualifications framework, educators’ need to prepare graduates for green economy, using ICT in advancing TVET educators for the next generation, new models of pedagogy to match the emerging learning styles of digital natives and many others.
The conference successfully provided a platform for sharing knowledge and perspectives on issues, challenges and emerging trends in the education systems with the advent of ICT, rapid globalization and shift towards knowledge-driven economies and the urgent need to look into the readiness of TVET educators in facing such challenges.
CPSC’s 38th anniversary of delivering quality programs and services towards the strengthening of TVET was also commemorated at the international meeting. In this context, along with GIZ, Technical Education for Skills Development Authority (TESDA) (Philippines), Ministry of External Affairs (India), Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia) and the Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre received the Most Valuable Partner Award (MVP Award). The award highlighted the significance of partner institutions and the promotion of public-private partnership for the advancement of human resource development in the Asia Pacific Region.