SEAMEO VOCTECH & MOE MALAYSIA STRENGTHEN REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATION 

SEAMEO VOCTECH | Bazilah Alihan

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (15-17 October 2025) – SEAMEO VOCTECH (SV) officially commenced its 36^th Governing Board Meeting with an opening ceremony officiated by Puan Dr. Rusmini binti Ku Ahmad, Deputy Director-General of Education in Policy and Curriculum Sector, Ministry of Education Malaysia. The event was held on 15 October 2025 at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Among the distinguished attendees were Mr. John Carlo Pineda Fernando (SEAMEO Secretariat Ex-Officio), Dr. Ang Kiam Wee (SV Vice-Chairman), Mr. Haji Norjemee bin Jenek (SV Centre Director), together with the Centre’s Governing Board Members and representatives from SEAMEO member countries, regional partners and Ministry of Education Malaysia representatives. 

Held annually, the Governing Board Meeting serves as a strategic forum for reviewing the Centre’s accomplishments, aligning its initiatives with national and regional education priorities, and setting the direction for the upcoming fiscal year. Members deliberated on working papers categorised for acknowledgment, approval, consideration, and information ensuring informed governance and effective oversight. 

SEAMEO VOCTECH Ex-Officios and Governing Board Members with Guest of Honour, Puan Dr. Rusmini binti Ku Ahmad during the Opening Ceremony

In conjunction with its 36^th Governing Board Meeting, SEAMEO VOCTECH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, successfully hosted a Regional TVET Conference on 16 October, themed “Digital and Green Transitions: Building an Inclusive TVET Ecosystem for Southeast Asia.”

The conference addressed the urgent need for TVET systems to adapt to digitalisation and green transitions, providing a platform for dialogue among policymakers, educators, and industry leaders. Discussions focused on reshaping TVET through innovation, inclusivity, and regional cooperation.

SEAMEO VOCTECH Governing Board Member from Malaysia during the TVET Conference

Key insights were shared by the 11 SEAMEO Governing Board Members and representatives, including keynote speakers from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn and Universiti Technology Malaysia, as well as experts from GIZ-RECOTwin, Labtech International, Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEX), and UNESCO Jakarta. Topics included digital and green competencies, teacher training, and aligning TVET with evolving industry needs.

Additional participants in the audience included SEAMEO SEN, UTM, Victron Venture Sdn Bhd, and the National E-Commerce Vocational Education and Teaching Steering Committee (NCTEE) from PR China, further enriching the knowledge exchange and fostering regional collaboration.

To conclude the programme, delegates participated in a work-life balance activity the following day, including a cultural immersion at Malaysia’s Craft Complex and an educational visit to ERT Setapak Vocational College to showcase the exemplary practices and initiatives implemented by the college. These activities offer the Governing Board Members informal networking, fostering camaraderie, and promoting holistic well-being among the delegation.

Photos: MOE, Malaysia