Quad-partite organizers successfully organize Int'l Conference
on Preparing TVET Educators for the Next Generation
Over 200 delegates from more than 25 countries from the Asia Pacific region, Europe, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, Africa and US deliberated on the emergence of an innovation-led economy, ICT revolution, and sustainable development as the principal drivers of change in society for the "International Conference on Preparing TVET Educators for the Next Generation (EDUCON 2011)" from December 12 to 13, 2011 in Malaysia. The EDUCON delegates 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 through the "Next Gen Imperatives 2011".
 International delegates of the EDUCON 2011 in one of the plenary sessions. |
The "Next Gen Imperatives 2011" underscores the need for more concentrated efforts on capacity building of TVET educators including 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, held from December 12 to 13, 2011 at the Corus Hotel, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, was organized by the quad-partite organizers composed of the Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education (CPSC), GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Germany, UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for TVET, and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE)-Department of Polytechnic Education (DPE), Malaysia.
The joint organizers comprised of Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, Director General of CPSC, Dr. Shyamal Majumdar, Head, UNESCO-UNEVOC International Center in TVET, Dr. Eberhard Trowe of GIZ, and Mej (K) Md. Nor Yusof, Director General, DPE, welcomed all the delegates to the conference and expressed their highest appreciation for their participation to the conference. They also emphasized that teacher education must be a top priority in every country in the world, the teacher being the key change agent, for progress to be achieved and 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.
The Conference successfully provided a platform for sharing and deliberations on vital issues, challenges and emerging trends in the education systems in the 21st century with the advent of ICT, rapid globalization and shift towards knowledge-driven economy and the urgent need to look into the readiness of TVET educators in facing such challenges. The delegates examined said premises and exchanged ideas on good practices, new paradigms, models and approaches in teaching and innovations. The discussions also brought to fore proposals for policy review and reforms in the education systems along with strengthening of capacity building programs for teachers in preparing TVET educators in facing arising issues in education in the future.
TVET experts and practitioners, policy makers, educators, teachers, government administrators and industry specialists comprised the participating delegates and line-up of distinguished panelists and speakers including Dr. Hj Junaidi Hj Abdul Rahman, Ministry of Education, Brunei Darrusalam, Mr. Steve McKee, Labtech International, Ltd., Dr. Norman Lucas, University of London, England, Dr. Bonaventura Wanjaja Kerre, School of Education, Moi University, Kenya, to name a few, who shared their views on the thematic areas pertaining to educators' reorientation. The emergence of subject areas focusing on sustainable development, green economy, use of ICT in learning and their impact on educators' development were reviewed and deliberated by the delegates, while regional and country perspectives on good practices for TVET educators' development were shared by delegates from CPSC member countries.
The major international event was also held in commemoration of CPSC's anniversary as it marks 38 fruitful years of delivering quality programs and services for the benefit of the region and as it expands its horizons in reaching out not only to other parts of the region but also to the world by holding such kind of conference. In line with CPSC's anniversary, the College heralded institutional partners who have continuously worked with CPSC in strengthening TVET through collaboration and participation in the conduct of various CPSC programs and projects through the maiden awarding of the Most Valuable Partner Award (MVP Award). GIZ, UNESCO-UNEVOC, Technical Education for Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines, Ministry of External Affairs, India, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia and Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation comprised the first batch of recipients of the CPSC MVP Awards. The award highlighted the significance of partner institutions and the promotion of public-private partnership for the advancement of HRD in the Asia Pacific Region. CPSC believes that this step will improve understanding and agreements with member/potential member countries and for continued strengthening of partnership and networking with various organizations.
Another highlight of the International Conference was the launching of its newest publication entitled "Harnessing Qualifications Framework towards Quality Assurance". The book is a compilation of 32 papers presented during the International Conference on Harnessing Qualifications Framework towards Quality Assurance in TVET. The book highlighted thematic areas discussed during the conference namely qualifications framework and quality assurance in the global and regional contexts, innovative practices of NQF in TVET, skills standards and quality initiatives and many others.
The quad-partite organizers along with the 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 laid down the NEXTGEN EDUCON IMPERATIVES 2011 for consideration of and further action from policy makers from international and regional organizations, the government and private sectors, non-government organizations and all sectors focusing on teacher education and development to work hand in hand in preparing TVET educators for the next generation.
 (From L-R, starting from 4th, seated) Mej (K) Md. Nor Yusof, Director General, DPE, Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, CPSC Director General, Dr. Shyamal Majumdar, Head, UNESCO-UNEVOC, Dr. Eberhard Trowe, GIZ with the session chairs and speakers of the Conference. |
 Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, CPSC Director General hands over CPSC’s newest publication "Harnessing Qualifications Framework towards Quality Assurance" launched during the Conference, to Mej (K) Md. Nor Yusof, Director General, DPE. |
|
View Conference Report | Conference Presentations
