CPSC’s National Seminar on Building Skills for Employability: Trends and Perspectives held in conjunction with the Special SDPA In-Country Program on Champion Leaders Development Program for TVET Skills for Employability from November 26-30, 2012 (see related story CPSC’s Special…), successfully gathered a total of 103 participants. The seminar was conducted on November 28, 2012, at Polytechnic Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Perlis, Malaysia.

The seminar provided a platform for sharing of ideas on global TVET skills for employability scenario, social entrepreneurship, employment and skills strategies in Malaysia, youth employment and TVET skills strategy and other various aspects of TVET perspectives in the light of building skills for employability.

CPSC organized the seminar in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), Department of Polytechnic Education (DPE) and the Department of Community Colleges Education, Malaysia. Mej (K) Md. Nor Yusof, Director General of DPE, in his opening remarks, conveyed his high regard and gratitude to CPSC for its active collaboration with them in organizing such timely events like the ICP and the seminar. He said that the topic of the seminar is a very relevant issue in “this uncertain and turbulent economic climate”. He further urged polytechnic lecturers to “develop innovative teaching and learning approaches to further boost and enrich students’ learning experiences”.

Participants of the well-attended event were composed of Directors and faculty of DPE, DCCE and various polytechnics and community colleges in Malaysia.

Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, CPSC Director General presented a paper on Current and Future TVET Imperatives to Address Global Skills for Employability Scenario whereby he underscored the need for integrated policy approaches oriented towards a responsive sustainable development including national and regional qualification framework.

Mr. Wan Arjunawan B. Wan Halim, an Entrepreneur, and CEO of Entrepreneur Culture Incorporated Sdn. Bhd. discussed about some key concepts and ideas on promoting social entrepreneurship for creating sustainable communities in Malaysia and shared his expertise on initiating social entrepreneurship. Ms. Suriany Bt Samsudin from the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR), North Corridor, elaborated on mainstreaming vocational skills training in Malaysia through skills certification system, partnership and linkages in his paper presentation with the topic Employment and Skills Strategies in Malaysia. On the other hand, Engr. Jahangir Alam, CPSC Faculty Specialist, shared best practices on youth employment and TVET skills strategy in Bangladesh.


The well-attended National Seminar in Malaysia.


Mej (K) Md. Nor Yusof, Director General, Department of Polytechnic Education (DPE), Malaysia (left) and Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, CPSC Director General (3rd fr. left) exchange tokens at the opening ceremonies.