Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane, CPSC Director General, was in Chiang Mai to participate in the ASEAN TVET Officials Meeting held in the Empress Hotel and Convention Center from August 1 to August 4, 2019. He was tapped to be a panelist in the “TVET for Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age” panel discussion in which he presented ways to reorient TVET to practices of technopreneurship to prepare for a future-ready system.

This year’s gathering was organized by the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC)-Thailand and revolves around the theme: “Advancing TVET towards Internationalization of Vocational Education Qualification and Standards for Sustainable Development.” It was intended to provide opportunities to explore and identify specific frameworks for Cooperation, commitments, and action plan related to TVET Qualification and Standards, TVET Workforce Development for Digital Age. It also aims to be a venue to discuss the ASEAN Qualification Reference Framework, including TVET for Entrepreneurship and Employment in the Digital Age. In addition, it aims to establish networking platform among the TVET institutions and TVET partners and discuss the roles of parties involved in TVET Qualification and Standards; and to provide capacity building support to TVET officials and TVET institutions.

Notable attendees include the OVEC Secretary General Dr. Boonrux Yodphet and the Deputy Minister of Education Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich who were given the opportunity to address the participants about the importance of the aforementioned theme. In addition, the OVEC Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Prachakhom Chantharachit, delivered the keynote address regarding the challenges in the development of vocational education and skills training across ASEAN countries.

The rest of the meeting days tackled five emerging issues namely: (1) Strategies for Internationalized TVET Qualifications and Standards; (2) TVET Workforce Development for Industry 4.0; (3) TVET Workforce Development in the Digital Age; (4) ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework and the Linkages of Qualification and Standards among ASEAN Member Countries; and (5) TVET for Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age.

The four-day meeting concluded with the successful organization of High Officials Round Table Meeting and the Consultation Meeting on Thailand AQRF which was convened simultaneously. A joint statement encapsulating the recommendations of the conference was launched during the closing ceremony, graced by the Minister of Education himself, Mr. Nataphol Teepsuwan.

Dr. Lamichhane (right) with Dr. Rangsan Thepmondri (OVEC Coordinator for International Affairs, left) and Dr. Paiboon Saiyawongs (APACC Special Officer for Thailand, center)

Dr. Lamichhane (right) receiving a token from the notable officials of OVEC and Ministry of Education)

Participants of the 2019 ASEAN TVET Officials Meeting.