by Dr. Siti Noor Fauziah Abd Rahim

The UNEVOC Centre at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) has recently organized a five-day Capacity Development Programme for TVET Managers from 15 to 19 December 2025, attended by senior delegates from the Technical and Vocational Training Organization (TVTO) and the Iran Instructor Training Centre (ITC).

The programme aims to strengthen governance, innovation, entrepreneurship, digitalization, and greening in TVET systems. A total of 18 participants from TVTO/ITC, UNESCO Tehran Office, Iran and UNESCO-UNEVOC Germany are taking part in this programme. Assoc. Prof. Ts Dr. Affero Ismail who is also the manager of UTHM UNEVOC Centre leads this programme.

For the record, this programme started in Singapore on 15 December, hosted by Temasek Polytechnic, focusing on effective governance and insights into Singapore’s TVET framework. The opening session was officiated by Mr. Friedrich Huebler, Head of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for TVET, and Mr. Seyed Jamil Ahmadi, Deputy for Training, representing TVTO’s President. The delegates gained strategic perspectives through presentations on governance, Singapore’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and TVET leadership.

On the second day, the delegates explored digital innovation and sustainable practices through visits to Temasek Polytechnic’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre and Gardens by the Bay. These sessions highlighted industry–TVET collaboration, Industry 4.0 applications, and Singapore’s green urban initiatives, emphasizing the role of TVET in preparing future-ready talent.

The program was later continued in Malaysia, beginning with a visit to UTHM, a leading TVET institution and UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre. The delegates also took part in workshops and lab visits covering Festo, IoT, HVAC, and aeronautics, gaining practical exposure to advanced technologies in TVET education.

The visit is also intended for letter of intent (LOI) sigining, formalizing a future partnership between UTHM and TVTO. The LOI was signed by Mr. Seyed Jamil Ahmadi, Deputy President for Training at TVTO, and Prof. Dr. Badaruddin bin Ibrahim, Director of MyRivet UTHM. The signing was witnessed by Mr. Gholamhossein Mohammadi, Deputy Minister and President of TVTO, and Professor Ts. Dr. Abdul Rasid Abdul Razzaq, Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni) of UTHM, establishing a framework for sustained partnership and cooperation.

The program will further extend to Malaysian segment in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, offering further engagement with innovative TVET practices and cross-country learning. This initiative underscores a strong commitment to developing future-ready TVET leaders, fostering international collaboration, and advancing excellence in technical and vocational education.