The Manpower Department under MOHR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) during the 2019 China-ASEAN Vocational Education Exhibition and Forum.
The MoU will be a concrete platform for both countries to share knowledge and expertise through the exchange programmes. Considering China’s rapid advancement particularly in IR4.0 technologies, Malaysia hope to learn and tap on China’s technologies; especially in areas which China has distinct advantages.
Minister of Human Resources M Kula Segaran who was present explained that one major challenge was meeting the requirement of new technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), as well as embedding the TVET curriculum with soft skills relevant to IR4.0. The Ministry aspires to train the future skilled workforce that are competent in technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4).
Some of the key technologies that are frequently associated with IR4 are Artificial Intelligence (A.I), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), and additive manufacturing or 3D printing. Considering China’s rapid advancement particularly in IR4 technologies, it makes sense for Malaysia to learn from China in some of the areas that China has a distinct advantage.
Underlining the importance of International collaboration, the Minister also said ASEAN and China could work together to uplift the standard and quality of TVET education through the sharing of best practices, expertise, knowledge and joint research.
Even within ASEAN, we should come up with a common standard as a regional benchmark to harmonise TVET education.
He said MoHR puts a strong emphasis on the importance of international cooperation in TVET either at bilateral or multilateral levels. We recognize the importance of having China as a strategic partner in TVET.
The ministry also values the engagement and support of all the key stakeholders for making TVET a success story that will yield great benefits for Malaysia and any international collaborators.
Prepared by:
Ministry of Human Resources
25 September 2019
Comment: It’s not only the Germans or Americans that we learn IR4.0 from, advanced Asian countries like Japan & China are equally strong in these areas. It’s good that our country is open to collaborate with any countries that are more advanced than us in these areas.
Wonder what’s the status of YB Kulasegaran’s visit to Japan in July 2019 about having Malaysian TVET/blue collar job workers’ prospect of working in Japan’s construction, farming, nursing care etc sectors.
Perhaps our Malaysian workers may gain some valueable technological or cultural values that can later be imparted to our locals once they are back in Malaysia.
