TIANJIN: Malaysia has proposed a World TVET Council, with China as its permanent host, to boost global cooperation in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Deputy Prime Minister said the council would be a sustained international platform.
"It would convene annually to bring nations, industry and institutions together in shaping a shared global agenda for the future of skills, technology and workforce development," he said in his keynote address at the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference 2026 here on Friday (Oct 16).
Ahmad Zahid also expressed Malaysia’s support for the proposed Framework of World Vocational and Technical Education Standards, known as the Beijing Agreement, saying it could improve training quality and strengthen international cooperation while respecting each country’s national priorities.
Malaysia’s partnership with China demonstrated how international cooperation could translate into tangible opportunities for young people, including training placements, exposure to technology and better career prospects, he said.
"I also see skills as the new currency of economic progress, and China has much to offer in connecting TVET with industry.
"This conviction has guided my engagements with China’s leadership, including my participation in bilateral discussions with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang," he said.
Through the collaboration, Malaysia secured 5,125 training opportunities in 2024 and 2,500 more placements this year.
Chinese partners also provided training equipment, including electric vehicles (EVs), to give Malaysian students hands-on experience with technologies shaping the future of mobility, he said.
Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia was moving towards High-Impact TVET (Hi-TVET), focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, semiconductors and other emerging technologies to prepare workers for higher-value jobs.
As chairman of the National TVET Council, Ahmad Zahid said he was leading the country’s TVET agenda across 12 ministries and 1,398 institutions nationwide.
"By strengthening coordination and industry partnerships, we are building the foundation to take TVET to the next level," he said.
However, he said the next challenge was to translate greater participation into stronger capabilities through closer collaboration between educational institutions and industry.
He cited the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project as an example, with 208 Malaysians completing railway training in China this year to develop local expertise in operating and maintaining the railway.
He also highlighted the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, stressing that investment and talent development must go hand in hand.
The Malaysia-China Industry-Education Alliance announced initiatives worth approximately 49 million yuan (RM29.9mil), including 1,000 scholarship opportunities and 2,000 training opportunities.
The Malaysia-China Institute in Bagan Datuk would further support skills development, with capacity for up to 2,000 students across 18 priority fields.
Ahmad Zahid outlined three priorities to deepen bilateral cooperation: strengthening industry-led workplace learning, equipping instructors through exchanges and industrial attachments, and developing joint applied research to address industrial challenges.
He thanked the Chinese government, industry partners and educational institutions for their support, adding that cooperation between the two countries could help empower the next generation and improve livelihoods.
