Source: SDG Academy
Author: Shannon Kobran, Head of Education and Training, SDG Academy
Published: August 22, 2025
Category: News / Thought Leadership
Overview
More than 1,500 delegates converged in Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN TVET Conference, held under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship as part of the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025. The event brought together policymakers, educators, and development partners to chart the future of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across the region — and to confront one central truth: the transition to greener, more digital economies cannot happen without a skilled workforce.
Skills as the New Currency
The conference opened with a striking declaration from Malaysia’s Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim Chee Keong, who announced that “skills training will be the currency of our time.” Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi reinforced the message: “Skills are the currency of the future, and TVET is the mint in which they are forged.”
This framing set the tone for the day — positioning TVET not as an alternative to academic education, but as central to ASEAN’s sustainable development ambitions. Discussions ranged from region-wide standards for green financing and transnational TVET credentials to a proposed ASEAN Green and Digital Skills Task Force and new centres of excellence.
Green Skills: Beyond the Digital Lens
A key tension emerged throughout the day: while the conference championed “green skills,” the conversation frequently defaulted to AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity. These are undeniably important — but several speakers cautioned that technology evolves faster than curricula can keep pace.
The reflections from SDG Academy’s Shannon Kobran challenge the sector to think more broadly: truly future-ready workers need more than technical proficiency. They need agility, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Embedding education for sustainable development, critical thinking, and socio-emotional skills alongside technical training is essential if ASEAN is to prepare workers not just for the green economy, but for a sustainable society.
Country Spotlights
Malaysia reported that more than half of school leavers now choose TVET, with a 91% employability rate among graduates. Yet challenges remain — including social perceptions that still favour university degrees, and a growing cohort of young people choosing informal work in the gig economy over formal employment.
Indonesia offered one of the conference’s most concrete examples of progress. The country has adopted an operational definition of “green jobs” and a measurable framework for tracking them — moving beyond rhetoric to actionable policy under its “Golden Vision 2024” national development plan.
Singapore’s SkillsFuture initiative was repeatedly cited as a regional benchmark, celebrated for building a culture of lifelong learning through credits, employer partnerships, and flexible learning pathways.
Thailand was also represented, with Dr. Siripan Choomnoom, President of the Institute of Vocational Education Bangkok Council (OVEC), presenting the country’s approach to TVET development.
Industry Perspectives
Private sector voices added practical grounding to the policy discussions. PETRONAS, Malaysia’s state energy company, shared how it actively engages secondary school students at the critical decision point between academic and vocational pathways. The company has also begun embedding sustainable practices directly into its training programmes — for example, reusing surplus materials from suppliers for trainee welders and fitters.
However, a key challenge was honestly acknowledged: TVET initiatives at scale cannot depend on individual champions or ad hoc corporate goodwill. Systemic investment and institutional frameworks are essential.
A Missing Language: The SDGs
One notable observation from the conference: despite the strong emphasis on “green” and “digital” skills, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were almost entirely absent from the agenda. With only 17% of SDG targets on track as the 2030 deadline approaches, this raises an important question — are we losing a shared global language for sustainable development at precisely the moment when collective action is most needed?
Key Takeaways for Industry
- TVET is increasingly being recognised as a strategic economic asset, not a fallback option
- Green skills must include human and socio-emotional competencies alongside technical ones
- Regional collaboration frameworks are emerging, but implementation at scale remains the critical challenge
- Perceptions of vocational education need to shift — employability data is strong, but prestige gaps persist
- Lifelong learning culture, championed through models like Singapore’s SkillsFuture, offers a replicable blueprint for ASEAN
Read the full article by Shannon Kobran on the [SDG Academy website](https://sdgacademy.org/asean-tvet-conference/).