Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem is being strengthened to build a highly skilled workforce capable of facing global economic challenges driven by AI and automation.
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) will continue to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem to ensure the country has a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting global economic challenges that are being increasingly driven by artificial intelligence (AI), automation and industrial digitalisation.
Its Minister, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, said TVET is now among the country’s strategic agenda and is no longer just a skills training system.
“TVET is not just a skills training system, but the foundation for economic resilience, industrial strength and the future of the country’s competitiveness,” he said in a statement in conjunction with the 2026 National TVET Day celebration here today.
He added that the ministry’s TVET initiative would continue to strengthen the country’s talent development through industry-based training, supported by the active participation of the Industry Lead Body (ILB) and Future Skills Talent Council (FSTC).
According to him, the employability rate of graduates of training institutes under the ministry reached 95.5% within six months of completing their training, with 85.1% finding employment in fields related to their training.
“The employer satisfaction rate reached 97.2%, thus proving the quality of training and high compatibility between the programmes offered and the actual needs of the industry,” he said.
Ramanan said that for the July 2026 UP_TVET Perdana intake alone, more than 20,000 places are being offered, involving 315 TVET institutions nationwide, thereby providing wider opportunities for youth to obtain quality skills training.
He said the Department of Manpower (JTM) continues to play a crucial role in strengthening the TVET ecosystem through a network of 33 ADTEC (Advanced Technology Centre) campuses, including the Japan Malaysia Technical Institute and the Proton Institute, as well as the satellite campuses in Senai and Anjung Muadzam.
He added that TVET training now covers 11 main clusters, including manufacturing, electronics, information and communication technology (ICT), welding, automation, transportation and electricity, as well as new technology fields such as semiconductors, robotics, cybersecurity, aerospace, renewable energy and hydrogen technology.
According to him, strategic collaborations with industrial companies, including Proton, Petronas, Petros, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), Infineon Technologies, Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) and Micron Memory Malaysia, have also enhanced the quality of training through technology transfer, industrial training and career opportunities for graduates.
Ramanan also emphasised that the establishment of the KESUMA Semiconductor Academy (ASK) at JMTI, Penang, was a move to expand training in the field of semiconductors and future technologies.
At the same time, he said that the Department of Skills Development (JPK) remains committed to enhancing the TVET system through the Malaysian Skills Certification System (SPKM), the Malaysian TVET Rating (MTR) and the implementation of the Malaysian Modular Skills Certificate (SKMC) to expand access to training, reskilling and upskilling.
He said the MADANI Inclusive TVET (Ti) approach ensures that skills training is accessible to all, including the B40 group, persons with disabilities (PwDs), Orang Asli, women, marginalised youth and rural communities.
He added that the effort was also strengthened through the Nibong Tebal Campus, which is PwD-friendly, as an example of the government’s commitment to ensuring more inclusive TVET education.
In addition, Ramanan said the government was strengthening the reform of the National Skills Development Act 2006 (Act 652) to improve TVET governance, expand flexible learning pathways and strengthen industry involvement in developing national talent.
