The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) and the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET) of the Ministry of Education, Myanmar co-organized this year’s in-country program in the country regarding on the application of the blue ocean strategy for TVET institutional management. The program was held on November 18-22, 2019 at the DTVET Headquarters in Bahan Township, Yangon. A total of 31 high and mid-level administrators, principals and instructors from different polytechnic institutes in the country attended the program.

Dr. Vijay Patil assisting the participants regarding their tasks The five-day training course recognizes the importance of Blue Ocean Strategy to visualize the ideas and manage the organization. It is about creating uncontested market space, making the rivals irrelevant rather than competing with them and conveying the infinite possibilities for profitable growth.

As such, topics and lectures focused on the concept of blue ocean strategy, application of blue ocean strategy to manage TVET Institute and direct and indirect analysis of stakeholders. An action plan for the institute was developed by the participants as their output.

The program was supervised jointly by Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane, Director General of CPSC and Dr. Aye Myint, Director General of DTVET. Program management and logistics, as well as main program resource were delivered by Dr. Vijay Patil, seconded faculty consultant of CPSC and presently the chairperson of the Research, Publications and Information Division. Local arrangements meanwhile was facilitated by Dr. Zaw Lin Htun, Deputy Director of the DTEVT FRD Section. Meanwhile, additional lectures and ideas in the local context was delivered by Ms. Yadanar Zaw, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Edify Myanmar.

Dr. Lamichhane presenting a token of appreciation to Dr. Nay Myo Tun, Deputy Director General of TVET.
The participants discussing their group outputs

To supplement the classroom lectures, a visit to School of Industrial Training and Education (SITE), Bahan Township, Yangon was embarked. The school was opened in June 2018 with the aim of increasing skilled labor, technician and job opportunities for the advanced industrial production sector.

National Seminar on Greening TVET

As a strategy to spread the lessons of the in-country program to a wider audience and provide a deeper analysis of the issues surrounding the country’s TVET system, a national seminar was organized on November 20, 2019 at the DTVET Headquarters in Yangon. A total of 79 people from all over the country attended the event.

The seminar was conceptualized on the realization that TVET qualifications do not solely guarantee economic freedom and there is a necessity to devise certain strategies such as greening TVET as one of the Blue Ocean Strategies which may lessen the cut-throat competition and thereby keep TVET sector attractive, productive as well as relevant and sustainable.

Key speakers were invited from both the side of CPSC and the Myanmar TVET sector. Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane and Dr. Vijay Patil both presented ideas on promoting TVET for sustainable development and provided key examples of its implementation in the region.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sein Thaung Oo, a specialist from the industrial sector and Ms. Thi Thi Pyone, Deputy Director of DTVET, provided key ideas and recommendations in greening the Myanmar TVET sector. Dr. Zaw Lin Htun, Deputy Director of DTVET FRD Section, also provided his assistance to the program as the seminar’s local coordinator.

ome of the attendees of the national seminar.

Ms. Thi Thi Pyone of DTVET addressing the audience
Dr. Witt Yee Hlaing of GTI Laputta, one of the participants, being interviewed by the local media (Myanmar TV) regarding the event.

The program participants with Dr. Patil during their visit to School of Industrial Training and Education (SITE), Bahan Township, Yangon