The Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education (CPSC) partnered with the Don Bosco (DB) TECH-ASEAN once again for the online Customized Program on Quality Management Systems in TVET Amidst Challenging Times from May 19-25, 2021.

CPSC teamed up with the DB TECH-ASEAN for the second time to facilitate the quality management systems (QMS) journey in the operations of its TVET centers/institutions/schools in Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Laos. In view of their determined pursuit for a QMS in their services, the program also assisted these member countries’ to enhance their capacities on drawing up necessary documents such as some handbooks for their institutions’ operations.

The program enabled the participants to demonstrate a deeper understanding, awareness and explain the need for quality management in TVET, explain the concepts and principles of QMS, apply PDCA and management tools for quality improvement in TVET, develop some essential documents for TVET management and governance, and demonstrate leadership with the ability to influence and enthuse others through personal advocacy, vision and drive.

Mr. Agustinus Kristiyanto, Managing Director, DB TECH ASEAN, Indonesia, in his Special Remarks during the closing program, encouraged the participating countries that the real challenge lies on each country’s realization and implementation of the new learnings that they have gathered from the training. He added that the new knowledge, information and skills that they have gained from the program, particularly on the development of some handbooks, must be shared with their colleagues within the network for better communication and collaboration on embedding QMS within their operations.

Program Coordinator and Resource Person, Prof. Romulita Alto, EdD, in her Vote of Thanks, thanked all who had made the program a resounding success. She was delighted with the very active contributions and input sharing of all the participants, which paved the way for the smooth implementation of the program. Prof Alto congratulated the participants for “completing the program that marks not an ending of learning, but rather the beginning of something great in the future.”

Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane, CPSC Director General and Program Resource Person, in his closing remarks, congratulated the participants and pledged that CPSC is always ready to support and guide DB TECH ASEAN even in the remotest areas of its member countries. Following the program on the concept and principles of QMS, Dr. Lamichhane suggested that CPSC may also assist in its Quality Manual development, and on their endeavors for institutional development plan. He said that “although the pandemic had given negative things, the pandemic brought us together to organize this capacity building for the improvement of TVET delivery in the ASEAN countries. My dream came true today by listening to the feedback of the participants that they learned a lot from the program.”

Engr. Abdul Ghani, CPSC FacuIty Specialist was also among the Resource Persons.