The COVID-19 pandemic has totally changed the economic scenario, dynamics of work in the industrial arenas and the type of partnership and its fine tuning between institute and industry on skill development has become a more challenging and creative process which require more innovative approaches for collaboration between TVET Institutions and Industries for sustaining the supply of the relevantly skilled workforce to the labor market.

This is the motivation to conduct the in-country program in Industry – Institution- Partnership for achieving quality in TVET on the request extended by the Government of Myanmar. It was held from July 24-28, 2021 and was conducted via Zoom. A total of 25 participants from the different institutions in the country attended the program.

This program on Industry- Institute partnerships aims to strengthen capacity of TVET system of Myanmar and their TVET personnel from different precincts of the TVET systems to contribute to enhancement of their understanding and furthering their competencies to better manage Industry- Institution partnership to achieve higher level relevance and quality of the skill acquired during different TVET programs.

The program was jointly supervised by the Director General, Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane and the Deputy Director General of the Department of Vocational Education and Training (DTVET), Dr. Nay Myo Tun. Dr. Hazrat Hussain, the former CPSC Faculty Consultant and currently the Principal of the Government Technical Training College in Peshawar, Pakistan provided the main resources as the program coordinator and resource person. Dr. Maw Maw Tun, the Deputy Director of the Human Resources Development Section of DTVET, acted as the local coordinator. In addition, Dr. Myo Min Thant, the Principal of the Shwe Pyi Thar Government Technical Institute, acted as the local resource person.

Dr. Lamichhane addressing the queries of the participants

Topics tackled during the five-day program are the following: (1) Special Lecture on Post COVID-19 Scenario for Industry Institute Partnership; (2) From linkages to Industry-Institution Partnerships in TVET System: Concepts and Principles; (3) Innovative Models and Approaches in TVET Industry - Institute Partnership; (4) Dual Training System: Concept, Benefits, and Challenges; (5) Industry-Institution linkages in TVET system of Myanmar; (6) I-I Partnership in Curriculum development and Training programs and (7) Action Planning for Institute-Industry Partnership for quality TVET.

In his opening address, Dr. Nay Myo Tun, cited that the Covid-19 pandemic made collaboration between TVET institutions and the industries more relevant than ever as it ensures a sustainable connection between the labor workforce and the resources. He said that this in-country program will help the participants to understand the significance of IIL in TVET and to apply the action plan to practical use.

National Seminar

On July 26, 2021, a National Seminar on “Public-Private Partnership as an Expanding Horizon for Industry-Institute Partnership for the TVET System of Myanmar” was held. A total of 50 participants from DTVET and affiliated agencies attended the online national seminar.

The following presentations were delivered:

  1. PPP: Basic Rubrics and its Rule in Bringing Relevance of TVET to Workplace Requirements and Quality Delivery- Dr. Nay Myo Tun
  2. Encouraging Environment for PPP Projects and Practices: The Myanmar Context- Daw Khine Khine Nwe.
  3. International Frameworks and Practices for PPP in TVET- Dr Hazrat Hussain

The speakers of the National Seminar during one of the discussions in the National Seminar (Clockwise, Left to Right): Daw Khin Khine New, Dr. Nay Myo Tun, Dr. Maw Maw Tun and Dr. Hazrat Hussain.

Response of the Participants

Mr. Minn Minn Htunn (Principal, Government Technical College of Naypyitaw)
In this training program, we got more awareness on the frameworks and systems of the industry-institute partnerships. We also understand the concerns and challenges of industry-institution linkages. I believe that this awareness that we gained in this training program will support the implementation of our programs in Myanmar. I would like to thank Dr. Hazrat Hussain for his kind suggestions and tasks. I would also like to thank Dr. Nay Myo Tun and Dr. Maw Maw Tun for sharing valuable knowledge on the industry-institute in Myanmar.
Ms. Zar Ni Tun
I have learned a lot of valuable advice with regards to industry-institute linkage. I thank the DTVET for the opportunity to attend. Our knowledge and experience that we gained from this training, we will use in our institutes to enhance our strategies for PPP. We have a lot of PPP projects and we learned the PPP framework, policy and process that we will be able to apply as we enhance our institutions. We will also continue to look after our strengths and weaknesses in order to continue applying the lessons that we learned during the program. We hope that through the systematic preparations, we will be able to tap the benefits of IIL in TVET particularly in our institutions.