With the continuous commitment of the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) to facilitate knowledge-sharing across the Asia-Pacific and beyond, another international webinar was successfully conducted on January 14, 2026, focusing on the topic of “Fostering Sustainable Development through Transformative TVET.” A total of 106 participants coming from CPSC’s member countries, including Timor-Leste and Ethiopia, joined the webinar via Zoom and Facebook livestream.
The webinar addressed the rapid technological, economic, and social transformations that have shaped workforce demands in the region. It also underscored the critical role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in preparing learners with relevant, future-ready skills while promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The discussions highlighted TVET’s contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
The webinar featured two sessions from esteemed resource speakers from Myanmar and Bhutan who talked about the topics on “Curriculum Innovation for Sustainable TVET” and “Integrating Design Thinking, Entrepreneurship and Gross National Happiness in TVET”, respectively.
Dr. Maw Maw Tun delivers his lecture on “Curriculum Innovation for Sustainable TVET”
Delivered by Dr. Maw Maw Tun, the Director of Research at the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET), Ministry of Science and Technology, Myanmar, and UNESCO-UNEVOC Coordinator for Myanmar, the first session highlighted global and regional trends influencing TVET, which include digitalization, automation, artificial intelligence, and the growing demand for green skills. He emphasized the urgent need for curriculum reform to respond to labour market shifts, citing the importance of equipping learners with digital, green, and AI-related competencies for inclusive growth.
Drawing from Myanmar’s experience, Dr. Maw Maw Tun further discussed the transition from traditional content-based curricula to outcome-based education (OBE) and competency-based training (CBT). The session showcased reforms aligning curricula with industry needs, national development plans, and accreditation standards, while embedding sustainability, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning.
Mr. Karma Dorji talks about design thinking, entrepreneurship, and Gross National Happiness in TVET during his session
Moreover, Mr. Karma Dorji, Deputy Chief Program Officer of the Technical Trainers Training and Resource Center at the Department of Workforce Planning and Skills Development, Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Bhutan, highlighted transformative approaches in TVET for sustainable development. Building on Dr. Maw Maw Tun’s session, Mr. Dorji explained that traditional TVET models historically centered on static technical skills and immediate job placement, which are now no longer sufficient to prepare learners. It was also noted that a significant portion of existing workforce skills was expected to become outdated between 2025 and 2030, which calls for a reform in skills development and education.
Mr. Dorji also introduced a transformative framework built on Gross National Happiness (GNH), and has been integrated into national policy, education systems, and TVET curricula to promote ethical leadership, community vitality, and sustainable living. In Bhutan, GNH is being used as an alternative and holistic development philosophy that prioritizes well-being, sustainability, good governance, cultural preservation, and environmental conservation over purely economic growth.
RPID Officer Ms. Arlene Raymundo Monge moderates the Q&A sessions with Dr. Maw Maw Tun (top photo, left) and Mr. Karma Dorji (bottom photo, right)
Both sessions were followed by a question-and-answer (Q&A) forum moderated by Ms. Arlene Raymundo-Monge, CPSC Research, Publications, and Information Division (RPID) Officer. Following the interactive discussions, CPSC Director General Prof. (Dr.) Suresh K. Dhameja commended both resource speakers in his brief closing remarks. The webinar concluded with aspirations for curriculum innovation, digital integration, inclusive teaching approaches, and policy frameworks that will strengthen TVET’s impact across the Asia-Pacific region.
