Kuala lumpur: ASEAN must deepen collaboration in skills training to meet the demands of the 21st-century economy, said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim. He emphasized that the advent of artificial intelligence, exemplified by the launch of ChatGPT 5.0, has heightened concerns about AI potentially replacing traditionally trained professionals, thereby reducing the value of academic degrees.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sim highlighted the necessity for human skills in areas such as building, repairing, operating, communicating, supervising, and organizing, which are essential despite AI's cognitive capabilities. He made these remarks during the ASEAN TVET Conference (ATVET) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chairs the National TVET Council.
Sim proposed three key measures to bolster ASEAN cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): sharing experiences in skills training, establishing a common certification framework for mutual recognition, and increasing investments in skills education. Malaysia, investing around RM10 billion annually in TVET, has already opened its National Training Week to ASEAN participants, offering over 72,000 free training courses valued at RM400 million to 3.5 million people.
In a pre-recorded speech, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn emphasized the need for TVET systems to become catalysts for innovation, inclusivity, and productivity amidst rapid digital and green transitions. He urged for stronger partnerships between training institutions and industry, integration of green skills into curricula, and scalable innovations to prepare ASEAN's workforce for a low-carbon economy.
Similarly, Kaori Nakamura-Osaka, ILO assistant director-general and regional director for Asia and the Pacific, stressed aligning TVET systems with digital and green transition demands to ensure inclusive training opportunities. She acknowledged the challenges of outdated competencies, limited training capacity, and weak industry linkages, underscoring the importance of accessible training as ASEAN economies evolve.
The ATVET 2025, themed "Advancing Digital and Green Transformations through an Inclusive and Future-Ready TVET System," gathered over 1,500 delegates for discussions aimed at promoting TVET as a driver of inclusive digital and green transitions across ASEAN. Co-organized by the Human Resource Development Corporation and the Skills Development Fund Corporation Malaysia, the event is part of the ASEAN Year of Skills 2025 and featured 23 speakers, including policymakers, industry leaders, education providers, workers' organizations, and international partners.