To enhance the readiness of ASEAN workforces for the digital era, 27 Master Trainers from across the region concluded “The 2023 Regional Master Trainer Training for In-Company Training” which marked the first instance of a hybrid format. The online sessions were held from 29^th May to 15^th June 2023, followed by the on-site training at the Global Institute for Transferring Skills (GIFTS) of HRDK in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 19^th to 30^th June 2023. The training programme is a collaborative effort between the German government’s Regional Cooperation Programme for TVET in ASEAN (RECOTVET), implemented by GIZ, and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK).

“The purpose was to introduce a new mode of training and learning in the digital era, pushing traditional TVET one step ahead,” said Byung-wook Lee, the Executive Director of HRDK GIFTS.

Aligned with the ASEAN In-Company Trainer Standard, the training caters to regional demands in preparing the current and future workforces for rapid digitalisation and technological advancements. It featured upskilling existing master trainers in digital competencies and providing streamlined training for new trainers, going from the previous purely face-to-face format to a hybrid format. The training aims to enhance master trainers’ capacity to plan, organise, and evaluate training for in-company trainers effectively in the digital era.

Participants became acquainted with the blended-learning format, learner-centred approach, and life-long learning, which are becoming more relevant for training and learning in the digital age. Moreover, the study visits to companies and Korea Polytechnics organised by HRDK provided them with valuable insights into best practices regarding work-based learning, the dual education system, and advancements in the 4^th industrial revolution and futuristic technologies in South Korea.

Upon returning to their home countries, these skilled master trainers are poised to serve as catalysts for in-company training, amplifying its impact in the region. Miriam Heidtmann, the Programme Director of RECOTVET, commended the training, saying, “We have witnessed an inspiring journey of learning, growth, and cooperation among the participants who come from diverse cultures and contexts in the ASEAN region. Their commitment to fostering a supportive network and creating a positive impact in In-Company Training is truly remarkable.”.

To foster sustainability in the region, RECOTVET intends to publish the “Regional Guidelines for Master Trainers”. The guidelines will offer guidance for the implementation of training, encompassing aspects including master trainers’ profiles and tasks, sample training plans, assessment criteria, and other valuable resources by the end of 2023.

The training courses have been made available on the SEA-VET Learning Platform. For more information, please follow this link.