The Regional Cooperation Programme for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in ASEAN (RECOTVET) has continued to develop learning offers aimed at improving professional skills and digital competences for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Personnel (TVET Personnel) in ASEAN. The development process included the successful organisation of a workshop series to assemble the demands of TVET teachers and multipliers in ASEAN countries on digital competence and digitalisation. This year, RECOTVET and experts intend to create the learning offers with digital multimedia to be embedded on the SEA-VET.net learning platform as well as to launch the re-designed regional training programme.

The Virtual Kick-Off Workshop was held on 8 July 2021 and was the first in a series of workshops. More than 60 participants from TVET training institutions, universities, and regional and international organisations in ASEAN co-developed regional in-service training modules and shared their experiences on the current digital requirements of TVET personnel at the national level. Its findings were used to analyse and develop a needs assessment survey for TVET teachers and multipliers in ASEAN by RECOTVET and TVET experts. The survey referred to the digital competence levels as defined by the European Framework for Educators’ Digital Competence (DigCompEdu) and their preferences for a digital learning environment and tools. In addition, the topic of the existing modules was combined with the survey for the respondents’ consideration on its levels of importance as well as an open-ended question on the Regional In-Service Training Programme improvements.

The survey results were distributed to those taking part in the Virtual Technical Workshop, which was held on 3 December 2021. Participants were able to submit ideas and comments on the restructuring topics and module content. RECOTVET invited the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines to share their experience of developing an online training programme for TVET personnel. The Learning Plan, Instructional Designer also provided perspectives of the orientation of digital content creation and tools for the Regional In‐Service Training Programme, along with the challenges, opportunities, and options. The next steps were to agree on and meet the requirements for content validation amongst TVET teachers and multipliers.

On 13 January 2022, The Virtual Final Technical Workshop was held to present the redesigned Regional In-Service Training Programme by TVET experts. The participants discussed didactical learning (synchronous/asynchronous), teaching methodologies, learning activities, and learning resources and materials that would be appropriate for the redesigned training programme. The development of national implementation plans by each country also highlighted the importance of utilising the improved national training programme and translating selected modules of interest into local languages. RECOTVET and TVET experts would provide coaching throughout all ASEAN countries in accordance with the submitted national implementation plans.

“Due to digitalisation and COVID-19, we are living in the different era. The adjustment is always necessary. We will continue to improve the modules and reach out effectively to TVET teachers in ASEAN. This is a never-ending journey. That is why we keep in touch with you (all participants) because you are the experts in this area who can contribute to the enhancement of training programme.” Dr. Paryono, Deputy Director for Professional Affairs and Research Manager from the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO VOCTECH), delivered welcome remarks for the Virtual Technical Workshop.

The Virtual Final Workshop resulted in the finalisation of the content, topics, and structure of the redesigned In-Service Training Programme as well an agreement to develop the Extra Module for multi-didactical approaches and self-reliant learning. The next stage of development will be the creation of digital learning materials. For preliminary feedback, a soft launch of web‐based training is planned for in April 2022. The official launch of regional training multipliers in hybrid format, as well as the call for training of multipliers, will take place in May‐June 2022, followed by a coaching period with the experts based on the submitted national implementation plans.