TVET SYMPOSIUM 2025
Evolving the Technical and Vocational Education and Training System in Malaysia: Towards Catching Up with the Global Frontier

 Rajah Rasiah is Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Asia Europe Institute, University of Malaya. He holds a PhD in Economics from Cambridge University (1992) and was a Rajawali Fellow at Harvard University in 2014. He was the inaugural holder of the Khazanah Nasional Chair of Regulatory Studies and served twice as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administration at the University of Malaya. Prof. Rasiah has held research and advisory positions with UNU-MERIT, Oxford University, Cambridge University, Zhejiang University, and the University of Cambodia, among others. He has delivered keynote speeches and lectures at world-renowned institutions such as Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, UC Berkeley, ANU, NUS, and Seoul National University. His work focuses on technology, industrial development, foreign investment, human capital, and sustainability, with significant policy contributions commissioned by UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNESCO, the World Bank, and ERIA. Prof. Rasiah has authored over 280 publications and was a lead author of UNIDO’s 2009 flagship report and editor of the 2015 UNESCO Science Report. His contributions have earned him the Celso Furtado Prize (2014), Malaysia’s Distinguished Professor title (2017), and the Merdeka Award for academic excellence (2018).

 Dr. Harry Stolte is a Senior Consultant at the UNEVOC Centre Magdeburg “TVET for Sustainable Development” in Germany, with over three decades of expertise in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) within international cooperation. He holds a University Diploma (1981) and a PhD (1984) in the field of Didactics of Technical Vocational Education and Training. Throughout his career, Dr. Stolte has specialized in standards and curriculum development, the creation of teaching and learning media, TVET teacher training, and promoting TVET's role in sustainable development. For nearly 30 years, he has been actively engaged in international TVET projects involving developing countries, countries in transition, and industrialized nations. His work has focused particularly on Asia, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe, where he has been responsible for the design, implementation, and evaluation of international education and development initiatives. In recognition of his significant contributions, Dr. Stolte was appointed Principal Research Associate of the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre in Bonn in 2009. Since then, he has played a key role in the successful establishment and advancement of the UNEVOC Centre “TVET for Sustainable Development” in Magdeburg, promoting sustainable, high-quality vocational education worldwide.

 Professor Dr. Yuri Sadoi is the Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Meijo University, Japan, and a Visiting Professor in the Global MBA Program at Doshisha University. With over 40 years of combined experience in both industry and academia, she is recognized for her contributions to human resource development (HRD), technology transfer, and innovation studies, particularly within the Asian region. Professor Sadoi began her career with Mitsubishi Motors, where she was involved in HRD and international training initiatives before transitioning to academia and research. Her expertise focuses on regional economic development, skill formation, and open innovation, with particular emphasis on the automotive, semiconductor, and ICT industries. She has conducted extensive fieldwork and collaborative research across ASEAN countries, Taiwan, and Japan, contributing valuable insights into industry-academia collaboration and sustainable economic growth. Professor Sadoi has published widely on innovation, HRD, and industrial development, with her research often supporting policy discussions on regional competitiveness and sustainable development in Asia. Her work continues to promote stronger connections between universities, industries, and governments, fostering innovation ecosystems that support economic resilience and technological advancement.

 Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai is the President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), a position he has held since 2017. With over 35 years of experience in corporate leadership, he serves concurrently as Group Executive Deputy Chairman at YKGI Holdings Bhd, a company specializing in roofing and building materials across Malaysia. He is also Vice President of the National Chamber of Commerce & Industry Malaysia, and sits on the boards of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) as Audit Committee Chairman and the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA). At the national level, Tan Sri Soh contributes through key councils such as the National Employment Council, National TVET Council, National Science Council, Malaysian Standards & Accreditation Council, Malaysian Steel Council, PEMUDAH, and the Economic Action Council. His leadership in FMM has driven international collaborations—like MOUs with China and Hong Kong’s ASTRI—focusing on digital economy, green development, and Industry 4.0 to support SMEs in Malaysia. Academically, he holds diplomas in Materials Engineering and Management from Tunku Abdul Rahman College and the Malaysian Institute of Management (1985, 1991), and an MBA from the University of Bath (1994).

 Dr. Kirak Ryu is a Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), a UNEVOC Centre based in Sejong, South Korea. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2007. His extensive research focuses on labour markets, social policy, skill development, and international comparative studies, with a particular emphasis on vocational education and training (TVET) governance and decentralization in Korea and broader Asia. Dr. Ryu has authored influential publications such as Localization of TVET Governance in Korea (2017), examining the decentralization of Korea's TVET system and stakeholder roles. In 2023, he co-authored a major KRIVET report titled Complex Transitions and the Future of Vocational Skills Policy, which explores integrating digital and green transitions with balanced regional development. He was also a keynote speaker at a 2023 international BIBB conference on educational governance during socio-ecological transformations. Through his work, Dr. Ryu contributes significantly to aligning vocational education with labour market demands, promoting equitable access, and supporting policy innovations across Korea and globally.

 Dr. Bugs Tan is a renowned Malaysian innovator and educationist, recognized internationally for his contributions to creativity, invention, and innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in Innovation and a Doctorate in Education and currently serves as Head of TVET Skill Education at ViTrox Academy. Tan has received over 18 national and international awards, including the prestigious National Innovator Award (Malaysia, 2007), and honours from Switzerland, Korea, India, Canada, and the USA. He was also awarded the World Inventor Order of Merits at Korea's WIAF. Tan is a Fellow of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), a trustee at the Virtual World Institute (USA), and serves on multiple national education committees under MOHE. A frequent keynote speaker and author, he promotes STEM education and mentors young talents. He was recognized as an Unsung Hero by Maybank for aiding the homeless. Passionate and visionary, Tan is a respected leader shaping innovation and education in Malaysia.

 Chin Shih Kay is a fast-track PhD candidate at the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), Universiti Malaya, under the supervision of Distinguished Professor Dato’ Dr. Rajah Rasiah. Her research focuses on improving Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system, with particular interest in policy development and strengthening TVET's role in supporting national workforce needs. She holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce from Monash University, where she developed a strong foundation in economic analysis and policy research. In 2022, Shih Kay was appointed as a research assistant for a project commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO) that explored the impact of digitalisation, automation, and algorithmic management practices on the workforce. She also completed an internship with the Kedah Industrial Skills and Management Development Centre (KISMEC), where she contributed to the development of the Kedah TVET Strategic Implementation Roadmap aimed at enhancing regional skills development. Beyond her academic work, Shih Kay is the founding president of the AEI Student Club (AEISC), which she pioneered to foster student engagement, leadership, and academic collaboration at AEI. Her academic journey reflects her commitment to advancing Malaysia’s human capital and TVET ecosystem.

 Mr. Jamil Bakri is the Chief Executive Officer of the Government-Industry TVET Coordination Body (GITC) in Malaysia, bringing over two decades of proven experience in business management, organizational transformation, and leadership across various industries. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong results-driven leadership, successfully increasing company growth and revenue for 15 consecutive years. His expertise covers diverse areas such as business consultancy, engineering, renewable energy, green projects, facility management, technical training, and engineering trading. He is also highly experienced in business turnaround strategies and entrepreneurship development, particularly for start-ups. Mr. Jamil is a recipient of multiple awards between 2014 and 2017, including the prestigious UiTM Alumni Entrepreneurship Icon Award in 2016. His commitment to nurturing young entrepreneurs is reflected in his role as Program Chairman for the Unicorn Scholar Program (USP), a collaboration between the UiTM Alumni Business Network and the Malaysian Academy of SME & Entrepreneurship Development (MASMED), where he successfully coached and mentored 30 start-up companies. He is also actively involved in local and international chambers of commerce, contributing to economic development and promoting closer ties between industry players. His leadership continues to drive innovation and industry collaboration within Malaysia’s TVET ecosystem.

 Royce Tan, Malaysian 62 years old. Graduated from RMIT in Electrical Engineering with postgraduate. Appointed as General Manager in BOSCH in 1994 where he spent the next 20 years in Automotive OEM parts development & supply; in parallel he was sponsored by BOSCH to complete an MBA. Followed by several years in renewable energy; and the last 9 years was totally focused on Industry 4.0. This month he celebrates 32 years in the BOSCH group. Although retired in 2000 but he was immediately retained as consultant, trainer & coach in I4.0 with various local & international organisations. His experiences in all things TVET—stems from his own years of apprenticeship in his father’s car repair business during school years; and then in his collaboration with various government agencies. From 2017 to now, he has commissioned 8 BOSCH mechatronics training centres in Malaysia. To date he has visited more than 300 factories in Malaysia & ASEAN—which contributes real, on-the-ground material & content in his consultations & trainings to the industry.

 Dr. Kamal Yusoh is Professor of Polymer Nanotechnology at the Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah. His holds a B.Eng. and M.Eng degree in chemical engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Ph.D degree in polymer nanotechnology from Loughborough University, UK. His teaching and research activities focus on polymer nanocomposites and graphene production. He has published more than 50 research articles and 50 conference proceedings in the area of polymer nanocomposite as well as in graphene technology. He taught at UiTM Shah Alam before joining the faculty of chemical and natural resources engineering, UMP until 2019, and now in FTKKP, UMP. In 2017, he was awarded a Mevlana Sponsorship by Turkey Government as a visiting scholar to the department of material engineering at Karabuk University to give lectures and research short courses. Now he is seconded to Office of Vice Chancellor as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Advancement.

 Dr. Siti Rosminah MD Derus currently serves as the Deputy Director at the Centre of Research and Innovation, Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. She brings over 23 years of professional experience as a lecturer and researcher, with expertise in Instructional Technology, Educational Engineering, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Currently, she is leading the implementation of the Trans-TECH 4TVET research initiative—a strategic national funding scheme aimed at strengthening applied research and innovation within Malaysia’s polytechnic and community college system. Dr. Siti Rosminah plays a pivotal role in aligning TVET research with national priorities such as MySTIE, enhancing institutional capacity, and advancing industry-academia collaboration. Her scholarly contributions include numerous publications and conference presentations in the field of instructional technology. She is also active in initiatives related to digital transformation, AI in education, and regional engagement on future skills for TVET.

 Professor Dr. Ramlee Mustapha is a leading academic in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. He has held several prominent leadership roles, including Dean of Postgraduate Studies at UPSI in 2010, followed by his appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education in 2011. In 2017, he was elected as the 5th President of the Asian Academic Society for Vocational Education and Training (AASVET), reflecting his regional influence in advancing TVET. In 2022, he was appointed Head of the TVET and Industry Cluster within Malaysia's National Professor Council, and in 2023, he became a Member of the National TVET Council, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. Prof. Ramlee is an acknowledged expert in vocational education, training, and human resource development, particularly across the Pacific Rim and East Asia. His academic contributions include over 150 articles and 10 books on TVET and human resource development. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering (BSChE) from the University of Alabama, USA, a Master’s in Educational Administration (M.Ed) from Eastern New Mexico University, a Master’s in Industrial Technology (M.Sc), and a Ph.D. in Technical and Vocational Education from Purdue University, USA.

 Professor Emeritus Ts. Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman is a renowned academic and civil engineering expert with nearly four decades of experience in higher education, research, and academic leadership. Originally from Muar, Johor, he holds a PhD in Building Engineering from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. He has made significant contributions to engineering education, innovation, and academic development, including founding the International Journal of Sustainable Construction Engineering and Technology (IJSCET), now indexed by Scopus and Web of Science. Professor Ismail has supervised numerous postgraduate students and served as an examiner for doctoral and master’s research, both within and outside UTHM. During his tenure as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) at UTHM, he played a key role in enhancing the university’s international student enrolment and achieving a 5-star QS Stars Rating. He was also instrumental in the rapid development and approval of 10 Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) programs under the Malaysian Technical University Network (MTUN) to support vocational graduates. Recognised as a ‘Professional Technologist’ in Building and Construction Technology, Professor Ismail continues to contribute his expertise as a consultant, advisor, and speaker at national and international levels.