Incorporating vocational skills training in TVET teacher education

Highly skilled human capital is a prerequisite in effort by any nation to becoming a developed country. Recognising the importance of education as a vehicle to produce the skilled human capital, the Ministry of Education Malaysia has restructured the 69 Technical High Schools to Vocational High School, where students are expected to work on their skills and enhance their innovation and creativity. However, the key to excellence in education is quality teachers. Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia formerly known as Polytechnic Staff Training Centre was established on September 16, 1993, to train and produce polytechnics academic staff to become knowledgeable and skilful in various engineering fields. However, it has evolved to become a full-fledged Public University, training not only technical and vocational teachers, but also engineers, scientist and technologist. This paper will discuss how the Faculty of Technical Education at this University had developed a new curriculum that will incorporate Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) that is recognised by Ministry of Human Resource in the Bachelor of Vocational Education programme. Using National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) as a guide, the skills required to qualify SKM Level 1, 2, and 3 are embedded into courses of Bachelor of Vocational Education from Year 1 to Year 4. Thus, graduates of this programme are not only a qualified teacher who obtain their Bachelor Degree, but also a skilled worker who possess a Malaysian Skills Certificate. The philosophy is not only to educate teachers who are strong in their pedagogy and knowledge but also skilful in the area of vocation.