Recognizing the importance of creating an innovative and responsive TVET curriculum that is capable of addressing the demands of the global market, the Colombo Plan Staff College partnered with the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO VOCTECH) in a hybrid training venture titled “Integrating Entrepreneurship and Technopreneurship into the TVET Curriculum.”
The program highlighted an interactive learning experience which utilized both the online and in-person training modalities. The virtual sessions were conducted on May 22 and 27-29, 2025, while the in-person sessions were held from June 2-6 , 2025 at the SEAMEO VOCTECH Regional Center, Brunei Darussalam. The collaborative program marked the renewed ties between CPSC and SEAMEO VOCTECH Brunei.
The pool of participants was composed of 31 TVET policymakers, trainers, managers, and curriculum developers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
The overall program was conducted under the helm of Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja, CPSC Director General, and Mr. Haji Norjemee bin Jenek, SEAMEO VOCTECH Centre Director. The Program Coordinators were Prof. Naeem Yaqoob, CPSC Faculty Specialist; Ms. Norhayati Cynthia Abdullah, Corporate Affairs Manager at SEAMEO VOCTECH; and Dr. Ir. Muhammad Ikhwan Jambak, TVET Specialist at SEAMEO VOCTECH.
During the online sessions, CPSC and SEAMEO VOCTECH facilitated the presentation of theme papers and country papers, which highlighted key concepts and strategies for integrating entrepreneurship and technopreneurship into the TVET curriculum. The theme papers covered a wide range of topics, such as the following: Introduction to Technopreneurship and Policies for TVET Entrepreneurship, Technopreneurship Integration in TVET Curricula, Emerging Opportunities in Technopreneurship—Market Research and Business Trends, Digital Entrepreneurship and Technology Adoption in TVET Startups, and Formulating a Business Plan and Entrepreneurial Financing.
Furthermore, an opening ceremony was conducted on June 2, 2025 at the SEAMEO VOCTECH Regional Centre in Brunei to officially kick-start the face-to-face phase of the training program. Mr. Muhammad Fattah Irsyaduddin Bin Serudin opened the program with the recitation of the doa. This was followed by the welcome remarks of Mr. Haji Norjemee Bin Haji Jenek, SEAMEO VOCTECH Centre Director, and the opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja, CPSC Director General.
Following the online sessions, the in-person component of the program featured a series of theme paper presentations. The sessions covered both global and regional perspectives on TVET and entrepreneurship, the development of supportive environments for technopreneurship within institutions, and strategies for integrating it into the curriculum. Participants also explored the creation of modular content, the assessment of entrepreneurship skills, the development of technology-driven business models, and the application of emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, and IoT. Startup risk management was also discussed, including approaches involving incubators, accelerators, and investment strategies. In addition, workshops were facilitated where participants developed business plans and country-specific action plans.
To supplement the sessions, a discussion forum was held on June 5, 2025, which extended knowledge-sharing between industry experts and participants from across the Asia-Pacific region.
During the forum, Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja delivered a presentation on “Achieving UN-SDG 1 (No Poverty) through TVET Entrepreneurship.” The forum also featured insights from distinguished industry experts, namely Adna Shatriremie bin Hj A. Abdul Rahman, Head of the Entrepreneurship Innovation Centre (EIC); Shafique Hussain, CEO and Founder of InnovAero Sdn. Bhd.; and Ahmad Fathi bin Dato Seri Setia Dr. Hj Norarfan, Founder of One Fish BN and Alya Playhouse.
To cap off the program, Mr. Haji Norjemee and Dr. Prof. Dhameja subsequently delivered their remarks during the Closing Ceremony on June 6, 2025. Both highlighted the importance of collaboration in making a significant impact towards the development and improvement of the current TVET curricula, specifically on the aspect of entrepreneurship and technopreneurship. The program coordinators also presented their training reports, in which they shared the highlights and salient points during the conduct of each session.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Philippines, Her Excellency Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio, joins the closing ceremony as the Guest of Honor
The closing ceremony honored the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Philippines, Her Excellency Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio, who served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker. In her message, Ambassador Tirol-Ignacio congratulated both the CPSC and SEAMEO VOCTECH teams for their commendable efforts in organizing the event, and the participants for successfully completing the training. She also expressed her appreciation for the two organizations’ dedication to advancing the practice of TVET in the region.
The program ended with the presentation of certificates to the participants and the facilitators, and the awarding of the token of appreciation to the Guest of Honor.
With this accomplishment, CPSC reaffirms its role in promoting relevant TVET skills like entrepreneurship and technopreneurship to continuously uplift human resource development in the region, and to equip educators and learners with the necessary tools that will shape them in an ever-evolving, innovative world.
