DATE: September 7-11, 2026 |
Modality: Synchronous |
Platform: Zoom / CPSC OnCOURSE |
Type: Regional Program |
ORGANIZERS: Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), Philippines
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BACKGROUND/RATIONALE
The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), as an inter-governmental international organization for TVET in Asia and the Pacific region, continues to promote the development of research capacity as a critical component of institutional improvement, evidence-based decision-making, and innovation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). In the current environment, TVET institutions are increasingly expected to generate and use research evidence to improve curriculum relevance, training delivery, graduate outcomes, and responsiveness to labor market and industry needs.
Despite this imperative, many TVET practitioners still encounter challenges in transforming institutional concerns into researchable problems, selecting appropriate methods, and producing practical outputs that can lead to policy and program improvement. To address this need, the present program is designed as a focused virtual training initiative that will provide participants with practical tools, structured guidance, and guided task-based learning opportunities. The design is consistent with CPSC’s online capacity-building practice, which emphasizes applied learning, participant engagement, and institutional relevance.
The program allows participants to engage in self-paced completion of session-related tasks between live online sessions. A five-day format with 4 hour synchronous sessions per day is intended to maintain learning intensity while also providing sufficient time for reflection, drafting, and completion of practical outputs.
OBJECTIVES
The program aims to:
- Strengthen participants’ understanding of TVET research as a practical tool for evidence-based institutional development.
- Develop participants’ capability to identify researchable issues and formulate relevant research questions and objectives.
- Equip participants with practical and user-friendly tools for research design, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Enable participants to prepare a draft TVET research concept note or mini-proposal relevant to their institutional context.
- Promote the application of research findings in curriculum development, training improvement, institutional planning, and policy support.
- Foster a culture of inquiry, collaboration, and evidence-based practice among TVET professionals in CPSC member countries.
EXPECTED OUTPUTS
At the end of the program, participants are expected to complete the following outputs:
- A draft TVET research concept note or mini-proposal.
- A simple research design outline appropriate to the selected topic.
- A draft data collection tool, such as a survey, interview guide, or observation checklist.
- A basic framework for data organization, analysis, and reporting.
- An individual or institutional action plan for applying research findings in TVET practice.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The program is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
- Enhanced participant competence in conducting practical and institutionally relevant TVET research.
- Increased use of evidence in TVET curriculum development, training delivery, and institutional management.
- Strengthened research culture among participating institutions in CPSC member countries.
- Improved readiness of TVET institutions to undertake applied research for program quality improvement and policy support.
PROGRAM CONTENTS
| Special Lecture: | An Overview of Research and Significance of Action Research in Asia-Pacific Region |
| Theme Papers: | |
| Theme Paper 1: | TVET Research and Evidence-Based Practice |
| This paper presents the role of research in strengthening TVET quality, relevance, and institutional responsiveness. It emphasizes the use of evidence in decision-making, planning, and continuous improvement. | |
| Theme Paper 2: | Framing TVET Research Problems and Questions |
| This paper focuses on the process of identifying institutional issues, defining researchable problems, and formulating clear research questions, objectives, and scope. | |
| Theme Paper 3: | Research, Publication, and Dissemination in TVET |
| This paper covers the essentials of research publication, including manuscript preparation, journal selection, and publication ethics, and introduces the forthcoming International Journal of Asia-Pacific TVET. | |
| Theme Paper 4: | Practical Research Designs and Methods for TVET |
| This paper discusses feasible research approaches for TVET settings, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, as well as action research, case study, and tracer study approaches. | |
| Theme Paper 5: | Data Collection and Basic Analysis Tools |
| This paper introduces practical data collection tools and basic analysis techniques that TVET practitioners can use in institutional research. | |
| Theme Paper 6: | Writing Evidence-based TVET Research Briefs and Action Plans |
| This paper covers the preparation of a research concept note or mini-proposal, the structure of a concise report, and the translation of findings into institutional action. |
Tasks/Activities
- Drafting of an institutional issue and possible research
topic
(Suggested focus: Labor market tracer study, Tracer study of graduated students, Skills Gaps Analysis Matrices, Evaluating green practices in TVET Institution, Assessing status of digitalization in TVET institutions) - Selecting an appropriate research design and method
- Drafting of a data collection instrument
- Organizing data and drafting report outlines
- Finalization of individual or institutional action plans
APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY
The program shall adopt a virtual blended learning approach that combines synchronous online instruction with asynchronous individual work. Each day shall consist of a 4-hour online session focused on theme paper presentation, guided discussion, demonstration, and workshop activities. Between sessions, participants shall complete structured assignments and refine their outputs independently, with guidance from facilitators, as needed.
This approach is intended to ensure that learning is practical, progressive, and directly linked to participant outputs. It also allows participants to work on real institutional concerns while maintaining flexibility for their professional responsibilities. The methodology is aligned with CPSC’s practice of delivering online capacity-building programs that combine knowledge sharing with participatory, practice-oriented activities.
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
The following instructional strategies shall be used:
- Lecture-discussion for the presentation of key concepts and frameworks.
- Demonstration of templates, tools, and research formats.
- Guided workshop for drafting research outputs during live sessions.
- Independent assignment for completion between sessions.
- Peer review and group consultation for shared learning.
- Case analysis of selected TVET research examples.
- Action planning for post-training application in the participant’s institution.
PARTICIPANTS’ PROFILE
Participants shall be TVET professionals from CPSC member countries who are actively involved in teaching, training, curriculum development, institutional planning, quality assurance, research, or policy support. The expected participants may include trainers, lecturers, faculty specialists, curriculum developers, school leaders, program coordinators, planning officers, and other TVET practitioners with responsibilities related to institutional improvement.
Participants should preferably hold at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional qualification and must have access to a computer or mobile device with stable internet connectivity. Representation should be drawn from relevant national TVET institutions, public and private providers, and sectoral agencies, with due attention to institutional diversity and applicability of learning outcomes.
DATE AND VENUE
Date: September 7-11, 2026
Venue: Virtual /
Online
Platform: Zoom virtual meeting
room
Time: Philippine Standard Time GMT+8
FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS
The following facilities and support arrangements shall be required:
- Reliable virtual meeting platform with breakout room functionality.
- Stable internet connection for facilitators, participants, and technical support staff.
- Laptop, desktop computer, or mobile device with microphone and camera.
- Projector or screen-sharing capability for presentations and demonstrations.
- Multimedia projector, projection screen, and presentation clicker.
- Downloadable digital copies of theme papers, templates, worksheets, and task sheets.
- Shared cloud storage or learning space for submission of outputs and feedback.
- Technical support for registration, attendance monitoring, and troubleshooting.
- Secretariat support for documentation, certificates, and correspondence.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
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Program Schedule
