COVER: 114th Governing Board Meeting Conducted Physically in CPSC, Pasig City, Philippines From the Director General’s Desk GOVERNING BOARD NEWS 114th Governing Board Meeting Conducted Physically in CPSC, Pasig City, Philippines PROGRAMS Regional Program CPSC, Labtech International Ltd. Conduct the First Online Regional Program of 2023 on Renewable Energy Using Virtual Technology In-Country Programs Nepal’s TVET Instructors, Lecturers Join CPSC-Labtech Program on Electrical Basics Using Digital Technology Automative Trainers in Myanmar Learn Virtual TVET from CPSC-Labtech Program In-Country Program in Thailand Focuses on 21st Century Skills for TVET in Teaching and Learning CPSC ICP on Effective Workforce Planning in TVET held Face-to-Face in Malaysia 30 TESDA Administrators, Instructors Participate in CPSC’s ICP on Methodologies on Research CPSC IN ACTION In-Country Program in Nepal Focuses on Management of Business Incubation for TVET Institutes Open Registration Programs TVET Institute Administators from Philippines and Mongolia Join CPSC’s Training Needs Analysis (TNA) Program NEWS CPSC Signs MoU with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Brings UMP for Study Visit to Technological Universities and TVET Colleges in Manila Don Bosco Tech ASEAN Representatives Conduct a Study Visit to CPSC for their Bi- Annual Meeting in 2023 APACC APACC Convenes TVET Experts for APACC Strategic Plan 2020-2025 Midterm Review Politeknik Port Dickson (PPD) Renews its APACC Accreditation Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO), Malaysia Goes for APACC Reaccreditation After Five Years NEWS CPSC Provides ISO Awareness Training and Internal Auditors Workshop for its Professional and Local Staff GREEN CORNER FEEDBACK CORNER 04 05 06 07 09 11 14 16 18 21 24 27 28 29 31 33 34 35 The CPSC Quarterly- the official news magazine of the COLOMBO PLAN STAFF COLLEGE (CPSC) Manila, Philippines The CPSC Quarterly serves as a medium for convergence and exchange of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ideas, information, events, and updates on national and regional efforts as well as innovating strategies for Human Resources Development (HRD) across Asia and the Pacific. It serves to strengthen collaborative relationships among professionals and developers, institutional partners, affiliates and networks, alumni, and future clients in the transnational community of CPSC. The CPSC Quarterly – herald of the center of excellence for Human Resources Development in Asia and the Pacific Region. The CPSC Quarterly - harbinger of TVET news, keeping member countries vitally connected to HRD development and unifying them to pursue excellence towards global progress. Articles and materials published in the CPSC Quarterly may be reproduced or reprinted without prior permission unless they are reprinted from other sources. Copies are distributed free to HRD practitioners, international organizations, and partner institutions in the member countries and elsewhere. All manuscripts and editorial correspondence should be sent to: The Editor-in-Chief CPSC Quarterly Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) Building Block C, DepEd Complex Meralco Avenue, Pasig City 1600 Metro Manila, Philippines Tel. Nos.: (+63-2) 8631-0991, 93 to 95 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.cpsctech.org Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe Editor-in-Chief Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan Editorial Consultants Paulo Anthony Mendoza Associate Editor and Contributing Writer Marise Catud Arlene Cruz Rae Emmanuel Echaveria Contributing Writers Danilyn Amaro Graphic Designer and Layout Artist Justine Legaspi Multimedia Support Editorial Board TABLE OF CONTENTS
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 3 FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL’S DESK Dear Readers, Allow me to greet each and every one of you a happy new year and a prosperous 2023! First, I would like to express my appreciation to all the CPSC staff, officers, and colleagues who have been with me as we completed the year 2022 with a bang. A year full of training programs, projects, and meaningful activities that contributed greatly to the improvement of TVET across our member countries especially that the world has now been recovering - health and economic-wise from the detrimental effects of the pandemic in the past three years. As we laid out our plans and took actions on endless possibilities, we also took note of our achievements in the past three months - January, February, and March, that led us to continuously strive and ensure that TVET systems in our member countries consistently improve through the capacity building measures that we implement here in CPSC and abroad. I am pleased to inform you that on February 23, 2023, the 114th Governing Board Meeting took place here in CPSC, Manila, Philippines. In this meeting, I have respectfully presented the crafted CPSC Strategic Plan 2023-2028, final output from our Senior Executives’ Conference (SEC) in Bangkok, Thailand held from December 12 to 16, 2022. The Strategic Plan was approved by the Board and will be implemented starting July 1, 2023. For our regular programs, we implemented a total of 1 regional program (RP), 6 in-country programs (ICP), 1 open registration program (ORP), and 1 study visit (SV) from January to March. Together with Labtech International Ltd., we have implemented online technical programs on renewable energy systems, automotive technology, and electrical basics starting with an RP that was conducted on February 20 to 24 and ICPs for Nepal and Myanmar. Moreover, program topics of other ICPs include 21st-century skills for TVET teaching and learning, effective workforce planning, research methodologies, and management of business incubation for TVET institutes. These topics were implemented in ICPs for Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, and Nepal, respectively For our customized programs, an ORP was implemented in March that focused on training needs analysis (TNA). Participants in this program included TVET administrators, directors, international relations specialists, and human resource officers from the Philippines and Mongolia. In the same month, professors from the Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) visited CPSC to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for future collaborations. We also facilitated their benchmarking activities to various TVET colleges and universities here in Metro Manila during their stay. In relation to this, representatives of Don Bosco Tech ASEAN also visited us as part of their bi-annual meeting in the same month. They were oriented with the programs and functions of CPSC as a training provider for TVET professionals across Asia Pacific. The Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) successfully implemented its midterm review for Strategic Plan 2020-2025 on February 1, 2023. APACC stakeholders, including representatives from various TVET institutions attended the review. The proposed revised Strategic Plan 2020-2025 will be presented to the Governing Board in its next meeting sometime in June. Two institutional online evaluations were also completed by APACC. Malaysian polytechnics - Politeknik Port Dickson (PPD) and Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO) embarked on a fruitful evaluation exercise to renew their accreditation status from APACC. Held from March 6 to 10, 2023, the five-day online accreditation reassessed the institutions according to the seven criteria of APACC. In other news, in January 2023, professional and local staff of the Staff College have undergone a rigorous training on ISO 9001:2015 Awareness and Internal Audit Training Effectiveness as part of its annual staff development plan and in preparation for the bi-annual internal quality audit done to assess the capacity of CPSC’s divisions in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015 standards. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to kindly go through the pages of this quarterly report for the in-depth details of our activities and achievements. We also enjoin you and the rest of our stakeholders to continue following CPSC’s programs and plans for its member countries in the coming months. Thank you very much. Best regards, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe Director General
4 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 114th Governing Board Meeting Conducted Physically in CPSC, Pasig City, Philippines The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) successfully convened the members of the CPSC Governing Board for the 114th Governing Board Meeting which was held physically at the Conference Room of CPSC, in Pasig City, Philippines on February 23, 2023. The Heads of Mission and representatives from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand have attended the meeting. Representatives from the Office of the United Nations and International Organizations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) were also present. Financial auditors from the accounting firm Valdez, Abad & Co. attended the meeting as well to present the results of the audit done with CPSC’s financial statements for FY 2021-2022. The Board Members discussed and delibrated key agenda items including the adoption of the Minutes of the 113th Governing Board Meeting which was also held on-site on June 28, 2022 at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, Philippines; Reports of the Standing Committee Meeting which held in December 2022; and presentation of the Midyear Report on CPSC activities and financial status for FY 2022-2023. Moreover, the Director General presented to the Board Members the proposed CPSC Strategic Plan for 2023-2028, a product of a multi-stage process which culminated during the Senior Executives’ Conference (Bangkok, Thailand) on December 12 to 16, 2022. Having been approved by the Board Members, the Strategic Plan will be setting the direction of the Staff College to pursue its Vision, Mission, and Strategic Objectives for the next five years. In addition, the Board Members also discussed the operational budget and the upcoming programs of the College for the mid fiscal year 2022-2023. The 114th Governing Board Meeting in session GOVERNING BOARD NEWS
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 5 CPSC, Labtech International Ltd. Conduct the First Online Regional Program of 2023 on Renewable Energy Using Virtual Technology The Colombo Plan Staff College and Labtech International Ltd. have once again affirmed their partnership through the implementation of the Online Regional Program on Training of Trainers on Renewable Energy Systems Using Virtual TVET from February 20 to 24, 2023. The program was the first joint regional program of CPSC with Labtech for the year 2023. A total of twenty (20) TVET officials, administrators, and trainers from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri lanka, and Thailand attended the five-day training via Zoom. This program was primarily designed to provide the participants an in-depth understanding of the principles of renewable and green technology components using a digital TVET framework featuring 3D animated models. The program was supervised by Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, CPSC Director General and Dr. Steven McKee, Labtech President. The program was facilitated by Mr. Brad Ker, General Manager of Labtech Academy who delivered most of the lectures and managed the workshops. Mr. Antonis Siamas, Head Trainer and SME Superior Training Center Australia and Mr. Ian Andrew, Labtech Consultant and TVET Specialist also served as guest lecturers during the program. The opening ceremony which was held on February 20, 2023 was attended by key officials from CPSC and Labtech. The ceremony was also graced by a special message by the Chief Guest, H.E. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Kazi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Manila, and the incumbent CPSC Governing Board Chairperson. Ambassador Kazi stressed the importance of incorporating greening initiatives through digital learning in the TVET curricula of institutions. Furthermore, he extended his commendation to CPSC and Labtech for continuously advocating for programs that would improve the quality of TVET across Asia and the Pacific. The five-day training consisted of lectures and workshops that taught the participants about mechanisms and innovative tools in digital TVET learning in the field of renewable energy systems. Workshops were facilitated to help the participants better understand how to maximize the use of virtual TVET frameworks, explore various approaches in blended (hybrid) learning, and create lesson plans using digital technology. Labtech also showcased some of their best practices on renewable energy including safety measures for their equipment implemented by their trainers. The closing ceremony was held on February 24, 2023. In attendance were key officials from CPSC and Labtech. Participants from Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the Philippines shared brief yet comprehensive insights, feedback, and reflections on the course of the five-day training. Moreover, CPSC GoverningBoard Engaged Faculty Consultant Dr. Kesavan PROGRAM REGIONAL
6 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 Ulaganathen, who gave the closing remarks on behalf of the CPSC’s Director General, extended the Staff College’s gratitude towards Labtech International Ltd., for its unwavering support and commitment to develop and implement programs for CPSC’s member countries for the past two years Nepal’s TVET Instructors, Lecturers Join CPSC-Labtech Program on Electrical Basics Using Digital Technology The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) and Labtech International Ltd., through the coordination of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Nepal, implemented the Online In-Country Program on Training of Trainers on Electrical Basics Using Virtual TVET from January 9 to 12, 2023, via Zoom. A total of fifteen (15) TVET electrical instructors and lecturers all over Nepal TVET institutions have participated and completed all the requirements of the training. The five-day online program aimed to provide the participants an understanding of the teaching innovations and methodologies using digital technology in electrical basics. The topics were designed to cover themes such as electrical fundamentals, instruments and meters, electrical components, and power supplies among others. The program’s management was under the helm of the following: Program Supervisors Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, CPSC Director General; Dr. Steven McKee, Labtech President; and Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle, CTEVT Member Secretary. Mr. Deepak Prasad Poudel, Director of CTEVT Technical Division served as the Local Coordinator. The program was facilitated by Mr. Brad Ker, General Manager and Program Coordinator for Labtech, as well as guest speakers Mr. Antonis Siamas, Head Trainer and SME, Superior Training Center Australia, and Mr. Ian Andrew, Consultant and TVET Specialist from Labtech. The opening program was held on January 9, 2023. It was attended by the key officials and program management team from CPSC, Labtech and CTEVT. Group photo of the participants during the closing ceremony CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen (left) and Labtech International Ltd. President Dr. Steven McKee (right) impart welcome remarks during the opening ceremony PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 7 The five-day training consisted of lectures and activities facilitated by the resource persons. The participants were able to understand alternate teaching deliveries on advanced and practical studies on electrical basics such as residential and commercial wiring systems, electrical machines and their control systems, and electrical protection systems among others using Labtech Academy’s Learning Management System (LMS). A lesson plan using virtual TVET was developed by the participants at the end of the training, which was assessed and evaluated by Mr. Brad Ker. The closing ceremony was held on January 12, 2023 attended by key officials from CPSC and Labtech. Brief reflections were shared by selected participants who generally expressed their gratitude in line with the successful facilitation of the training program. Likewise in his speech, Mr. Deepak Prasad Poudel provided the Vote of Thanks and expressed CTEVT’s appreciation to both CPSC and Labtech. At the culminating event, some closing remarks were delivered by the program supervisors as well as a special message from the CTEVT Vice Chairperson Mr. Khagendra Prasad Adhikari whereby he signified CTEVT’s continued commitment to strengthen ties with CPSC for the development of Nepal’s TVET system. CTEVT Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle (top) and Director for Technical Division Mr. Deepak Prasad Poudel (bottom) share their closing messages during the closing ceremony Automotive Trainers in Myanmar Learn Virtual TVET from CPSC-Labtech Program The Colombo Plan Staff College and Labtech International Ltd. extended the benefits of its partnership by holding an Online In-Country Program on Automotive Technology Using Virtual TVET in Myanmar. Held from January 16-19, 2023, the program tapped 27 automotive trainers and instructors for a period of four days and included 2 trainers from Don Bosco, Philippines. The 4-day program, held virtually via Zoom, was designed to cover the introduction to automotive systems such as basic engine fundamentals, electricity, and electronics, braking systems, wheels and drive systems, and steering and suspension systems. It also tackled the development of the students’ knowledge and skills leading to more advanced studies such as petrol and diesel fuel, systems, engine management, transmissions, and hybrid vehicles. In addition to the program modules, the program also included a 6-months access to HVAC digital learning contents of CPSC-Labtech Academy online portal for free and Certificates of Completion to the participants, as certified by Worlddidac. This program of similar nature and modality was previously held in the Philippines, Fiji, Bhutan, India, and Malaysia. The training was supervised by the program management team composed of the following: Prof. GLD. Wickramasinghe, CPSC Director General; Dr. Steven McKee, Labtech President; and Dr. Moe Kyaw Thu, Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET) Deputy Director General. In addition, the program’s resources and logistics were facilitated by Mr. Brad Ker, General Manager of Labtech Academy while Dr. Maw Maw Tun, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and Dr. Yan Naing Tun, Principal, JMASTVI, facilitated the local arrangements and served as Local Coordinators. The opening ceremony of the program was held on January 16, 2023, and was graced by the program supervisors from CPSC and DTVET, and MOST. In addition, the program also invited the Charge d’Affaires and Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
8 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 Photos of the participants during the closing ceremony Dr Moe Kyaw Thu, Deputy Director General, Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET, left) and Hon. San Yu Kyaw, Charge d’Affaires and Minister Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the Philippines (right) during the opening ceremony the Union of Myanmar to the Philippines, Hon. San Yu Kyaw, who served as the Chief Guest of the ceremony. The closing ceremony was held on January 19, 2023 and was attended by key guests including Dr. Tun, Dr. Thu, and Dr. Naing Tun. They affirmed Myanmar’s continued participation in CPSC’s programs and vowed for future collaborative activities. Furthermore, the program was positively regarded by the participants during the feedback session. Mr. Brad Ker delivers his session PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 9 In-Country Program in Thailand Focuses on 21st Century Skills for TVET in Teaching and Learning The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), in collaboration with the Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), Ministry of Education, Thailand has successfully implemented the face-to-face In-Country Program on 21st Century Skills for TVET from February 20 to 24, 2023, in Pattaya Technical College, Chonburi, Thailand. A total of 49 trainers, executive officials, and policy analysts from numerous technical and vocational colleges in Thailand have participated in the training. The program was primarily designed to discuss the importance of obtaining 21stcentury skills for TVET in developing and designing quality TVET curricula in technical and vocational institutions including critical thinking, creative thinking, problem-solving, metacognition, collaboration skills, effective communication, and global communication. Included in the program management were: Program Supervisors CPSC Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, and OVEC Secretary General Acting Sub. Lt. Thanu Vongjinda, Program Coordinator Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, and Local Coordinator Mr. Laksasak Yangsaman. The various theme paper presentations were delivered by the invited resource persons - President of the Institute of Vocational Education (Bangkok) Council Dr. Siriphan Choomnoom; Professor of Geoinformatics, Remote Sensing, and GSIS, Asian Institute of Technology, Dr. Nitin Kumar Tripathi; Director for Policy and Strategy in OVEC, Dr. Rangsan Thepmondhri; and Director, Thai-Austrian Technical College, Ms. Orathai Yothingrueang Sudsanguan. The participants were welcomed by an opening ceremony on February 20, 2023. Key speeches from the program management members were delivered and an orientation of the program schedule for the five-day training ensued which was facilitated by the Program Coordinator, Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan. The five-day training was composed of lectures and workshops surrounding different topics on 21st-century skills in TVET and IR 4.0 such as developing curriculum structures that are adaptive to the requirements of the VUCA world, digitization innovations in teaching and learning, as well as change management using the Plan, Do, Check, and Act (PDCA) cycle in TVET. Exercises involving the crafting of SWOT analysis, creating Competency-Based Training (CBT) modules, and developing curriculum integrating 21stcentury skills assessed the understanding of the participants of the topics. In addition to the aforementioned activities, the participants conducted a study visit to SNC Former Public Company Ltd., one of the leading PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
10 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 manufacturers of air-conditioning and electrical parts for the automotive and housing industries in Thailand. The delegation was welcomed by the Executive Vice Chairman of SNC, Mr. Somchai Ngamkitcharoenlap who provided a brief discussion on the functions of SNC in the manufacturing industry of Thailand. This was followed by an open forum whereby exchange of information transpired between the participants and the officers of SNC. The closing ceremony was held on February 24, 2023 wherein officials from OVEC gave their closing remarks, and extended their gratitude to all the members of the organizing committee that took part in the successful implementation of the program. On the other hand, Program Coordinator Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, on behalf of CPSC, also expressed his appreciation to all the participants for their cooperation and contributions into making the program productive and informative. OVEC Deputy Secretary Flg. Officer Somporn Pandam (top) and CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan (bottom) deliver welcome remarks during the opening ceremony, February 20, 2023 Resource persons Dr. Nithin Kumar Tripathi (left) and Dr. Rangsan Thepmondhri (right) discuss their theme papers Photos of the study visit of participants to SNC Former Public Company Ltd., February 23, 2023 PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 11 CPSC ICP on Effective Workforce Planning in TVET held Face-to-Face in Malaysia The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), together with the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE), Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia has conducted the face-to-face In-Country Program on Effective Workforce Planning in the TVET Sector last March 6 to 10, 2023 at the Dorsett Grand Subang Hotel in Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. This five-day program was attended by 30 TVET administrators, quality section directors, experts, specialists, and policymakers from TVET polytechnics and community colleges throughout Malaysia. The program was primarily designed to tackle the future needs of the workforce in the TVET sector in Malaysia, understand the challenges in planning for producing an effective organizational workforce and develop strategies to materialize these needs. In addition, the training was also aimed at broadening the spectrum of knowledge and skills of the participants in anchoring their organizational direction to various international standards. At the helm of the program management were the following Program Supervisors: Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, CPSC Director General; Dr. Mohd Zahari bin Ismail, DPCCE Director General; and Ts. Zainab binti Othman, DPCCE Senior Director (Competency). The program was facilitated by Program Coordinator and resource person, Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant. Theme papers were delivered by local and international experts namely: Ms. Teh Sook Ling, Executive Director, Selangor Human Resource Development Centre; Mr. John Blake, Professor for Online Learning, Eastern College Australia; Dr. Norhayati binti Zakaria, Director, Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah; Mr. El Cid Castillo, Provincial Director, TESDA Provincial Office - PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
12 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 Sarangani, Philippines; Ts. Tung Chee Kuan, President, Technological Association of Malaysia; Mr. Tan Aik Keong, Founder and CEO of Agmo Group of Companies, and President, Malaysia Mobile App Developer Associations; and Dr. Md Fauzi bin Mohd. Ismail, Registrar, Malaysian Board of Technologies. Local coordinators from DPCCE include Mr. Mohd. Saiful Nizam bin Khalid, Deputy Director, Competency and Career Enhancement Division, DPCCE; Ms. Nawwar Adibah binti Wahid, Senior Assistant Director, Competency and Career Enhancement Division, DPCCE; and Mr. Muhammad Syafiq bin Mohd. Kamal, Senior Assistant Director, Competency and Career Enhancement Division, DPCCE. The opening program commenced on March 6, 2023. Dr. Ulaganathen, representing the CPSC Director General welcomed the participants wished them good luck for the next five days of training. In addition, DPCCE Senior Director of Academics Mr. Mohd. Noor bin Shahudin also delivered a welcome message on behalf of DPCCE’s Director General. Photos of resource persons facilitating the theme papers during the sessions DPCCE Senior Director for Academics Mr. Mohd Noor Bin Shahudin imparts his opening remarks on behalf of DPCCE Director General The five-day program consisted of lectures, workshops, group discussions, and individual tasks. The participants were actively engaged during the sessions. Seven theme papers were presented by the designated resource persons which covered crucial topics such as issues and challenges in workforce planning in TVET, addressing innovative learning and assessment, The five-day program consisted of lectures, workshops, group discussions, and individual tasks. The participants were actively engaged during the sessions. Seven theme papers were presented by the designated resource persons which covered cruicial topics such as issues and challenges in workforce planning in TVET, addressing innovative learning and assessment, and workforce trends in TVET. During the fourth day, a seminar on “Effective Workforce in the 21st Century” was conducted. The seminar was facilitated by Mr. El Cid Castillo, Provincial Director, TESDA Provincial Office - Sarangani, Philippines; Ts. Tung Chee Kuan, President, Technological Association of Malaysia; Mr. Tan Aik Keong, Founder and CEO of Agmo Group of Companies, and President, Malaysia Mobile App Developer Associations; and Dr. Md Fauzi bin Mohd. Ismail, Registrar, Malaysian Board of Technologies. The seminar, which was anchored to the overall objectives of the training, emphasized case studies PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 13 which covered situational analysis in the design planning for Malaysian TVET workforce within IR 4.0 by private and public industrial organizations and companies in the country, and an overview of the workforce demand and implementation of workforce designing tools in the Philippines through the Technical and Skills Development Authority of the Philippines (TESDA). Through the interactive group workshops and activities, the participants were able to craft an action plan towards developing an effective workforce planning in their own institutions. These action plans were then presented to the facilitators during the last day of the program. Included in the training is a brief study visit to the Huawei Technologies, Malaysia, where the participants were able to learn about innovative systems in the development and manufacturing of mobile devices under Huawei Technologies. The closing program was attended by officials from CPSC and DPCCE. In his vote of thanks, Dr. Ulaganathen thanked the organizing team, especially DPCCE for successfully managing the logistical arrangements of the program. He also expressed his thanks to the participants for actively participating in the discussions. National Coordinator for Accreditation in Malaysia cum Director of Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Johor Ts. Noor Aidi binti Nadzri also delivered a special message. She congratulated the participants for successfully completing their fiveday training and hoped that future collaboration with CPSC will continue. The participants during their group activities and workshops Photo of the participants during the study visit to Huawei Technologies, Malaysia PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
14 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 30 TESDA Administrators, Instructors Participate in CPSC’s ICP on Methodologies on Research The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines, conducted the In-Country Program for the Philippines on Research Methodology for TVET Leaders and Teachers from March 13-17, 2023. The program was conducted online via Zoom, and was participated by 30 instructors, administrators, and teachers from various TESDA provincial technical centers and colleges all over the country. The program design was crafted to give light in understanding the fundamentals of research in TVET. This will enable participants to gain useful tools in writing their own action plan - an effective scientific research proposal in TVET. The program was jointly supervised by CPSC Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and TESDA Director General, Atty. Danilo P. Cruz; and was facilitated by Program Coordinator and Resource Person, Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen. Ms. Carmelita Corbito, Chief of Human Resource Management Division in TESDA, served as the Local Coordinator together with her team in the TESDA Development Institute (TDI). The theme papers were delivered by the external TVET experts, namely: Associate Professor Dr. Imran Mohd. Ibrahim, Faculty of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, Melaka, Malaysia; and Asst. Prof. Jeremaiah Opiniano, PhD, Director, Research Center for Social Sciences and Education, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. The opening program was conducted on March 13, 2023 and was attended by key officials from CPSC and TESDA. Prof. Wickramasinghe welcomed the participants and encouraged the trainers to produce more quality research for the development and sustainability of the Philippine TVET system in the future. Likewise, a video message from the TESDA Director General, Atty. Danilo P. Cruz was shown. In the video, he expressed his sincere gratitude to CPSC PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 15 for its continued support to TESDA to involve them in many of its current programs. The participants were also briefed through video presentations of CPSC and TESDA during the opening ceremony. CPSC Director General Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe (top) and Atty. Danilo Cruz (bottom) during the opening ceremony During the five-day training, the following key theme papers focusing on research methodology were presented: Dr. Ulaganathen explained the fundamentals of research: parts of a research proposal, how to perform a literature review and research planning. Dr. Opiniano and Dr. Ibrahim’s lectures tackled the difference between doing a research methodology in engineering and nonengineering fields. The K-Chart method, as a research methodology was also introduced by Dr. Ibrahim. They also guided the participants on the basics of publication planning and basic result and analysis tools in scientific research. Workshops and activities were also facilitated to support the delivery of lectures by the resource persons. At the end of the program, the participants were able to prepare a basic scientific proposal framework and were able to present some of their drafted research proposals. The facilitators gave their critiques and suggestions on how the presented proposals can be improved. During the closing program on March 17, 2023, some of the participants shared their learnings and reflections throughout the five-day training. Dr. Ulaganathen and Dr. Ibrahim delivered the summary of the program and the vote of thanks. The closing remarks were delivered by Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist, and Dir. Sonia Lipiso, Director of Administrative Services, TESDA. The participants were also briefed through a video presentation about the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC), CPSC’s accreditation arm for TVET institutes. Screenshots of the resource persons delivering their theme papers CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan (left) and TESDA Director for Administrative Services Dir. Sonia Lipiso (right) deliver the closing remarks PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
18 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 In-Country Program in Nepal Focuses on Management of Business Incubation for TVET Institutes The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), together with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Nepal has successfully completed the In-Country Program on Management of Business Incubation for TVET Institutes last March 27 to 31, 2023. The training program was conducted face-to-face at CTEVT headquarters in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal and was participated by a total of 26 college directors, instructors, administrators, teachers, and officials from various TVET institutes in Nepal. This program aims to facilitate understanding of the concepts of Business Incubation Centers (BIC) in TVET, explore its models, roles, and provide necessary skills and knowledge needed in establishing and managing BICs for TVET leaders. The program design ensures that the participants will be able to provide an analysis of TVET institute image-building mechanisms within the 21st century environment, and competency-based training frameworks for business incubation. Supervising the program were CPSC Director General Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and CTEVT Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle. The training was facilitated by the designated Program Coordinator and Resource Person, Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, CPSC’s Senior Faculty Specialist. Moreover, the nominations for the program participants and local coordination were facilitated by CTEVT’s Technical Division, led by its Director, Mr. Deepak Prasad Poudel. The theme papers were likewise delivered by the engaged resource persons namely: Dr. Hari Prasad Lamsal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), Nepal; Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane, Managing Director, Human Development Consultants Group, Nepal and former CPSC Director General; Ms. Rachana Khatri, Programs and Communications Officer, Impact Hub Kathmandu; Engr. Pallab Shrestha, Technical Lead, FabLab Program; Engr. Sanyog Bhattarai, former PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 19 Faculty Specialist, CPSC; Engr. Anoj Bhattarai, PhD, Director of the Curriculum Development and Equivalence Division, CTEVT; and Mr. Birendra Raj Pandey, Vice President, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI). During the opening ceremony, key officials from CPSC and CTEVT graced the event and delivered the welcome remarks. In his opening remarks, Prof. Wickramasinghe wished the participants good luck and expressed his appreciation to CTEVT for managing the event successfully. CTEVT Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle likewise, signified CTEVT’s gratitude to CPSC for continuously providing quality training programs to Nepal TVET administrators. Attendees of the program also include Chief Guest Mr. Ram Krishna Subedi, Secretary, MoEST; Mr. Khagendra Prasad Adhikary, Vice Chairperson, CTEVT; and Dr. Hari Prasad Lamsal, Joint Secretary, MoEST. The theme papers during the five-day training emphasized topics such as design and structural integration for entrepreneurial skills, digitalization of TVET as a tool for global entrepreneurial competitiveness, discussion of examples and case studies of international business incubation models in TVET institutions, and introduction of the PDCA cycle in TVET institute management through change management. Along with these theme papers, the participants were given synchronous activities that were also facilitated by the resource persons. They were able to craft a competency-based training that integrated entrepreneurial and employability skills and a business incubation model that detailed roles and concepts of partnerships with business industries. On the fourth day of the training program, a national seminar was held entitled Management of Business Incubation in TVET Institutes for Sustainable TVET which was opened for external participants. The sessions that were presented included topics on BIC as a tool toward achieving sustainability within the TVET sector, industry innovation through BIC models, green economy and BIC, as well as a case study on Nepal institutions adopting BIC frameworks. The closing ceremony was held on the last day of the fiveday training program, and was attended as well by key officials from CPSC and CTEVT. Engr. Dr. Ahsan delivered the summary of the program and the vote of thanks while Prof. Wickramasinghe conveyed a closing address on behalf of CPSC. Together, they expressed their gratitude to the organizing team from CTEVT for making the program a success and signified support to CTEVT’s future programs and projects. Program Supervisors (top) Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle (middle) as well as CPSC and CTEVT officials (bottom) during the opening ceremony Resource persons deliver their theme papers PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
20 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 Courtesy visit of CPSC Director General Prof. Wickramasinghe and CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan (rightmost) to the British Council in Nepal with officials Mr. Gaurab Sharma (leftmost) and Ms. Shahida MacDougall (third from the left) Courtesy visit to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), Nepal with Education Secretary Mr. Ramkrishna Subedi (third from the left) and TVET Joint Secretary Dr. Kamal Prasad Pokhrel (rightmost) Courtesy visit to the Training Institute for Technical Instruction (TITI), Nepal with TITI Executive Director Er. Mahesh Bhattarai (center) Courtesy visit to the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) with CTVET Vice-Chairperson Mr. Khagendra Adhikari (second from the right) and Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle (leftmost) Photos during the National Seminar on the Management of Business Incubation in TVET Institutes for Sustainable TVET In conjunction with the program, the CPSC DG and Engr. Dr. Ahsan conducted courtesy visits to CPSC’s network institutions in Nepal in a consistent effort to expand and promote the College’s capabilities and network. They have met with the representatives of the British Council in Nepal and officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), as well as the Training Institute for Technical Instruction (TITI), Nepal. Participants during the group activities PROGRAM IN-COUNTRY
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 21 TVET Institute Administrators from Philippines and Mongolia Join CPSC’s Training Needs Analysis (TNA) Program The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) through the Projects and Consultancy Division (PCD) conducted the five-day Open Registration Program on Training Needs Analysis (TNA) in the TVET Sector. The program was held face-to-face in CPSC, Pasig City, Philippines from March 27 to 31, 2023. A total of seven TVET institute directors, administrators, human resource officers, and international cooperation specialists from the International Electronics and Technical Institute (IETI) School System, Philippines and the Polytechnic College of Engineering and Technology (PCET), Mongolia participated in the program. The program is specifically designed to provide an understanding for TVET institutions to craft a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) for their respective organizations; its processes, and comprehend the roles and responsibilities of key actors involved in doing the TNA. The program was supervised by CPSC Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, and was facilitated by Program Coordinator and Resource Person, Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant. A theme paper was also delivered by the external resource person, Mr. Stephen Cezar. He is currently a Supervising TESD Specialist at the National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development (NITESD) at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines. During the opening ceremony, Dr. Ulaganathen delivered the welcome remarks on behalf of the CPSC Director General. He warmly welcomed the participants and encouraged them to be active and cooperative for a fruitful training program. A brief introduction of the participants and CPSC staff followed after. The participants were also briefed on the mandates of CPSC and the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) through the video briefer. PROGRAM CUSTOMIZED
22 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 Throughout the five-day training, key lectures and workshops were facilitated by the resource persons. The participants were able to learn the fundamentals of TNA (Importance, Needs and Method), its current practices in 21st-century organizations, and its significance to the sustainability of the operations of an organization. They were also able to understand the roles and responsibilities of the key actors involved in designing and implementing a TNA. Mr. Stephen Cezar delivered two integral topics: first on the methods of assessing an organization’s training needs and second on the evaluation mechanisms of training outcomes. CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant and Program Coordinator and Resource Person, Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen delivers the opening remarks The interactive activities and workshops made the training more lively and fun. Participants were given individual and group tasks such as making a SWOT analysis, identifying training needs in their respective organizations, designing a TNA checklist, and preparing an annual training plan for their organization. One of the key group activities was the panel interview. The participants were grouped into Resource persons Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen (top) and Mr. Stephen Cezar (bottom) during the theme paper presentations two panels and were given a chance to interview to identify their respective division’s training needs. Participants during the workshops and activities PROGRAM CUSTOMIZED
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 23 Photos during the panel interviews with the selected CPSC staff During the third day of the training, the participants visited the TESDA Women’s Center (TWC). The delegation was met by the TWC’s Acting Administrator, Ms. Mylene Somera and her staff. After a brief orientation on the programs and activities of the TWC, a tour to the training laboratories ensued. Some of the workshops and facilities that were visited by the delegation include the welding, electrical, and HVAC workshops, as well as the bartending and baking rooms. The participants were also able to view the ongoing National Skills Competition during the visit. During the closing program on March 31, 2023, Dr. Ulaganathen delivered the summary of the program and congratulated the participants for their cooperation throughout the past five days. He also expressed his satisfaction to the participants for their support, cooperation and commitments. PCD Officer Ms. Arlene Cruz, who delivered the vote of thanks, expressed her gratitude to all the CPSC Local And Professional staff who made the program possible. She also extended her appreciation to all the participants for a fruitful training and hoped for possible collaborations and more programs for their organizations in the future. Participants tour the TESDA Women’s Center (TWC) facilities and workshop PROGRAM CUSTOMIZED
24 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 CPSC Signs MoU with Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Brings UMP for Study Visit to Technological Universities and TVET Colleges in Manila I n a continuous effort to expand its network of partner institutions throughout its member countries, the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) has extended its cooperation to the Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), a public technical university in Pahang, Malaysia, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed between the two parties last March 13, 2023, in CPSC, Pasig City, Philippines. Representing CPSC is the Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, together with the faculty members Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, Governing BoardEngaged Faculty Consultant, and Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, Senior Faculty Specialist. UMP was represented by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserie Bin Zainuddin. During the short program, CPSC Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe extended CPSC’s support in the vision of UMP to be one of the forefront technical universities in Malaysia that offer quality programs in extensive fields of engineering technologies. Likewise, the UMP delegation, has expressed their gratitude to CPSC for facilitating their visit and hoped for a fruitful collaboration with the Staff College in the future. CPSC presented its briefer and APACC video to introduce CPSC’s mandate, programs and varied activities. In addition, a brief presentation from both CPSC’s Projects and Consultancy Division (PCD) Chairperson, Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan and UMP Vice Chancellor Zainuddin ensued after the signing of the MoU. Among the delegation were Assistant Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Bin Ibrahim; Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Prof. Dr. Mahadzir Bin Ishak; Dean of the Faculty of Photo during the signing of the MoU between CPSC and UMP CPSC NEWS
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 25 CPSC Faculty Members with the UMP Delegation Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology, Associate Prof. Dr. Hamdan Bin Daniyal; and Dean of the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering, Prof. Ts. Dr. Che Ku Mohammad Faizal Bin Che Ku Yahya. In addition, the delegation has also conducted institutional visits in various technological universities and TVET institutions in the Philippines namely: Toyota Motor Philippines Assembly Plant and School of Technology (TMP Tech), Technological Institute of the Philippines – Quezon City campus, and Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati. The study visits were conducted from March 14 to 15, 2023 which aimed to benchmark higher education institutions gain knowledge on the best practices of their TVET related programs including mechanical and automotive engineering, manufacturing engineering, and electrical and electronics engineering. During the visit to TMP Tech on the second day, the delegation was accommodated by Toyota Motor Philippines Assistant Vice President and Operations Manager, Engr. Ronald Gaspar. The faculty members of UMP were toured to the automotive assembly plant where they were shown how the Vios and Innova models are assembled. Following this, they toured the TMP Tech’s campus where they were guided to the automotive workshops, gymnasium, school library, clinic, and student dormitories. Later, the delegation visited the Technological Institute of the Philippines – Quezon City campus, located in Cubao, Quezon City. They were welcomed graciously by the faculty staff headed by Dr. Cynthia Llanes, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Conrado V. Navalta, Vice President for Quality Management and Strategic Initiatives and Head of International Relations Department. The delegation toured around the campus visiting the various engineering laboratories, workshops, computer rooms, gymnasiums and other school facilities. The third day was the last visit held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati. The delegation was met by the Shop Heads of the TVET Department and by Assistant Technical Director Mr. Johnnie P. Santos who facilitated the tour around the automotive workshops and laboratories (Toyota, Porsche, and Ford) as well as the workshops in the electrical and HVAC departments. CPSC Director General Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe poses for the photo with UMP Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserie Bin Zainuddin CPSC Director General Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and UMP Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserie CPSC NEWS
26 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 Photos during the institutional visit to Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology and Technological Institute of the Philippines – Quezon City Campus Photos during the institutional visit to Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati CPSC NEWS
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 27 Don Bosco Tech ASEAN Representatives Conduct a Study Visit to CPSC for their Bi-Annual Meeting in 2023 Ten Don Bosco Tech ASEAN Country Coordinators from the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, and Myanmar as well as representatives of the Don Bosco Mondo and Commission on Youth Ministry in Rome have conducted a short study visit to CPSC in Manila, Philippines last March 2, 2023 as part of their first bi-annual meeting as hosted by the Don Bosco Technical Institute of Makati. As requested by Fr. Jose Dindo Vitug, SDB, Managing Coordinator and Executive Director of the Don Bosco - One TVET Philippines, this study visit was aimed as a bench marking activity for the Don Bosco Tech ASEAN Country Coordinators on the good practices of CPSC as a forefront international organization for TVET through the development, promotion, and implementation of quality training programs for TVET administrators, officials, and trainers all across Asia Pacific. During the visit, a short ceremony commenced wherein CPSC Faculty Members Dr. Kesavan Ulaganthen, Governing BoardEngaged Faculty Consultant, and Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, Senior Faculty Specialist, proceeded to discuss the programs, processes, roles, and functions of the respective divisions in CPSC: Training and Development Division (TDD), Research, Publications, and Information Division (RPID), Projects and Consultancy Division (PCD), and the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC). The division officers of CPSC also attended the ceremony. A short open forum ensued after the presentations. Fr. Jose Dindo Vitug, SDB, during his special remarks On behalf of the Director General, Dr. Ulaganathen expressed his gratitude to the Don Bosco Tech ASEAN delegation for selecting CPSC NEWS
28 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 CPSC as one of their benchmarked institutions for their biannual meeting this year. Moreover, he also extended CPSC’s full support to Don Bosco on their training needs in the future. From the Don Bosco’s side, Fr. Vitug has also signified his appreciation for the hospitality of CPSC staff in accommodating the delegation and has encouraged his co-country coordinators to explore potential program collaborations with CPSC in the future. CPSC Faculty Members Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen and Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan present CPSC’s divisional functions, programs, activities and services APACC Convenes TVET Experts for APACC Strategic Plan 2020-2025 Midterm Review The Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) convened technical and vocational education and training (TVET) professionals from different countries in the Asia Pacific Region to seek their expert opinions for the midterm review of the APACC Strategic Plan 2020-2025. This activity was part of APACC’s strategy to assess its achievements and ascertain shortcomings, and deliberate on the strategic directions for the second half of the plan’s implementation. Representatives from TVET APACC
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 29 quality assurance agencies, former APACC Presidents, Steering Committee Members, National Coordinators for Accreditation, and Special Officers from Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste actively participated and shared their invaluable inputs during the meeting which was held online via Zoom on February 1, 2023. The APACC team spearheaded the preparations for the administrative and academic requirements supervised by the APACC President and concurrent CPSC Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe, along with the interventions and guidance of the Workshop Coordinator and APACC Chairperson, Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen, and Workshop Cocoordinator and Resource Person, Dr. Romulita Alto. The team was further assisted by the Resource Person and Research, Publications and Information Division (RPID) Officer, Mr. Rae Emmanuel Echaveria; APACC Officer, Mrs. Adrienne Nonan; and APACC Assistant, Ms. Marise Catud. A total of fourteen (14) experts from twelve (12) countries attended the review and the discussion was facilitated by the elected Meeting Chairperson, Pn. Noor Aidi Binti Nadzri from Malaysia. The APACC Team presented the draft revised version of the Strategic Plan that was prepared beforehand, to which the experts deliberated and provided their insights, feedback, and advice during the review. At the end of the meeting, recommendations on the objectives, strategies, and activities components of the Strategic Plan were endorsed by the Meeting Chairperson with a unanimous concurrence from the experts. This version of the Strategic Plan would be proposed to the APACC Board and CPSC Governing Board for endorsement for implementation. The invaluable input of the experts during the Midterm Review is vital for APACC in its planning and strategizing for its future course as it continuously aims to provide international accreditation and certification services towards the quality management system of TVET institutions. Politeknik Port Dickson (PPD) Renews Its APACC Accreditation As its commitment to providing quality TVET services to its stakeholders, Politeknik Port Dickson (PPD), Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia successfully underwent its second cycle of APACC accreditation on March 6 -10, 2023 via Microsoft Teams. The online evaluation of PPD began with a video presentation about the institution, their programs, and achievements. This was followed by the virtual welcome speech of Dr. Hajid Muhammad Zahari Bin Ismail, Director General of the Department of Polytechnic and Community College Education (DPCCE), Malaysia. He conveyed his warm welcome to the APACC team and wished that “APACC’s reaccreditation of PPD would achieve the desired targets so that more opportunities for improvement will give new ideas to PPD towards more TVET acceleration and collaboration” APACC
30 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 The Chairman of the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC), Dato Indera Dr. Ahmad Sabirin Arshad, FASc, also gave his special remarks during the opening day. Afterwards, the PPD Director Dr. Ishak Bin Mohamad presented the actions taken based on the APACC’s recommendation forwarded during the previous accreditation. He also shared their institution’s success stories. A tour of PPD’s facilities via live video presentations and slide presentations per APACC criterion followed by the APACC team’s interview and validation transpired from the first day and the rest of the evaluation period. During the validation, the APACC Accreditation team also interviewed some members/representatives of the Student Council and the IAC. They also shared their roles, participation in and feedback on the programs and services of PPD. Screenshot of different facilities of PPD presented during the virtual tour of the institution The APACC evaluation and the PPD teams discuss actions to take per the initial recommendations forwarded during the closing meeting. The APACC team shared some of their initial commendations, affirmations and recommendations per the APACC criteria to the PPD team on the last day of the APACC
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 31 Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO), Malaysia Goes for APACC Reaccreditation After Five Years Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO), a public polytechnic technical college under the Department of Polytechnics and Community Colleges Education (DPCCE) in Ipoh, Malaysia has conducted their APACC reaccreditation process once again, after having successfully gone through reaccreditation last 2018, which had earned them a gold level accreditation status under APACC. PUO was first accredited in 2014 in which they have also earned a gold-level accreditation status. In their continuous pursuit of excellence as one of the premier polytechnics in Malaysia, the five-day reaccreditation exercise was primarily aimed at evaluating the current institutional profile against the seven criteria of APACC namely: (I) Governance and Management, (II) Teaching and Learning, (III) Human Resources, (IV) Research and Development, (V) Image and Sustainability, (VI) Other Resources, and (VII) Support to Students. Moreover, the accreditation also evaluated PUO’s actions taken to the recommendations cited by the accreditation team in 2018. This year, the accreditation activity was done online via Zoom. The APACC accreditation team was composed of Lead Accreditor Dr. Hazrat Hussain from Pakistan, Member Accreditor Prof. Chuluuntsegtseg Dagvadorj from Mongolia, and Documentation Officer Mr. Paulo Anthony J. Mendoza, Research, Publications, and Information Division Assistant and Interim Projects and Consultancy Division Assistant at the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC). During the opening ceremony, welcome addresses were delivered by key officials from PUO and DPCCE. PUO Director Dr. Shamsuri bin Abdullah, expressed his hope that the fiveday accreditation will be as productive, if not better than the last reaccreditation in 2018. Ms. Ts. Noor Aidi binti Nadzri, the National Coordinator for Accreditation in Malaysia and concurrent Director of Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan in Johor also attended the opening ceremony. Signifying her support for PUO’s aspiration for quality education, she expressed her appreciation to PUO for their commitment to advancing Malaysian academic excellence to the highest standards. APACC
32 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 After the opening ceremony, an online tour inside PUO’s facilities ensued. Among the facilities that were shown are: smart classrooms called Technology Enabled Collaborative Classrooms; workshops inside the Marine Engineering Department such as the steam turbine workshop, boiler room, and the ship engine simulation room; school library including the coffee corner and the 24/7 discussion room; student hostel; school clinic; multimedia center facilities such as the Extended Reality Studio in the Architecture Department; and student council building. The second and third days of the accreditation focused on the interviews and presentation of the documentary evidence in PUO Director Dr. Shamsuri bin Abdullah (top right) and National Coordinator for Accreditation in Malaysia cum Director of Politeknik Ibrahim Sultan, Johor Ts. Noor Aidi binti Nadzri (bottom right) during the opening ceremony on March 6, 2023 The APACC Accreditation Team for PUO: Lead Accreditor, Dr. Hazrat Hussain (bottom); Member Accreditor, Prof. Chuluuntsegtseg Dagvadorj (top left); and Documentation Officer, Mr. Paulo Anthony J. Mendoza (top right) correspondence to the indicators of the APACC instrument and the submitted SelfStudy Form (SSF). The designated members of the institution’s APACC committee have been present throughout the sessions to ensure that all questions and clarifications of the accreditors on the submitted evidence will be answered thoroughly. Moreover, the accreditors have also cross-checked the stipulated actions taken in accordance with the recommendations given during the 2018 APACC reaccreditation. During the exit meeting, Dr. Hussain delivered the initial commendations, affirmations, and recommendations based on the critical assessment done by both accreditors during the interviews. Moreover, the accreditation team has also expressed their gratitude to the organizing APACC committee of PUO for welcoming them hospitably even though the accreditation process was only done virtually. In his closing remarks, PUO Director Dr. Shamsuri bin Abdullah also extended his appreciation to all the staff of PUO, especially to Dr. Izwah bin Ismail, PUO Deputy Director for Academics and Overall APACC Coordinator; and to Ms. Yong Rashidah Mamat Tuselim, APACC Committee Team Leader for PUO, for their leadership and commitment in ensuring the success of this year’s reaccreditation. Lastly, a special video message from DPCCE Director General Ybrs. Dr. Haji Mohd. Zahari bin Ismail was shown wherein he congratulated PUO for achieving another milestone by applying for APACC accreditation for the third time. Screenshots during the virtual tour of PUO facilities NEWS
CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 33 CPSC Provides ISO Awareness Training and Internal Auditors Workshop for its Professional and Local Staff The professional and local staff of the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) have completed their training on ISO 9001:2015 Awareness and Internal Audit Training Effectiveness on January 17 to 19, 2023. This training was organized by the Human Resources under the Office of the Director General (ODG) as part of its Staff Development Plan for FY 2022-2023. The training aimed to train and orient local and professional CPSC staff on the clauses of the updated ISO 9001: 2015 (Quality Management Systems) and understand how an internal quality audit works. Workshops and group activities were conducted wherein CPSC staff were tasked to prepare their divisional SWOT analysis, and risk management matrix. Mock audits were also made to prepare them for what happens during a real internal audit. Ms. Lorna Valdez from NQA Philippines, Inc. facilitated the lectures. All CPSC staff passed the examination and were issued certificates of completion. This would allow the staff to have adequate skills to conduct the upcoming 40th Internal Quality Audit (IQA) as internal auditors and prepare themselves for the next external surveillance audit some time in June Ms. Lorna Valdez from NQA Philippines, Inc. (top) and the CPSC professional and local staff (bottom) during the ISO training. NEWS
The Paris Agreement is a multilateral international agreement adopted during the UN Climate Change Conference on December 12, 2015 in Paris, France. It officially entered into force on November 4, 2016. The goal of this agreement is to hold the “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.” The rationale behind this is to prevent the 1.5°C threshold risks of climate change effects before 2030 - droughts, intense heat waves, and above average rainfalls. Agreement works on a five-year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action -- or, ratcheting up -- carried out by countries. Since 2020, countries have been submitting their national climate action plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs). Each successive NDC is meant to reflect an increasingly higher degree of ambition compared to the previous version. Sources: https://unfccc.int/process-andmeetings/the-paris-agreement What is the Paris Agreement? GREEN CORNER 34 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023
FEEDBACK CORNER I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the management of TESDA for giving me the opportunity to be one of the chosen participants in this training. The insights that I have learned in this training helped me a lot because I have come to fully understand that research is very important in the academe. It is also useful in our field of work and it is one of the targets in our performance commitment and review. As a beginner in this journey, I can say that this training is a very good start for me. The learnings that I have gained in this training, especially in the respective research activities, process, and basic research planning using the K-chart approach, are all new learnings to help me develop and improve my knowledge, and hopefully implement them in our workplace… Dr. Kesavan was very engaging during training and after, at meals and tours. He was able to share his insights and values with the group that enhanced the training and experience. CPSC is lucky to have him. The staff of CPSC took very good care of us during our stay. The food (Manang Leah) kept us well fed and happy, the facilities (Sir Nonoy) rooms and facilities were comfortable and clean, the lobby guards gave us Indian Mangoes, the drivers (Mark) showed us the city like we were tourists. Ms. Arlene, Ms.Mango and Ms. Marise made sure we were all taken care off. Paulo and Justine for IT and Photos expertly assisted and documented our training. Congratulations to the CPSC team. We hope to see you again. Thank you again. Ms. Lorna Cabundag Participant ICP Philippines on Research Methodology for TVET Leaders and Teachers March 13-17, 2023 Ms. Mary Angelique Ochoa-Arceo Participant Open Registration Program on Training Needs Analysis in the TVET Sector March 27-31, 2023 FEEDBACK CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023 35
First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the CPSC for opening their windows for us, and also my authority for nominating me to participate here. They have given me this good opportunity for understanding and embracing myself with valuable knowledge on very important issues. In fact, the renewable energy and green technology issues are, as a whole, focal and burning issues of today… The friendly company and smiling face of Ms. Mango will always hunt our future memories. Don’t forget the brightfulness of this program. I hope and believe that CPSC will be remembered. Stay safe and happy. I want to express my gratitude to the program organizers, especially to Mr. Brad Ker of Labtech Academy for his guidance and facilitation during the program. Special thanks also to Dr. Maw Maw Tun for his advice and help for me to complete this training… Now, we train ourselves with virtual TVET with the knowledge that I gained in teaching automotive technology using virtual TVET. This will be very useful and I know that I will be able to utilize these especially in preparation of my lesson plans. Ms. Afida Raman Participant Online Regional Program on Renewable Energy System Using Virtual TVET February 20-24, 2023 Cpt. Zarni Participant Online In-Country Program for Myanmar on Automotive Technology Using Virtual TVET January 16-19, 2023 FEEDBACK CORNER FEEDBACK 36 CPSC Quarterly - January to March 2023