Welcome Message

Dr. Man-Gon Park Conference Chair  Director-General/CEO Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC)

Congratulations to the delegates of the International Conference on Accreditation and Certification for TEVT Institutions!

Today is another momentous event for all of us. This two-day conference will open new frontiers as it stresses TEVT institutions within the parameters of quality. It has been long since I coiled this vision of pulling together same minds, same level of commitment, same perspective - all to move towards the direction of achieving quality, commonality, acceptability and integrity of TEVT sector in Asia and the Pacific.

CPSC, as a center of excellence, voluntarily comes forward to do its role. We see the potential of TEVT institutions across Asia and the Pacific Region. We believe that this potential can be enhanced with a carefully laid out pattern of academic and training systems. TEVT systems are palatable when they satisfy the criteria of the client-base. But beside the point of making palatable systems that satisfy criteria is forming a strong foundation for continual improvement of quality and standards according to the needs of the times.

TEVT, as congruous platform for developing a knowledge workforce and knowledge-based economy, puts premium to the integrity of academic and training institutions. As 21st century generation of TEVT practitioners, we shall put premium to harmonizing our efforts and making TEVT impact felt. By beefing up institutional credibility, maintaining a level of global acceptability of programs and tailoring teaching and learning systems within the sphere of standards, we will be able to win favorable TEVT impact.

Dear friends, accreditation is not a practice stranger in our time. It is, by far, the efficient force for two similar institutions, whatever sector they are in, to outdo each other's systems and vie for similar market. They intend to win trust and prove excellence over the other. As such, accreditation and certification of academic systems increase competitiveness and effectiveness of manpower by practice. Once accredited and certified, the institutions gain value-added "credits." Thus, accreditation and certification, by formula, increase the market base. As a continuing strategy to compete and gain high marketability, TEVT institutions, in particular, strive to uplift skill standards offerings. Thus, accreditation and certification, by purpose, embrace quality improvement.

CPSC shall pursue accreditation and certification goals for TEVT institutions in Asia and the Pacific Region. This is the only way to make accreditation and certification reflect its gains, by practice, by formula and by purpose.

In the long run, we shall create a chain of accredited and certified institutions armed with high quality and innovation across Asia and the Pacific Region. These accredited and certified institutions will be credible enough to be trusted, innovative enough to develop TEVT systems that respond to the needs of the times, and worthy enough to exist in the field.

Have a very productive time in Seoul, Korea!

 

Inspirational Address

Sec. Augusto Syjuco Director-General, TESDA CPSC Governing Board Chairman

On behalf of the Governing Board and the Government of the Philippines, I am happy to hold my inaugural function as Chairman of the Governing Board of CPSC here in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

I share the same enthusiasm that you have in the conduct of this International Conference on Accreditation and Certification in TEVT Institutions.

The underpinning reason for this activity will fully set forth the relevance of accreditation and certification in Asia and the Pacific Region to empower TEVT institutions.

Ten years from now, our projections will be that TEVT institutions will all gel together under the roof of high technical education and vocational training curricular standards and systems that are known to all, and recognized by all.

Farther than this, the movement of the knowledge workforce will facilitate in a more dynamic transfer of technology, Cross country influence on appropriate teaching and learning systems as well as technology will unify TEVT systems across the region. Eventually, graduates of regionally-accredited and certified TEVT systems will boost industries and institutions in high performance capacity.

Additional skills requirements propel the mushrooming of technical training institutions. This becomes the trend as university education and research and development become minimum requirements in the world of work.

The further development of the human capital and skills will command efficiency, employability and retention of jobs.

We are all here to represent our respective institutions. We at TESDA, in the course of our work in the TEVT sector, strive to address job skills and training requirements. But more importantly, we recognize the need to ensure that the TEVT systems become our tool for the appropriate placement of technical and vocational graduates and skilled manpower in jobs where they can contribute to national development.

I believe that this is the ultimate goal for building on education and training as our foundation. The value-added benefit of this conference will be achieved through international cooperation and commitment. For all of us who believe in our people as our greatest resource, and TEVT as our greatest transportation to economic progress, let us be our own institution's catalysts for introducing continual improvement.

I wish you all a meaningful conference!

 

Keynote Address

Dr. Dong Hoon Lee Conference Chair President of HRD Service of Korea

Distinguished participants from 22 countries,

Dr. Man-Gon Park, Director General of CPSC

Ladies and gentlemen!

Good morning! First of all, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to you all and sincerely thank you for your time. I am honored and pleased to deliver the keynote speech at this conference.

Let me begin by briefly introducing HRD Korea to you. HRD Korea is a governmental organization. We are providing vocational education and training at 21 vocational training institutes and 23 polytechnic colleges. Over 40,000 trainees are trained at these institutes per year and play a pivotal role in the industries as the most competent and skilled workforce. Besides, we have the Korea University of Technology and Education to cultivate vocational training instructors well-versed in theory and practice.

National technical qualification testing is one of our main activities. We have as many as two million applicants aspiring to obtain certificates per year. Our system obtained ISO9000 Quality Assurance in November, 1999.

On the other hand, we work on various international projects in partnership with over 80 countries in Asia, Africa and South America etc, and have strategic linkages and cooperation with the ILO, UNDP, CPSC and APEC.

I am aware that you have gathered here to discuss and exchange ideas on accreditation and certification for TVET institutions.

The emergence of labor-intensive opportunities in Asia and the Pacific region, and in many parts of the globe influences current trends in education and skills training. Accreditation is one of the emerging trends. It facilitates the development, delivery and improvement of services and skills. However, a lot of TVET institutions need appropriate guidance to support improvement of TVET systems.

As our training programs and qualification testing system obtained national and international quality assurance, we realized its importance, necessity and benefits.

I see CPSC takes the initiative to assemble a set of accreditation and certification standards, to be adopted into existing TVET systems. I hope these efforts could be fully materialized and contribute to the mobility of skilled workforce in this global village.

In closing, I once again congratulate CPSC and all the delegates to this international conference. I wish you all a useful and informative conference and pleasant stay in Korea.

Thank you very much.

 

Special Message

Hon. Dr. Muhammad Osman Farruk Minister Ministry of Education, Bangladesh

I wish to congratulate the organizers of this International Conference.

Accreditation and certification are equated with improvement and recognition. Industries evidently enjoy the benefits of having a recognized status of business process and services. As such, government institutions, as doorways of public service, are not spared from the need to voluntarily subject institutional services and systems into accreditation and certification procedures.

Specifically for educational and training institutions, mechanisms for self-regulation and self-improvement are expected to be in place to ensure that professional services are exercised within satisfactory levels. Their end products, who will later comprise the strong base of national manpower, are in turn expected to perform in satisfactory level to be able to contribute to national development.

With the initiative of CPSC, the authority it has in the area of technical education and vocational training (TEVT) will be even more exercised. In strategic terms, CPSC will help in building national capability that can support global labor requirements through accreditation and certification.

As a center of excellence in technician education for human resources development, CPSC will contribute immensely to the objectives of an enhanced technician education and training in Asia and the Pacific Region.

It is our hope to continue our active cooperation and collaboration with CPSC.

 

Special Message

Hon. Mr. Abdullah Kamaaluddeen Minister Ministry of Human Resources, Employment and Labour, Maldives

I congratulate the Intergovernmental International Organization Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education for Human Resources Development in Asia and the Pacific Region for gathering us to this International Conference.

The Government of Maldives is privileged to be an active member of CPSC ever since it was established in 1973. Our efforts in building capacity of our human resources are sustained by our strong commitment to regional efforts in human resources development such as CPSC's. The intervention that CPSC makes, certainly not only in Maldives but in its 18 other member countries as well, is poised to make our professional manpower more competitive and exposed to emerging teaching and learning trends and emerging technology.

While Governments determine the opportunities for a dynamic national workforce, CPSC, as I see, continuously strive to foster cooperation at the regional level. As it is now, CPSC will keep pacing ahead until Governments collectively recognize the need for demand-driven training and technological initiatives that will set apart ordinary workforce from workers with extraordinary force. By this, force is meant to be powered by demand-driven skills in a borderless labor market. And I believe, the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) which will be formally established today will even more strengthen the capabilities of TEVT institutions.

In the same way, I am happy to be part of this noble undertaking of CPSC. Together with the respective Governments of the delegates, my Government expresses it support to the establishment of APACC to harmonize institutional standards, skills training and quality assurance in TEVT.

We look forward to keeping a sustained commitment to meet our objectives for human resources productivity and efficiency in a borderless world.

 

Special Message

Mr. Sajid Hassan Education Secretary Ministry of Education, Pakistan

On behalf of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, I wish to extend my appreciation to CPSC.

The benefit of having a regional body to support the ideals of productivity and quality in TET is a challenging task. It is in CPSC's 30 years of experience as a center of excellence and its sincere commitment to improving technical education and training that these challenges are hurdled.

The Asia and the Pacific Region is enriched by the diversity in its priorities. Educational management and systems, be it in formal or non-formal setting, may differ largely in developing countries as compared to developed ones. Best practices in professional training are handled differently in one part than in another. In the face of global trends of standardization, CPSC will serve as an effective loop to keep a systematized standard of management systems and practices of institutions within the ring of excellence. It is expected to bring institutions into a cohesive force that recognizes high level of institutional standards in technical education.

The Government of the Islamic Rep. of Pakistan is supportive of CPSC's goals. I wish all delegates continued commitment and progressive interest to keep quality improvement in TET in great heights.

 

Special Message

Dr. Agni Prasad Kafle Member-Secretary Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Nepal

On behalf of His Majesty's Government and Council for Technician Education and Vocational Training of Nepal, I congratulate the Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education and the Human Resources development Service of Korea, as co-organizer of this conference.

First I would like to thank CPSC for continually giving its best in the service of its 19 member countries. Its role in the Technical Education and Vocational Training community continuously grows and expands and we are privileged to benefit from its efforts.

With due respect to this conference, I am happy to learn that CPSC is pursuing the establishment of a regional accreditation and certification body. It is a clear indicator that CPSC's approach transcends even its own effort to provide quality training by ensuring that national institutions in member countries are influenced in making international standards and quality a paramount objective of TEVT institutions.

The Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CETVT), as the Government of Nepal's lead agency in TEVT, pursues quality assurance in technical and vocational education. Under this principle, criteria are set before any institution could run a training program. Recognition and input assurance, on one hand, are highly necessary in setting up training institutes.

Our Government recognizes the growing trend in the migration of foreign labors. As such, developing countries will be in a better edge to make their workforce more competitive despite technology limitations. Accreditation and certification in Asia and the Pacific will balance educational efforts of countries. Given an amalgamated effort in producing educated and skilled manpower in all countries will bring down barriers, making no unnecessary distinction of capabilities across the Asia and the Pacific region.

Again, my well wishes to CPSC and its future efforts related to this initiative.