APACC Signs MOA with DOS, MoLHR

Two institutions, the Asia-Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) and the Department of Occupational Standards, Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (DOS, MoLHR) of Bhutan, recognizing the role that will be played by APACC in the Asia-Pacific Region, which necessitates country-based support to key in a bottom-up approach towards achieving harmonized TVET systems and top-down approach towards the promotion of accreditation, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last 30 March 2006. The MOA signing coincided with the official visit to Bhutan of APACC President and CPSC Director General Dr. Man-Gon Park to inaugurate CPSC's in-country program in collaboration with MoLHR of Bhutan.

Signing the MOA were Dr. Man-Gon Park, APACC President and Mr. Sangay Dorjee, Director of DOS, MoLHR, Bhutan.The MOA stipulated joint undertakings between APACC and DOS, MoLHR to further develop technical and vocational education and training (TVET) through accreditation and certification, of mutual interest.

Agreements reached in the MOA signing are to encourage TVET systems for HRD in Bhutan to undertake accreditation and certification by APACC based on its procedures and criteria, and tap qualified local accreditors who may be trained on APACC accreditation procedures as would-be accreditors for scheduled accreditation activities in Bhutan, among others.

The MOA signing was witnessed by H.E. Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Minister of MoLHR, Bhutan, and Ms. TJ Gayondato, CPSC Specialist for External and International Affairs.