| Azlan Othman |
SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre, which specialises in technical and vocational education and training, is keen on collaborating with the government of Switzerland.
And to formalise ties, the SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre has invited Swiss government to join as an associate member or to identify one of the Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the country to be an affiliate member.
This was stated by Haji Md Sharifuddin bin Haji Md Salleh, Director of SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre in Brunei while welcoming Johannes Matyassy, Assistant State Secretary, Asia Pacific Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland who visited the SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre in Gadong yesterday.
There is much that we could do together in education, science and culture, but TVET is one of our priority areas as it is also selected by the Ministers of Education of SEAMEO members. TVET has gained popularity in the region and many countries have put strong emphasis on this area, he added.
Meanwhile, Johannes Matyassy said Switzerland seeks to build closer cooperation in the area of vocational training with institutions in Asean. Switzerland is very institutions in Asean.
Johannes Matyassy, Assistant State Secretary, Asia Pacific Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland takes a look at the exhibition at SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre in Gadong, accompanied by Haji Md Sharifuddin bin Haji Md Salleh, Director of SEAMEO Voctech Regional Centre (centre). – AZLAN OTHMAN
Switzerland is very strong in vocational education and training and we would like to look at what is in store in the region.
“I thank you for the very excellent proposal for Switzerland to become an affiliate member of SEAMEO Voctech centre and we will look into it,” he added.
“Through international cooperation and youth exchanges, we could improve our education, and with our expertise, we could assist other countries. We see this project as a starting point I am confident that we will have a very fruitful discussion.”
Johannes was accompanied by Thomas Kupfer, non-resident Ambassador of Switzerland to Brunei Darussalam, and Patrizia Knecht, Regional Coordinator for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Johannes later toured the SEAMEO Voctech facilities including the Southeast Asia library which showcases a diverse collection of books and journals on technical and vocational education and training.
He also held a meeting to discuss possible cooperation in the framework of the future partnership with Asean.
SEAMEO Voctech is designed to improve the management of TVET in SEAMEO member countries.
The centre strives to develop and deliver relevant programmes in TVET to meet the local, national and regional needs in socio-economic, industrial, business and labour markets.
SEAMEO is a regional inter-governmental organisation established in 1965 among governments of Southeast Asian countries to promote regional cooperation in education, science and culture in the region.
The post Brunei, Switzerland seek to bolster education ties appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.