A delegation from the Colombo Plan Staff College composed of the Director General, Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, Faculty Consultant Dr. Hazrat Hussain and Executive Secretary Ms. Adrienne Abril embarked on several missions in Malaysia from June 11 – 14, 2013.

June 11, 2013, Dinner Meeting with MoE Deputy Minister, Other High Ranking Officials

On the first day, June 11, 2013, the delegation met the new Malaysian Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching to discuss possible areas for cooperation between CPSC and the newly re-merged Ministry of Education.

The dinner-meeting, held at the Shangri-La Hotel, was also graced by prominent officials such as Datuk Mohlis Jaafar, Director General of Department of Polytechnic Education, MoE; Dato’ Dr. Ahamad bin Sipon, former Director of SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) Secretariat; and Haji Ahmad Tajudin bin Jab, Director of Technical and Vocational Education Division, MoE. All attendees, including the Deputy Minister, have participated in CPSC programs in the past, either as resource person or participant.


1st row L-R: Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, Hon. Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching, Dato’ Dr. Ahamad bin Sipon. 2nd row L-R: Ms. Adrienne Abril, Dr. Hazrat Hussain, Haji Ahmad Tajudin bin Jab, and Datuk Mohlis Jaafar

To officially start the meeting, Dr. Naim refreshed the guests on the programs and activities of CPSC and emphasized that the fiscal year 2012 – 2013 ending on June 30, 2013 attained the highest number of participation since its inception. He also discussed updates on the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC), a regional accreditation and certification body established by CPSC, and hoped that the on-site evaluation visits to Malaysian premier polytechnics would commence in the near future.

Other areas for collaboration explored include joint conduct of regional program in Malaysia, collaboration in conferences/seminars, joint international research on TVET in Asia Pacific and joint publications. The meeting ended on a positive note, with the Deputy Minister and distinguished guests agreeing to strengthen their support to CPSC and its activities for the development of technical and vocational education and training in the region.

June 12 – 13, 2013, Visits to Premier Polytechnics

Two premier polytechnics in Malaysia – the Politeknik Ungku Omar in Ipoh and Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam were visited from June 12 – 13, 2013. The three premier polytechnics in Malaysia, including Politeknik Johor Baru (not visited), are operated to focus on technical programs in niche fields which address the needs of the services industry.

The DG briefed representatives of the premier polytechnics on APACC as they are to undergo APACC evaluation visit scheduled within year 2013. Tour of select laboratories also commenced after each briefing.

Politeknik Ungku Omar

The briefing meeting at Politeknik Ungku Omar (PUO) was chaired by the Director, Mejar (K) Hj. Md. Nor Bin Yusof and attended by twenty five (25) officials from PUO and MoE including Zulkifli Bin Abdul Samad, Deputy Director, Curriculum Development & Evaluation, PUO; Pn. Noor Aidi binti Nadzri, Principal Senior Assistant Director, MoE; Deputy Directors from two other premier polytechnics - Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and Politeknik Johor Baru, and PUO senior officials and department heads.


(From L-R) Zulkifli Bin Abdul Samad, Deputy Director, Curriculum Development & Evaluation, PUO; Mejar (K) Hj. Md. Nor Bin Yusof, Director, PUO; and Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub

The meeting started with the welcoming remarks by the Director of PUO and invited the CPSC DG to deliver his presentation. Dr. Naim expressed his appreciation to the Director and representatives of MoE for arranging the meeting and discussed the APACC system – its history, benefits, application process, awards and point system.


Tour of Facilities

In the open session, participants expressed different concerns relevant to APACC process and point system. The meeting ended with a positive note and more enthusiasm from the representatives of MoE and three premier polytechnics. After the meeting, the CPSC delegates were taken to a tour of facilities, especially the marine engineering and retail department.

Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah

To start the meeting, the Deputy Director Mohd. Sheroni welcomed the CPSC delegates and invited the CPSC DG for a presentation about APACC. Seventeen (17) officials from the polytechnic attended the meeting.


Presentation of Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub on APACC

After highlighting regional and international migrant workers’ trends, Dr. Naim emphasized the role of international accreditation in safeguarding the interests of the labor recipient countries and the migrant workers thereby supporting the decent work packages at the workplace. Dr. Naim mentioned that three officials from the Ministry of Education were trained to become APACC Accreditors and took them to an actual on-site visit of a TVET institution in Philippines. This move aimed to expand APACC services to Malaysian TVET system.


CPSC delegation with the Polytechnic and MoE Officials at Center for Medical Electronic Technology

The CPSC delegation was then taken to a tour of Center for Medical Electronic Technology, which is emerging as one of the premier biomedical equipment calibration center in Malaysia. Afterwards, the delegation made a courtesy visit to the Polytechnic Director, Hj. Kamaruzaman Bin Ismail and exchanged views on mutual collaboration and networking in the future. The meeting ended with a cordial note.

June 14, 2013, Meeting with MTCP Director

A meeting with Ms. Sharifah Ezneeda Wafa, Director, Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs was held at her office on June 14, 2013. The meeting is a continuation of the one held on April 30, 2013 regarding possible collaboration in the implementation of a regional program. (See:http://www.cpsctech.org/news/cpsc-and-mtcp-inch-closer-conduct-first-ever-collaborative-regional-program)

The two parties agreed to conduct a regional program sometime in September or October 2013 on cost sharing basis with the topic Economic Planning and Management at the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN), Malaysia. The criteria for selection of participants were discussed; other details will be deliberated through communications prior to program implementation.


(Clockwise) Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, Dr. Hazrat Hussain; and MTCP Director Ms. Sharifah Ezneeda Wafa

The program will be the first collaborative regional program between CPSC and MTCP.

The same partnership will continue for the regional programs in years 2014 and 2015 with the following as possible topics: Leadership and Organizational Management, Information Technology Management in the Public Sector, Human Resource Management in Public Sector, Strategic Management, and Project Planning and Management.

Both parties also shared experiences on poverty alleviation in the Asia Pacific region and showed interest in exploring avenues of cooperation in this area as well.