LUNDU: A total of 122 teaching staff and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) executives from all Sarawak Skills branches gathered here recently for the inaugural Sarawak Skills TVET 1st Colloquium & Team Building 2026 event.
The three-day event held from May 5 to 7, themed ‘Future TVET: Industry Integration, Digitalisation and Talent Development’ focused on aligning technical training with the rapid advancements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).
Participants comprised personnel from Sarawak Skills Kuching, Sri Aman, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri, as well as the Sarawak Skills Automotive and Welding Institute of Sarawak (AWISAR) and the Sarawak Agriculture and Vocational Training Institute (SAVTI).
A key highlight of the colloquium was navigating the transition towards the Code of Practice for TVET Programme Accreditation (COPTPA), delivered by Department of Skills Development Malaysia (JPK) director-general Dr Kamaruzaman Md Ali.
Sarawak Skills executive director Hallman Sabri stressed that adapting to the new COPTPA framework is crucial for the institution’s future survival and relevance.
“This transition goes far beyond a rebranding or code change; it represents a complete transformation. Moving forward, we can no longer rely on rigid and static modules,” he said in a statement.
He added that learning content must continuously evolve to remain aligned with the shifting demands of today’s workforce and industries.
Hallman also highlighted Sarawak Skills’ recent achievement of securing the highest number of 5-star ratings from JPK, noting that it should serve as a benchmark to push for greater heights rather than a final destination.
The colloquium also featured insights on national TVET quality enforcement and regional digital innovations from Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Sarawak (MEITD) Deputy Permanent Secretary Anielia Siam.
