Articles
| Open Access |
An Integrated Model for TVET Educator Competency Development to Improve Instructional Excellence and Teaching Quality in Vocational Education Systems
Rezaul Karim , Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Mizanur Rahman , Daffodil International UniversityAbstract
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) systems are increasingly recognized as critical drivers of workforce readiness and economic development. However, the effectiveness of TVET institutions largely depends on the competency level of educators responsible for delivering industry-relevant instruction. This study proposes an integrated competency development model for TVET educators aimed at enhancing instructional excellence and teaching quality in vocational education systems. The model synthesizes pedagogical, technical, and professional competency dimensions grounded in international teacher education frameworks and vocational training standards. A conceptual and analytical synthesis approach is employed using secondary data from established literature and policy documents to construct a multidimensional competency framework. The findings indicate that effective TVET educator development requires alignment between instructional competencies, supervisory support mechanisms, continuous professional learning, and industry engagement. Furthermore, the study highlights that competency development is not static but evolves in response to socio-economic transformation and educational reform pressures. The proposed model integrates competency mapping, structured training pathways, and performance evaluation systems to ensure sustainable instructional improvement. The study contributes to TVET literature by offering a structured framework that addresses existing gaps in competency standardization and instructional quality enhancement. The implications suggest that institutional policymakers must prioritize competency-based training ecosystems to achieve long-term educational effectiveness and workforce alignment.
Keywords
TVET, educator competency, instructional quality, vocational education, competency framework
References
Abdul Razak, N. & Embi, M. A. (2003). ITCompetency for English Language Teachers in Malaysian Schools. Retrieved from http://www/eltrec.ukm.my/iJeLLT
Abiddin, N.Z.and Ismail, A. (2014). Exploring service and support needs in postgraduate education towards the higher education quality, Asian Social Science, 10(17), 52-56.
Ali, M., Kaprawi, N., & Razzaly, W. (2010). Development of a new empirical based competency profile for Malaysian vocational education and training instructors. Proceedings of the 1st UPI International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Bandung, Indonesia.
Berg, N., & Merrifield, J. (2009). Illusive Competition in School Reform: Commentary on Merrifield's "Imagined Evidence and False Imperatives" and Merrifield's Reply. Journal of School Choice, 3(3), 290-306.
Bolitho, R. (2002). Teacher Training Institutes. International Conference on English Language and Development for Equity in the 21st Century. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: International Languages Teacher Training Institute.
Brickman, W. W. (2010). The Quest for Quality in Teacher Education. European Education, 42(2), 67–73.
Economic Planning Unit (2016). Eleventh Malaysia Plan, 2016-2020. Economic Planning Unit. Putrajaya, Malaysia.
European Commission (2013). Supporting teacher competence development for better learning outcomes. European Commission. Education and Training. 10 July 2013.
Fallon, D. (2010, October). A Golden Age for Teacher Ed. Kappan, 92(2).
Furlong, J. (2008). Making teaching a 21st century profession: Tony Blair’s big prize. Oxford Review of Education, 34(6), 727-739.
Hilferty, F. (2008). Teacher professionalism and cultural diversity: Skills, knowledge and values for a changing Australia. The Australian Educational Researcher, 35(3), 53-70.
Ismail, A., Hassan, R.and Masek, A.(2015). Generating elements of Supervisory Input Support via Exploratory Factor Analysis for effective supervision in Engineering Education. ICEED 2014 -2014 IEEE 6th Conference on Engineering Education, Kuala Lumpur.
Ismail, A., Nasir, S., Hassan, R.and Masek, A.(2015). Investigating the Roles of Supervisory Working Alliance As Mediator for Overall Supervision Effective Using Structural Equation Modelling. Advanced Science Letters, 21 (5), pp. 1221-1224.
Ismail, A., Hassan, R., Masek, A., Hamzah, N., Ismail, I. M., & Subramaniam, T. S. (2016). Implementation of vocational training into TVET's teacher program for national core standard. 2016 IEEE 8th International Conference on Engineering Education: Enhancing Engineering Education Through Academia-Industry Collaboration. 28-31.
Khamis, N. Y. H., Hussin, S., & Nor, N. F. M. (2014). Competencies of English for academic purposes educators at engineering universities: A conceptual framework. World Applied Sciences Journal, 30(30 A), 62-69.
Locke, T. (2001). Questions of professionalism. change: Transformations in Education, 4(2), 30-50.
NOSS (2017). NOSS TVET Implementation & Management Level 6 Putrajaya: Department of Skills Development (DSD).
O’Sullivan, M. (2010). Educating the teacher educator—A Ugandan Case Study. International Journal of Educational Development, 30, 377–387.
Pauline, S. C. G. Noor, S. S. & Kung, T. W (2012). The ‘voices’ of beginning teachers in Malaysia about their conceptions of competency: A phenomenographic investigation. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 37(7).
PricewaterhouseCoopers (2016). Study on the Demand and Supply of Human Capital Requirements on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Final Report Economic Planning Unit. Putrajaya: Malaysia.
Reeves, J. (2007, March). Inventing The Chartered Teacher. British Journal of Educational Studies, 55(1), 56-76.
Regional TVET Teacher Standard for ASEAN (2017). Essential competences for TVET Teachers in ASEAN. SEAMEO VOCTECH and GIZ-RECOTVET.
Rizvi, M., & Elliott, B. (2007). Enhancing and sustaining teacher professionalism in Pakistan. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 13(1), 5-19.
Spöttl, G. (2009). Standardisation in TVET teacher education: Teacher education for TVET in Europe and Asia: The comprehensive requirements. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
UNESCO (2015). Recommendation concerning Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
UNESCO UNEVOC (2013). TVET Standard Glossary of Terms. South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) South Africa.
Wang, H. H., & Fwu, B. J. (2007). In pursuit of teacher quality in diversity: A study of the selection mechanisms of new secondary teacher education programmes in Taiwan. International Journal of Educational Development, 27, 166–181.
Waters, M. (2009). Climate Change -global warming or global yawning? Education Review, 21(2), 60-72.
Wood, D. R. (2007). Professional Learning Communities: Teachers, Knowledge, and Knowing. Theory into Practice, 46(4), 281-290.
Zarubova, H. (2014). Higher education teacher competences in view of the changing social conditions. Edukacja ustawiczna dorosłych, 4(87), 92-100.