Hybrid Regional Training Programme: Design Thinking-Based Mixed-Methods Research for Implementing The Greening Education Readiness Index (GERI) in TVET (Online)
Rationale
This regional training programme applies Design Thinking (DT) as an overarching research logic to support the finalisation and implementation of the Greening Education Readiness Index (GERI) in TVET institutions across SEAMEO Member Countries. Design Thinking is positioned not merely as a creativity tool, but as a human-centred, iterative approach to designing, validating, and implementing mixed-methods research for institutional readiness studies in greening TVET.
Within TVET research, Design Thinking has increasingly been recognised as a way to address complex and “wicked” problems, where institutional change, stakeholder engagement, and contextual diversity require more than linear research approaches (Thom, 2016; Li, Rasul, & Jalaludin, 2024). By emphasising empathy, iterative refinement, and collaboration, DT enhances the relevance, usability, and uptake of research findings.
In this programme, participants will apply the five stages of the Design Thinking process—Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—to the refinement and implementation of the GERI framework (Dam, 2025). These stages are mapped explicitly to the mixed-methods research process, where:
- Qualitative methods (interviews and FGDs) support empathy-building, problem definition, and contextual interpretation; and
- Quantitative methods (GERI assessment tool) provide structured, comparable, and scalable readiness measurements, supported by computational thinking principles in tool design and data analysis.
GERI, developed by SEAMEO VOCTECH and Dr Pavlova with support from GIZ-RECOTwin, provides a structured framework to assess TVET institutions’ readiness across key domains of greening education, including Learning & People, Campus & Operations, and Community Outreach, Workplace Greening & Innovation. Through this training, participants will collaboratively refine the GERI framework and tools, design national research plans, and prepare for post-training data collection and reporting contributing to a regional ASEAN study.
Objectives
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
- Explain Design Thinking as a guiding research logic for applied TVET research.
- Understand the GERI framework, including its dimensions, indicators, and readiness scale.
- Apply Design Thinking stages to plan and implement mixed-methods GERI research.
- Design, pilot, and refine quantitative (GERI assessment) and qualitative (interviews, FGDs) tools.
- Apply computational thinking principles in structuring, scoring, and analysing GERI data.
- Engage stakeholders using human-centred research approaches.
- Develop a national GERI research implementation plan.
- Prepare for post-training data collection, analysis, and national reporting.
Course Contents
Online Phase (3 Days)
Module 1: Design Thinking and Greening TVET in ASEAN
- Introduction to Design Thinking as a research logic
- Holistic approach for greening TVET
- Greening TVET challenges in ASEAN
- Overview of the GERI framework and its policy relevance
Module 2: Design Thinking and Mixed-Methods Research Design for GERI
- Purpose of the Research study and Mapping Design Thinking stages to the research process
- Role of quantitative (GERI tool) and qualitative (interviews, FGDs) methods
- Ethical considerations and data quality in multi-country research (in particular, a consistency in terminology, data collection and analysis, e.g. greening aspects in courses and cross-curricular activities)
Module 3: National Contexts, Stakeholders, and Research Focus
- Identification of national greening priorities
- Mapping national green TVET strategies/policies: developing a methodology for coherent data collection, analysis and presentation
- Stakeholder mapping and empathy-building
- TVET teacher readiness for greening TVET
- Available baseline data in each country and identification of information gaps relevant to strengthening greening TVET
- Drafting national research focus, implementation stages and data needs
Onsite Phase (5 Days)
Module 4: Empathising and Defining – Refining research approach and the GERI Framework
- Synthesis of online discussions, finalising research approaches to ensure coherence across participating countries
- Cross-country comparison of green TVET strategies/policies; greening challenges
- Reviewing validity, feasibility, and policy relevance of GERI indicators
Module 5: Ideating and Prototyping – Finalising the GERI Assessment Tools
- Refinement of quantitative indicators and survey items
- Introduction to scoring logic, weighting, and aggregation
- Designing qualitative interview and FGD guides
Module 6: Testing – Data Collection Strategies and Tool Piloting
- Sampling strategies for TVET institutions
- Data collection protocols and logistics
- Pilot testing and refinement of tools
Module 7: Data Analysis and Interpretation (Integrating DT and CT)
- Quantitative analysis: readiness profiles and comparisons
- Qualitative thematic analysis
- Triangulation and sense-making across data sources
Module 8: Reporting, Action Planning, and Next Steps
- Structure of national research reports on national greening TVET strategies/policies; availability of data and information gaps; GERI reports and Employer expectation and/or satisfaction concerning green skills readiness of graduates (‘GERI research’)
- Translating findings into recommendations
- Finalisation of national research and reporting timelines
Duration
This course will run online for three (3) days and onsite for five (5) days. . The training is scheduled to be held from 25, 26 & 29 May 2026 (Online) & 8 – 13 June 2026 (Onsite – Brunei Darussalam).
Course Requirements
The participants are required to bring documents in their area of specialisation and wi-fi enabled laptops.
Training Delivery Methods
The training adopts a participatory, design-oriented, and practice-based approach, including:
- Interactive lectures and guided discussions
- Design Thinking workshops and group exercises
- Hands-on use of GERI quantitative and qualitative tools
- Group discussions
- Case analysis and simulations
- Facilitated presentations and peer feedback
Expected Outputs
By the end of the training, participants will produce:
- A national GERI research implementation plan
- Adapted quantitative and qualitative GERI data collection tools
- An agreed post-training action plan for data collection, analysis, and reporting
Post- Training Activities
Following the training, participants will:
- Collect data on national greening TVET strategies and information gaps at the national level
- Conduct GERI data collection in selected TVET institutions
- Analyse quantitative and qualitative findings
- Prepare and submit a national GERI report to SEAMEO VOCTECH as part of the regional study.
Target Participants
This regional training programme targets researchers and TVET practitioners with prior research experience from the 11 SEAMEO / ASEAN Member Countries.
Each member country will be represented by at least two (2) scholarship participants, preferably comprising:
- One representative from a TVET institution or university, with experience in applied research; and
- One representative from a relevant government office or agency, to ensure access to institutions, data, and policy stakeholders.
This composition aims to balance research expertise and institutional or policy-level access, supporting effective data collection and implementation of the GERI study at national level.
As the host country, Brunei Darussalam may nominate up to four (4) participants, subject to the same selection criteria.
Scholarship support for this training programme is jointly provided by SEAMEO VOCTECH and GIZ-RECOTwin.
Course Coordinator
For further inquiries, please contact the Course Coordinator:
DR PARYONO
Research Specialist /
Deputy Director for Professional Affairs
SEAMEO VOCTECH Regional Centre, Jalan Pasar Baharu, Gadong BE 1318
Brunei Darussalam
Tel No.: +(673) 244 7992 ext 401; +(673) 8907963
Fax No.: +(673) 244 7955
Email Add.: paryono@voctech.edu.bn
DR MARGARITA PAVLOVA
Senior Research Fellow of SEAMEO VOCTECH Regional Centre and Expert in Green TVET
margarita.pavlova@voctech.edu.bn
Portugal
References
Dam, R. F. (2025, March 13). The 5 Stages in the Design Thinking Process. Interaction Design Foundation – IxDF. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/5-stages-in-the-design-thinking-process
Li, J., Rasul, M.S., & Jalaludin, N.A. (2024). Design Thinking in TVET: Perspectives, Opportunities and Challenges. In International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development ,1 3 , 1, pp 1359-1364
Thom, R. (2016). A design thinking approach to professional development in reasonable adjustment: A new methodology for trainers in the vocational education and training sector of Western Australia. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1764