SEAMEO VOCTECH and EU-ASEAN SCOPE-HE Programme Reveal First Insights into Agri-food Employability for TVET Graduates in Closing the Gap Workshop 

Bangkok, Thailand, 28 October 2024 – A two-day ‘Closing the Gap Workshop 2024’ had commenced on the 28 October 2024 at the Four Points by Sheraton Bangkok Ploenchit, gathering key stakeholders across ASEAN to address pressing skills gaps in the agri-food sector. 

Organised by Thailand’s Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC), in collaboration with SEAMEO VOCTECH and the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE) Programme, the workshop aims to align Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with the evolving needs of the agri-food industry.

Dr Rangsan Thepmondhri, Director of the Public Sector Development Division at OVEC, highlighted Thailand’s leadership in this initiative, stating, “Thailand is proud to take a leading role in advancing TVET collaboration across ASEAN. Through initiatives like the ‘Closing the Gap Workshop’, we are committed to supporting the development of a skilled and future-ready workforce for the agri-food sector.”

Dr. Michael Bucki, advisor of the EU Ambassador to Thailand in during the opening also stated, “This event is a testament to the shared commitment between ASEAN and the EU to address two of the most pressing challenges of our time: equipping our youth and workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a fast-evolving world, and adapting our food systems to extreme weather events that are becoming increasingly frequent: heatwaves, droughts, and floods.”

A team of management and officers from SEAMEO VOCTECH, including Centre Director Mr. Haji Norjemee bin Jenek, led by the Centre’s Research Division, Dr. Paryono and Dr. Hartini Mashod, presented the initial findings of the study “Employability of Vocational Graduates in the Agri-Food Sector in ASEAN for EU-ASEAN SCOPE-HE.” The presentation was delivered to an audience of government representatives, TVET institutions, and private sector officials from ASEAN member states.

Facilitated by Dr. Paryono, the study provides a foundation for discussions on mapping key issues, identifying skills gaps, and exploring best practices in employability through presentations and group discussions. Over the next four years, a series of ongoing workshops will delve into solutions, monitor progress, and culminate in a final stage that showcases best practices and offers strategic recommendations for the future.

A Multi-year Initiative

This workshop is part of a multi-year series under the SCOPE-HE Programme, with annual events planned across ASEAN culminating in a final workshop in 2027.

Dr. Frank Feulner, Team Leader of the SCOPE-HE Programme, emphasised the initiative’s long-term goal, he said ” This workshop is not a standalone event but part of an ongoing series under the SCOPE-HE initiative, designed to address critical employability gaps in ASEAN’s agri-food sector. Over the next several years, we will continue to bring together key stakeholders from across the region to explore solutions, monitor progress, and strengthen partnerships. Our aim is to ensure that ASEAN’s vocational graduates are equipped with the skills needed to meet the evolving demands of the labour market, particularly in the face of rapid technological advancements and sustainability challenges.”

By the end of the workshop, participants will have identified key employability gaps, strengthened cross-sector partnerships, and developed actionable strategies to align education with industry needs.

About the SCOPE-HE

The EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE), funded by the EU, is part of the EU’s broader efforts to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN through sustainable connectivity. Launched in July 2024, SCOPE-HE focuses on increasing exchanges in higher education, vocational training, and research, while prioritising gender equality, women’s empowerment, digital transformation and green skills.

For media inquiries about the Closing the Gap Workshop and the SCOPE-HE Programme, visit www.euinasean.eu/scope-he  or contact the Communication Manager SCOPE-HE programme, Ms. Inty Dienasari at idienasari@nuffic.nl 

About ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 and constitutes ten Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. On 31 December 2015, the ASEAN Community was formally established, encompassing the political-security, economic and socio-cultural pillars. The ASEAN Headquarters is based in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information, visit https://asean.org/

About the European Union (EU)

The European Union (EU) is the economic and political union of 27 Member States with a population of 470 million. Together, the EU has built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedom. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the goals of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. The EU is the world’s largest trading bloc, and the world’s largest source and destination of foreign direct investment. Collectively, the EU and its Member States are the largest donors of Official Development Assistance (ODA), providing more than half of ODA globally.

The 27 Member States of the EU (in protocol order) are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.