Thu, 07 August, 2025
TWI Malaysia was honoured to welcome The Rt Hon Baroness Jacqui Smith of Malvern, UK Minister of State for Skills and Minister for Women and Equalities, and British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ajay Sharma CMG, on Friday, 1 August 2025, for the UK-Malaysia Skills Dialogue, held in partnership with the UK Department for Education and the British High Commission, Kuala Lumpur.
This high-profile event brought together leading voices from the UK and Malaysia in education, training, and industry to exchange insights on workforce development, technical and vocational education (TVET), future skills in green technology, and Industry 5.0.
The programme commenced with opening remarks and a warm welcome by Mr Weng Kai Lee, Country Manager (Malaysia) and APAC Regional Manager at TWI, followed by Ms Caroline Gumble, CEO of TWI Ltd. In her keynote address, Baroness Smith emphasised the UK’s commitment to global skills partnerships and recognised Malaysia’s potential to become a regional skills powerhouse.
The event featured several landmark moments:
- Conferment of Advisory Appointments: TWI recognised six distinguished industry leaders as members of the advisory committee of our newly established Centre of Excellence (COE) for Augmented Reality Welding Training
- Graduation Ceremony: Students from the Zero to Hero Programme received certificates onstage, a testament to TWI’s inclusive and transformative training efforts
- Official Launch of the COE: The Centre was formally inaugurated by Baroness Smith with a ribbon cutting and plaque signing ceremony, reinforcing TWI’s leadership in digital and immersive skills training
- Facility Tour: Delegates explored TWI’s state-of-the-art training facilities including welding, plastic welding, NDT, and the Underwater Diving Centre, accompanied by live demonstrations and a guided walkthrough led by Mr Weng and the technical team
The Skills Dialogue
The core of the visit was the UK-Malaysia Skills Dialogue, a roundtable discussion featuring participants from UK skills providers and Malaysian institutions such as PETRONAS, CIAST, ADTEC, CENTEXS, and global partners like OPITO, Bureau Veritas, and Pearson PTE. The moderated conversation covered best practice in apprenticeships, employer-led training models, green digital skills, and inclusive upskilling strategies for an evolving workforce.
Outcomes and Way Forward
This meaningful engagement not only deepened understanding of the UK’s robust skills frameworks but also illuminated areas for collaboration with Malaysia’s ongoing national skills reforms. Key outcomes included:
- Strengthening UK-Malaysia bilateral cooperation in TVET and workforce development
- Identifying partnership opportunities for joint programme delivery and capacity building
- Promoting industry-responsive training aligned with global standards
- Fostering dialogue on inclusive education pathways, digital transformation, and women in technical trades
As the session concluded with networking and a group photo, the shared commitment between the UK and Malaysia to build a future-ready workforce stood evident.
TWI extends heartfelt thanks to the British High Commission, the Department for Education, and all participating institutions for their collaboration and continued partnership in shaping tomorrow’s skills landscape.