ABSTRACT
In 2015 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations launched the ASEAN Economic Community. Its future success is dependent on sustainable and balanced societal and economic development, which should also be of benefit to individuals in the region. Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems will be expected to maintain a high-quality labour force which will contribute to the competitiveness of the region’s economy in a globalized market. The mobility of the labour force is an accepted current condition and is characteristic of a successful economic community. As a precondition for mobility, common standards, frameworks and mutual recognition schemes are essential. The ASEAN Secretariat, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation and other regional organizations have started developing instruments to enable these preconditions and are also entering into the regional debate on TVET policy. This chapter provides a brief overview of the challenges in the ASEAN region with respect to TVET, its instruments, as well as its regional organizations. These factors are an intrinsic part of the process of forming a high-quality TVET system that serves society, the economy and individuals.
