National Consultancy – Enhancement of Digital Talent Development Initiatives in TVET/Skills Training Systems

I. Background

The Skills for Prosperity in South-East Asia Programme (SfP-SEA) aims to contribute to increasing national capacity to achieve sustained and inclusive growth through the enhancement of skills development and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

To achieve this objective, the programme works with government agencies, employers’ organisations, trade unions, TVET and skills institutions and other partners in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines to facilitate review and reform of the countries’ skills development and TVET system strategies and policies. In the region, the SfP-SEA provides opportunities for mutual learning among the three countries and the other ASEAN nations, and beyond—not only showcasing the results of the pilots and lessons learned from the programme but also facilitating the sharing of best practices in the region and other parts of the world.

In Malaysia, the Programme focuses on increasing skills development and TVET systems’ readiness to meet the skills needs of the future of work and those of vulnerable groups, through enhancing three areas of the TVET system and delivery:

• Equity:  Inclusiveness in skills development and TVET systems

• Quality: Future-ready & coordinated skills development and TVET systems

• Relevance: Demand-driven skills and TVET/skills recognition

The Skills for Prosperity programme in Malaysia (SfP-Malaysia) focuses on TVET/skills inclusiveness, quality, relevance, and readiness whilst addresses skills mismatch issues in the area of critical needs for skills development and TVET to support the industry development and socio-economic progress. It intends to assist national partners in improving policies to ensure industry-led TVET in public and private sectors and increase employment and career progress opportunities for TVET students and skills trainees at national and sub-national levels. The national and sub-national activities at two states, namely Sabah and Kedah, will target:

• The primary beneficiaries: youths (ages 16-25) and women; and

• Other beneficiaries (vulnerable groups):

  • Members of the B40

  • Persons with Disabilities

  • Individuals Not In Employment Education or Training (NEET)

  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

  • Workers in the informal economy

  • Self-employed individuals

  • individuals employed in the gig economy

Under the Quality pillar, the SfP-Malaysia has been assisting its national partners to enhance future-readiness of the TVET and skills system to meet future skills needs and promote lifelong learning.

The Government of Malaysia has been trying to improve digital skills among trainees and trainers under some key policies, such as the Twelfth Malaysian Plan, Digital Economy Blueprint, and National Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Policy. However, various challenges remain to increase skilled workers who can promote the utilisation of 4IR-related technologies. For example, some TVET/skills training institutions struggle to secure instructors who can deliver digital skills training by utilising up-to-date teaching technologies. Others face difficulty in obtaining in-depth understanding of current and future industry needs on digital skills and develop strategic partnerships with industry to train future-ready talent. Therefore, the International Labour Organization (ILO) / SfP-Malaysia and its national partner has recently initiated the cooperation for digital talent development, which include the development of actionable strategies, capacity development of TVET/skills instructors, and dissemination of local leading cases.

II. Objective

In order to provide technical support for the digital talent development, the SfP Malaysia seeks a national contractor with experience in capacity building, conducting high-level workshops and developing special interest publications related to 4IR and digital skills development. The objectives of this assignment are to:

1. Develop a strategy to enhance policies and programmes for digital talent development as a long-term strategy for our national partners.

2. Develop the capacity of our national partners in designing and delivering TVET/skills training programmes by utilising digital teaching technologies to increase the supply of digital talent who have skills required by industry.

3. Showcase and disseminate local good practices in digital talent development.

III. Scope of Work

Under the supervision of Chief Technical Advisor and with guidance from Senior Programme Officers, and specialists of the ILO, the main responsibility of the contractor is to:

1. Assist the ILO and its national partners to design and conduct the activities to develop the capacities of TVET/skills policy makers and instructors toward digital talent development.

2. Provide technical support towards the development of digital talent development strategy, focusing on TVET/skills training. 

3. Develop and disseminate specialized publication which showcases leading cases of local practices in 4IR and digital skills training in selected TVET/skills training institutions

IV. Output

The contractor is required to produce the following outputs:

Output 1 – The work plan and the implementation structure developed.

Output 1.1 The work plan developed.

1. Draft the work plan for all tasks, which includes:

2. Detailed plan of activities with a timeline including the person in charge of each activity.

3. Names of external partners for relevant activities.

4. Reporting schedule to the ILO.

Output 1.2 The implementation structure developed.

1. Draft and submit the implementation structure, including the responsibilities of team members.

2. Draft and submit the internal quality assurance mechanisms for outputs/deliverables, including the list of reviewers and quality control process.

Output 2 – The knowledge-sharing seminar on digital technology utilisation and industry skills needs and the skills profiling workshop conducted.

Output 2.1 The knowledge-sharing seminar and skills profiling workshop organised.

1. Assist the ILO and its national partners in organising one-day event, which consist of the knowledge-sharing seminar in the morning followed by the skills profiling workshop in the afternoon through:

1. Inviting participants from relevant government agencies, target industry (construction, food processing, and industrial printing), TVET/skills training institutions, and other social partners to the seminar and workshop.

2. Developing the seminar and workshop preparatory materials, such as:

   1. Agenda

   2. Event checklist

   3. The list of participants.

3. Obtaining and reviewing presentation and workshop materials in close coordination with the ILO, national partners, speakers, and workshop facilitators.

4. Assisting the national partners to take note of group discussions in the workshop.

5. Providing other logistics or administrative support as secretariat members.

Note:

• The ILO and its national partner plan to co-host the seminar and workshop on 7 Dec. 2022 at a venue proposed by the national partner

• The skills profiling workshop will be facilitated by experts who are officers of the national partner.

Output 2.2 The seminar and workshop summary reports developed.

1. Draft the seminar and workshop summary reports in reference to rapporteur notes, group discussion notes, and other event materials.

2. Refine the reports by incorporating comments from the ILO and national partner.

Output 3 – Draft digital talent development strategies developed.

Output 3.1 The draft strategies for the improvement of skills training programmes for digital talent development formulated.

1. Assist the ILO and its national partner to refine the mapping matrix of existing policies and programmes for digital talent development through:

2. Participating in the meetings and preparing meeting summary notes.

3. Preparing and/or providing written inputs to presentation materials, a matrix, and other technical documents.

4. Providing coordination and logistical support for meetings.  

   1. Assist the ILO and its national partner to map new policies and programmed required to enhance digital talent development through:

1. Participating in the meetings and preparing meeting summary notes.

2. Preparing and/or providing written inputs to presentation materials, a matrix, and other technical documents.

3. Providing coordination and logistical support for meetings.  

   1. Develop a draft strategy for the improvement of skills training programme for digital talent development, which summarise the national partner’s existing policies and programmes by basic steps of training process management below, utilising the results of above activities and collecting additional information:

   2. Skills needs analysis.

   3. Updating National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) and other skills frameworks.

   4. Developing / updating curricula.

   5. Developing / improving teaching methods, teaching materials, and training equipment.

   6. Implementing improved training courses.

   7. Evaluating the results of training courses.

   8. Developing action plans to improve training courses.

   9. Plan and organise the workshop to validate the draft strategy for the improvement of skills training programme for digital talent development in consultation with the ILO and its national partner. Main tasks are to:

4. Develop the concept note in cooperation with the ILO and national partners.

5. Set up a workshop venue, in close consultation with the ILO and its national partner.

6. Prepare the necessary documents, such as:

   1. The agenda

   2. Detailed agenda for the workshop.

   3. Event checklist

   4. Invitation letters.

   5. Lists of invitees and participants.

   6. Presentation materials.

7. Coordinate with speakers and workshop facilitators in cooperation with the ILO and national partners.

8. Make presentation on the draft road map and take notes of discussion at the workshop.

9. Provide other logistics and administrative support.

Note: The ILO or its national partner will set up the venues or will revise the contract upon the agreement with the contractor in case the ILO requests the contractor to reserve the venue.

1. Draft the seminar and workshop summary report in reference to workshop discussion notes, and other event materials.

2. Revise the strategies by incorporating comments from the ILO and its national partner.

Output 3.2 Pilot draft learners’ progression map with enhanced digital skills developed for selected occupations.

1. Identify target occupation groups for a pilot learners’ progression map either in the construction or food-processing industries based on the results of the skills profiling workshop (see Output 2), in close consultation with the ILO and its national partner.

2. Develop the preliminary draft of a pilot learners’ progression map for selected occupation groups in a target sector, taking into account the results of other activities under the SfP-Malaysia, such as:

1. Development of sector skills strategies for construction and food-processing industries.

2. The integration of STEM-related generic skills in TVET/skills training.

3. Technical assistance for the development of the National Skills Registry (NSR).

   1. Plan and organise the workshop to develop a pilot learners’ progression map for selected occupation groups in a target sector. in consultation with the ILO and its national partner. Main tasks are to:

1. Develop the concept note in cooperation with the ILO and its national partner.

2. Set up a workshop venue, in close consultation with the ILO and its national partner.

3. Prepare the necessary documents, such as:

1. The agenda

2. Detailed agenda for the workshop.

3. Event checklist

4. Invitation letters.

5. Lists of invitees and participants.

6. Presentation materials.

1. Coordinate with speakers and workshop facilitators in cooperation with the ILO and national partners.

2. Make presentation on the draft learner’s progression map and take notes of discussion at the workshop.

3. Provide other logistics and administrative support.

Note: The ILO or its national partner will set up the venues or will revise the contract upon the agreement with the contractor in case the ILO requests the contractor to reserve the venue.

1. Draft the workshop summary report in reference to workshop discussion notes, and other event materials.

2. Revise the pilot learners’ progression map by incorporating comments from the ILO and its national partner.

Output 4 – Capacity building activities for TVET/skills training digitalisation organised.  

Output 4.1 Knowledge-sharing workshops for sectoral approaches to skills development and TVET digitalisation organised.

1. Assist the ILO and its national partners in organising two half-day knowledge-sharing workshops for sectoral approaches to skills development and digital TVET lab, where officers and instructors will present learning outcomes from the training courses organised by the ILO and ITC. Main tasks are to:

1. Develop the workshop preparatory materials, such as agenda, an event checklist, and the list of participants.

2. Take notes on discussion.

3. Provide other logistics or administrative support.

Note: The ILO and its national partner plan to co-host the workshop for sectoral approaches on 6 Dec. 2022 and the one for digital TVE lab on 31 Jan. 2023 respectively in venues selected by its national partner.

4.1.2 Draft the seminar and workshop summary reports in reference to rapporteur notes, group discussion notes, and other event materials.

Output 4.2 The knowledge-sharing workshop for the formulation and implementation of digital competency frameworks for TVET instructors conducted.

1. Assist the ILO and its national partner to organise a half-day knowledge-sharing workshop for the formulation and implementation of digital competency frameworks for TVET instructors, which is planned. Main tasks are to:

2. Develop the concept note in cooperation with the ILO and national partners.

3. Prepare the necessary documents, such as:

1. The agenda

2. Event checklist

3. Invitation letter.

4. Lists of invitees and participants.

   1. Coordinate with speakers and workshop facilitators in cooperation with the ILO and national partners.

   2. Join the workshop and take notes of discussion.

   3. Provide other logistics and administrative support.

Note: The ILO and its national partner plan to co-host this workshop in Feb. 2022 in a venue selected by its national partner.

1. Draft the seminar and workshop summary report in reference to workshop discussion notes, and other event materials.

Output 4.3 Capacity development workshop for industry partnership development conducted.

1. Organise the one-day workshop to develop the capacity of national officers and Community & Employment Support Service (CESS) officers for strengthening industry partnership for digital talent development based on the guidance from the ILO and its national partners. Main tasks are to:

2. Develop the concept note in cooperation with the ILO and national partners.

3. Prepare the necessary documents, such as:

1. The agenda

2. Event checklist

3. Invitation letter.

4. Lists of invitees and participants.

5. Presentation material together with the ILO and national partners.

   1. Coordinate with speakers and workshop facilitators in cooperation with the ILO and national partners.

   2. Join the workshop and take notes of discussion.

   3. Provide other logistics and administrative support.

Note: The ILO and its national partner plan to co-host this workshop in Feb. or Mar. 2022 in a venue selected by the national partner.

1. Draft the workshop summary report in reference to workshop discussion notes, and other event materials.

Output 5 – Showcase booklet of local leading cases for digital skills development developed and disseminated. 

Output 5.1 Showcase booklet/coffee-table book of local leading cases for digital skills development in Malaysia drafted.

1. Develop the outline of the booklet/coffee-table book for the local leading cases for digital skills development through consultations with ILO and its national partners.  It should include but not limited to:

1. Brief profiles of selected TVET/skills training institutions.

2. Overview of selected Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and digital skills training programmes that they are conducting.

3. Teaching equipment and materials developed by selected training institutions, such as software, simulators, and others.

4. Overview of 4IR and digital technology projects developed by students.

5. Feature on graduates who are utilising 4IR or digital skills in workplace.

6. Tools and templates to be utilised by other TVET/skills training institutions.

7. Proposals for industry to scale up the leading cases.

   1. Collect information and data from selected TVET/skills training institutions, which are mainly in the Klang Valley and Penang State, through interviews and meetings.

   2. Develop the showcase of the booklet/coffee-table book for the local leading cases for digital skills development through consultations with ILO and its national partner, based on the above outline. It should:

   3. Include visuals and compelling narrative describing good examples of TVET/skills training institutions and related initiatives in developing digital talent.

   4. Follow the standards for design and writing set by the ILO House Style Manual 6th Edition.

   5. Refine the book by incorporating comments from the relevant TVET/skills training institutions, individual contributors, national partners, and the ILO.

   6. Submit the draft book for joint publication by the ILO and its national partner.  

Output 5.2 The showcase booklet/coffee-table book on local leading cases for digital skills development disseminated.

1. Organise a launching event to disseminate the showcase coffee-table book by inviting representatives from government, industry, workers’ organisations, other social partners (e.g., CSOs), and the media.

2. Draft and submit the event summary report with key takeaways, the next course of action, and the list of participants to the ILO.

3. Organise one media pitch meeting or event and a few follow-up meetings to promote the showcase coffee-table book.

4. Provide the necessary inputs and support required for the ILO's communication materials and activities, which include:

1. Opinion articles.

2. Press releases.

3. Social media campaigns.

Note: The ILO or its national partner will set up the venues or will revise the contract upon the agreement with the contractor in case the ILO requests the contractor to reserve the venue.

Output 5.3 The-end-of-assignment report submitted.

1. Develop and submit the-end-of-assignment report, which include:

2. Summary of activities conducted.

3. Summary of main results.

4. Proposal for the ILO and national partners to ensure the sustainability of activity results.

5. List of deliverables submitted and the softcopy of all deliverable

V. Indicative Timeline

The estimated number of workdays for this consultancy is 53 days spreading over 3.5 months from 2 December 2022 to 17 March 2023. The starting date and workdays will be finalized after the completion of the hiring process.
 

VI. Required Qualifications

The assignment should be carried out by a contractor who should have team members with the following qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree in economics, social sciences, public administration business administration, or engineering, with expertise in the field of industrial development related to 4IR or digital technologies or TVET/skills development. 

Experience:

• A minimum five years of experience in industrial development and/or skills development and TVET, preferably in relation to 4IR and digital technologies and skills development.

• Experience in:

  • Organising high-level capacity building workshops and seminars. Experience in organizing international workshops and seminar will be an advantage.

  • Producing high-quality reports and publications in English.

  • Carrying out qualitative research, in particular multiple case studies.

  • Facilitating discussion with stakeholders from government, industry, and other social partners for the development of strategy documents.

  • Working with

• TVET/skills training institutions

• Employers’ organisations, industry preferably in the construction, food-processing, and industrial printing sectors, and workers’ organizations.

• Government agencies responsible for TVET/skills training.

• Civil society organizations, particularly those that work directly with women, youth, and the vulnerable groups.

• International organisations.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Excellent understanding of situations related to industrial development in articular in the utilisation of 4IR or digital technologies in the construction, food-processing and industrial printing sectors,

• Excellent understanding of TVET/skills development in Malaysia, in particular regarding 4IR or digital skills development.

• Excellent project management and coordination skills with the ability and flexibility to manage multiple stakeholders within a demanding timeline.

• Excellent analytical and writing skills in English.

• Ability to produce high quality reports, specialized publications, and presentation in English in a timely manner.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with the ILO constituents and stakeholders.

• Good monitoring and evaluation skills.

Languages: Excellent command of English and Malay.

 

VII. Submission of Proposals

Interested companies must submit the following documents/ information to demonstrate their qualifications.

• Technical proposal describing: (i) how a contractor will approach and conduct the listed tasks and deliver outputs; (ii) target TVET/skills training institutions and companies to be engaged for listed outputs; and (iii) internal quality assurance mechanism (10 pages maximum).

• List of team members with brief explanation of experience relevant to this assignment, their roles, and Curriculum Vitae.

• One writing sample related to this assignment, such as a report or paper.

• Estimated budget (financial proposal), including professional fees (daily rate and expected number of working days) and other expenses (e.g., transportation costs), for completing the work.  

The interested organisations are requested to electronically submit the following two documents separately to the following address:

1. Technical proposal to: jmori@ilo.org and alauddinonn@ilo.org

2. Financial proposal to: nurhalimatun@iloguest.org 

The deadline of submission is 25 November 2022 by 5:00 pm MYT. The short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.

VIII. Contract Duration

The contract will commence from 2 December 2022 until 17 March 2023.

IX. Indicative Payment Terms

Payment terms will be as follows: 

• 1st payment (10%): Upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 1.

• 2nd payment (30%): Upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 2.

• 3rd payment (20%): Upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 3.

• 4th payment (20%): Upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 4.

• 5th payment (20%): Upon the delivery and acceptance of Output 5.