Staff Reporter

GNHC, UNDP and the TVET Reform Project Office under the Prime Minister’s Office signed the statement of Intent and established a partnership recently.

Supported by the government of Japan, the partnership will focus on advancing Bhutan’s efforts to align its TVET education system to the changing needs and future of work scenario in the country.

The government established a TVET Reform Project Office in March as part of the PM’s Office to revamp the TVET system and address the mismatch between education/skills and jobs.

The partnership will see the TVET Reform Project Office and UNDP work together to create an enabling, innovative and inclusive employment ecosystem through three main activities, according to the press release from UNDP.

“The TVET Reform Project Office and UNDP’s Accelerator Lab team will work together with an international consultant to develop the concept and a strategy for the Bhutan Innovation and Technical Education (BITE) Hub,” the press release stated.

The BITE Hub is a prototype project that will provide an enabling space and environment for the youth to experiment innovative ideas.

The TVET Reform Project Office will also collaborate with Nanyang Polytechnic International, an arm of the Singapore government’s education ministry to provide skilling, reskilling and upskilling training programmes. More than 100 trainees from technical training institutes and relevant agencies would be trained.

CEO of TVET Reform Project Office, Kinga Tshering said, “The project will enable us to forge ahead with some of our plans of collaboration with reputed international technical institutes like the NYPi, Singapore and also joint certification through the Bhutan Fablab proposal.”

The partnership is part of the UNDP-supported Covid-19 Response and Recovery project towards a smarter, greener and more resilient recovery through innovation in Bhutan funded by Japan.

“TVET Reform is critical for Bhutan’s economic rebound post-pandemic and in building back better programs and skill development systems to not only respond to the demands for competitive skills of the 21st century but also to the needs of the youths and underprivileged groups,” said UNDP Resident Representative Azusa Kubota.