From pilot to regional initiative: BizConnect strengthens TVET–industry collaboration in ASEAN

BizConnect is not a new idea — it is an approach that has evolved. Originally developed under the Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP), it began as a pilot initiative in six agricultural TVET schools in Myanmar in 2018, supported by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented by Nuffic.

Today, this approach has grown into a regional initiative under the EU-funded SCOPE-HE (Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education), expanding its reach across ASEAN to strengthen partnerships in skills development, higher education, and industry cooperation.

In April 2026, this regional ambition came to life in Bali, where representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam gathered with a shared goal: strengthening the connection between vocational education and industry.

Each country was represented by a multi-stakeholder delegation, bringing together TVET institutions, government representatives and chambers of commerce, allowing discussions to quickly move beyond theory into real, practical challenges.

From discussion to practical action

Throughout the training, participants worked on concrete ways to apply the BizConnect approach in their own countries. Sessions focused on identifying skills gaps, engaging industry partners, and designing activities that could be realistically implemented after the programme.

Chau Bich Nhi from EuroCham Vietnam highlighted how the initiative supports what she described as a “twin transformation”, linking skills development with both green and digital transitions. For her, the strength of the programme lies in the network it creates — one that can continue to support implementation beyond the training itself.

Participants from Cambodia and Laos also emphasised the importance of learning from each other’s experiences. The opportunity to compare approaches and challenges across countries helped them refine their own plans and better understand what could work in their respective contexts.

In Indonesia, Rusmianto from Politeknik Negeri Lampung expressed readiness to take the next step, highlighting how closer collaboration between TVET and industry can contribute to national priorities such as Indonesia Emas 2045.

A shared language for collaboration

While each country faces different challenges, a common theme emerged throughout the training. When participants were asked to describe BizConnect in one word, their responses — collaboration, trust, networking, inspiration and partnership — reflected a shared understanding of what is needed to strengthen skills development. These perspectives underline a key aspect of BizConnect: its role in creating a common platform where different stakeholders can work together towards practical solutions – and how this collaboration can evolve into something larger at regional level.

Moving towards implementation

Following the training, participants are now preparing to organise BizConnect activities in their respective countries. The focus is no longer on defining the approach, but on applying it — adapting the model to national contexts and building on the partnerships established in Bali.

As these activities take shape, BizConnect continues to evolve as a practical approach to strengthening cooperation between education systems and industry — grounded in local contexts, yet connected through a shared regional effort.

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