Human capital development is a critical driver for achieving a sustainable future, where economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental stewardship are balanced to meet current and future needs. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) plays a pivotal role in equipping individuals with the skills, competencies, and values required to address emerging challenges in the rapidly evolving global landscape. This presentation explores the role of TVET as a catalyst for sustainable human capital development by aligning vocational training with the demands of Industry 4.0, the green economy, and the principles of lifelong learning. The discussion highlights how TVET fosters employability, innovation, and adaptability among the workforce. Emphasis is placed on integrating sustainability concepts into curricula, promoting employability skills, and embedding digital literacy to prepare learners for the transition towards low-carbon and technology-driven economies. In addition, the paper also examines strategic interventions such as industry-education partnerships and competency-based training models that ensure TVET systems remain responsive to future workforce needs. Challenges, including funding constraints, technological gaps, and policy misalignment, are addressed alongside recommendations for strengthening governance, enhancing teacher capacity, and leveraging public-private collaborations.

Dr LAI CHEE SERN is the member of the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) since 2004. He is also on a joint-appointment with the Malaysia Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (MyRIVET) as the Deputy Director. He earned his B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering and M.Ed in Technical and Vocational Education from UTHM in 2002 and 2004 respectively. In 2010, he obtained his PhD in Engineering Education at the University of Bremen, Germany. He is actively involved in research and consultation projects related to TVET, TVET-Teachers’ Training as well as teaching and learning.  He was invited as keynote speaker at several national and international conferences and published more than 150 journal articles, proceedings papers, book chapters, and books. He is the chief editor of Online Journal for TVET Practitioners, Advisory Board Member for the Journal of Social Sciences and Technical Education, International Scientific Council for Practicum Journal, and guest editor for the journal of TVET@Asia. In terms of teaching, he has experiences in teaching undergraduate program courses, such as Welding Technology, Non-Destruction Test, and Solids Mechanics, as well as postgraduate program courses, such as Statistics and Research Methodology. On top of that, he has been supervising students’ research projects at bachelor, master, and PhD levels.