October 07, 2009 15:33 PM

Victoria Willing To Assist Malaysia In Vocational, Skills Training

PETALING JAYA, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Australia's Victoria state government is willing to assist and exchange experiences with Malaysia in the area of skills and vocational training.

State minister for regional and rural development, skills and workforce participation Jacinta Allan said, among the areas could be in teacher training, co-curiculum development and quality and regulations.

"There is the opportunity to share ideas, materials and learning," she told Bernama after delivering a lecture, 'Woman in High Office', at the Monash University, Sunway Campus here on Wednesday.

She arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a two-day working visit where she held discussions with officials of the higher education ministry and ministry of rural and regional development.

According to Allan, Victoria had the best and advanced vocational training system and saw education as an important area to forge links with Malaysia's, such as in the areas of vocational and skills training system.

She said currently, there were about 8,300 Malaysian students studying in the state.

"We are proud of that. International education is very important for nations to strengthen ties," she said.

Allan added that she was impressed with the measures and programmes of the Malaysian Government to increase the income level of the country's rural population.

Besides that, the minister said, she was also impressed with programmes implemented by the government to reduce rural poverty in Malaysia, describing them as very important to Malaysia's future.

"(In this context) we can learn so much by exchanging ideas in areas such as training facilities, improving skills and business entrepreneurship," she said.

Victoria, located in southeast Australia, occupies only three per cent of the country land mass but makes up 25 per cent of Australia's economy.

Malaysia is currently the state's ninth largest import source and ninth largest export destination for merchandise goods.

In her lecture, she said that women should be given equal opportunities in decision-making processes in areas such as local community, business organisation and the political process as they could play an important role in that area.

Allan said, in order to be successful, women should believe in what they were doing, work hard, always keep a positive outlook and gain support from family and friends.

-- BERNAMA

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