ITBM Strengthens TVET Publications With Over 500 Book Titles For PBAKL 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM) is offering more than 500 titles related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (PBAKL) 2026.

It is also exploring opportunities to translate selected reference materials into the Malay language to broaden access to internationally benchmarked technical content.

ITBM said the initiative aligns with a proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also National TVET Council chairman, during his visit to the Malaysian Scholarly Publishing Council (MAPIM) Pavilion at PBAKL 2026, calling for the strengthening of academic TVET publications to support the development of a highly skilled workforce and meet future economic needs.

According to ITBM, the collection of over 500 TVET titles covers various education levels, from preschool to higher education and professional training, and is also used in several countries, including the United Kingdom, South Africa and Singapore.

“The TVET reference materials are developed based on industry needs and recognised competency standards, including the National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) and National Certificate (Vocational) [NC(V)] frameworks,” it said in a statement.

ITBM added that this competency-based approach aligns with Malaysia’s TVET implementation, which emphasises practical skills, graduate employability, and job readiness.

 Among the fields covered are engineering, electrical technology, welding, construction, automotive, hospitality, agriculture, business, and information and communications technology (ICT), all of which are strategic sectors and national development priorities.

Meanwhile, ITBM chief executive officer Sakri Abdullah said the Deputy Prime Minister’s suggestion was timely in strengthening the TVET ecosystem and future workforce development.

He said ITBM is currently exploring the translation of selected TVET titles into the Malay language to ensure internationally recognised technical content can benefit more students and educators.

“Publishing TVET materials into Malay not only improves understanding and learning effectiveness but also supports the democratisation of knowledge by ensuring wider, more inclusive and equal access to quality learning resources,” he said.

In another development, ITBM will organise a special presentation session with representatives from Macmillan Education on June 5 to share the latest developments in TVET publishing and its potential in strengthening the national education ecosystem.

ITBM is also strengthening strategic cooperation with ministries, educational institutions, industry players, and local and international publishing partners to expand translation and high-impact TVET publication efforts for use by institutions under the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), and private educational institutions.

-- BERNAMA