Shaping Industry 4.0 Ready Talent: TVET Experts' Strategies in Content Selection - NGT and ISM Approach

The rapid advancement of digital technologies and the evolving demands of the labour market have triggered transformative changes in the education and training landscape. In the era of cutting-edge technologies and digitalisation, traditional industry processes have been revolutionised, giving rise to new occupational profiles. Consequently, young talents entering the workforce need new competencies to cope with the infusion of rapid changes in technology. To address this, the integration of digital technologies in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) plays a pivotal role in preparing individuals for Industry 4.0. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated online and remote learning adoption, underscoring the imperative of digitalisation in TVET. The objective of this study is to identify strategies for technical TVET instructors to select content that is Industry 4.0 fit and can be implemented in TVET settings. Supported by evidence-based experts' recommendations, this study delves into instructional design strategies to enhance the quality of TVET in shaping Industry 4.0 ready talents. Developed through the consensus collective consensus, the model takes shape through the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) approach and involves nine experts, with each having more than ten years of experience in mechanical and manufacturing-related diploma programmes from both public and private TVET institutes in Malaysia. These experts have a wealth of experience and bring diverse perspectives, contributing from varied portfolios, which include curriculum development, assessment, media, industry advisor to institute, teacher training, and management. The findings revealed six prioritised strategies to be focused on. These strategies converged into three themes: industry-relevant work process-oriented, bite-size and flexible, as well as focus on the higher cognitive domain. The study offers a practical solution and reference for TVET practitioners in selecting content to ensure the talents are Industry 4.0-ready.