A total of 60 education institutions and industry professionals were honoured for their exceptional achievements at the Malaysia Education & TVET Awards 2025, held recently in the capital. The prestigious event, now in its 4th edition, was organised by ‘Education + TVET Asia’ Publications, bringing together the best of Malaysia’s education and skills training sectors.
This year’s awards carried the theme “From the Industry, By the Industry, For the Industry”, celebrating excellence in education, technical and vocational training (TVET), and service provision across Malaysia.
‘Education + TVET Asia’, an approved publication by the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN), is a niche platform that highlights leading education and TVET institutions, training providers, and influential personalities shaping the industry’s future. The publication is widely recognised for its insightful coverage of trends, thought leadership, and innovations in the sector.
According to Lee Seng Chee, Managing Editor of Education + TVET Asia, the awards aim to honour outstanding universities, TVET institutions, and boutique education service providers throughout Malaysia. “We envision this awards programme as a permanent fixture in the region’s education calendar,” he said.
The 2025 awards drew 225 nominations from across the education landscape – including universities, colleges, schools, homeschool networks, training and skills centres, enrichment centres, preschools, and tech providers. A distinguished panel of education, training, and media professionals shortlisted and selected the 60 award recipients.
The event was officiated by YB Datuk Ts. Mustapha Sakmud, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Malaysia. In his address, he commended the organisers for bringing together key education stakeholders, especially from the TVET sector, and emphasised the importance of transforming public perception of TVET. “TVET is crucial in producing a skilled workforce that underpins national economic development and long-term stability,” he said.
Award criteria included leadership, productivity, innovation, sustainability, brand excellence, programme and service quality, product excellence, and performance in new start-ups.
Highlights of Key Award Recipients Include:
- Management and Science University (MSU) – ASEAN’s Most Transformative & Impactful TVET University
- Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) – Malaysia’s Best TVET University
- Giatmara Pasir Gudang – National Excellence Award in Vocational and Skills Training
- Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia – Malaysia’s Best TVET University (Transportation Technology)
- Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah – Industry 4.0 Skills Leadership Award
- UNIMAS Business School – Best Business School Award (Sustainable Community Outreach & Lifelong Learning)
- Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin – Best TVET Polytechnic Award (Industrial Collaboration)
- TM Future Skills – Social Impact Award (Student & Workforce Empowerment)
- Institut Kemahiran MARA Alor Setar – Best TVET Institution Award (Technical & Entrepreneurial Education)
- Institut Latihan Perindustrian Pedas – Best TVET Institution Award (Negeri Sembilan)
- Raffles American School – Malaysia’s Best International School Award
- Carsome Academy – TVET Centre of Excellence Award (Automotive Technical Education)
- TNB Integrated Learning Solution (TNB ILSAS) – National Award for Sustainable Talent Development & TVET Innovation
- Unitar International Academy – Best Professional Development Centre Award (Upskilling, Reskilling & Cross-Skilling)
- Todak Academy – Centre of Excellence in Skills Training Award (Animation, Game Development & Robotics AI)
Outstanding Personality Awards:
- Professor Dr Ahmad Hata Bin Rasit – Outstanding Personality Award for Transformational Leadership in Higher Education
- Ts. Kamaruzaman Bin Md Ali – Outstanding Personality Award for Visionary TVET Leadership
- Sr. Dr Zakaria Bin Mohd Yusof – Outstanding Personality Award for National TVET Leadership
- Dr Ishak Bin Johari – Outstanding Personality Award for Education & TVET Leadership
The event also featured a forum, titled “Skills for the Future, Smarter Pathways: Innovating Education & TVET for a Changing World”, drawing key stakeholders from academia, industry, and the skills development sector.
The session presented thought-provoking insights from four distinguished speakers: Prof Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid, President and Founder of Management and Science University (MSU); Profesor Datuk Ts. Dr. Massila Kamalrudin, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM); Tuan Haji Zulkifli bin Salahudin, Managing Director of TNB Integrated Learning Solution (ILSAS); and En. Muhammad Taufik Rizal bin Aminuddin, CEO of Todak Academy Sdn Bhd.
The forum explored the evolving demands of the 21st-century workforce, with a focus on digital transformation, innovation in TVET, and the integration of smarter pathways in education. Speakers shared strategies for bridging industry-academia gaps, promoting lifelong learning, and nurturing future-ready graduates equipped with both technical and soft skills.
The session served as a dynamic platform for collaboration and dialogue, reinforcing the need for agile, industry-aligned education models to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
The Malaysia Education & TVET Awards 2025 was held alongside the ASEAN HR Awards 2025, organised by HrHub.my, showcasing a broader commitment to regional excellence in education and human capital development.
The event welcomed around 400 industry professionals, including Vice Chancellors, university and college leaders, education entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders—marking it as one of the largest gatherings of education and TVET leaders in the region this year.