Rashid Ali, Farrah Diebaa and Ahmad, Khalilullah Amin and Abd. Hamid, Mohd Azrul Azlen (2025) Beyond technical competence: challenges of integrating communication skills in TVET classrooms. In: 9th International Conference on Education, Business, Islamic and Technology 2025, 28th -29th December2025, Kelantan, Malaysia.
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Abstract
The integration of communication skills into Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes is increasingly emphasised to enhance graduates' employability, yet its classroom implementation remains complex. Guided by a socio-constructivist learning perspective and integrated skills approaches in TVET, this study examines key education stakeholders' reflections on the challenges of embedding communication skills in TVET settings. A qualitative research design was adopted, drawing on reflective accounts and semi-structured interviews with language teachers, technical teachers, and state education officers. The data were analysed thematically. The findings indicate that challenges occur at learner, pedagogical, and systemic levels. At the classroom level, teachers reported difficulties in sustaining student engagement, managing discipline, and addressing mismatches between students' kinaesthetic learning preferences and literacy-focused communication tasks. Pedagogical challenges included teachers' uncertainty in assessing communication components, particularly oral presentations, within technical subjects. Variations in students' communicative confidence were also evident, with some technically proficient learners demonstrating limited verbal participation. At the systemic level, restricted programme pathways, persistent parental perceptions of TVET as a non-academic route, and limited institutional resources constrained integration efforts. The study highlights the need for clearer assessment frameworks, targeted professional development, and stronger institutional support to enable meaningful integration of communication skills in TVET curricula.
| Item Type: | Proceeding Paper (Other) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | TVET, Communication skills, Challenges, Curriculum |
| Subjects: | L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education P Language and Literature > PE English T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages |
| Depositing User: | FARRAH DIEBAA RASHID ALI |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Nov 2026 15:56 |
| Last Update: | 04 Nov 2026 15:56 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-10-Q5981 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/127157 |
| Indexed In: | UNSPECIFIED |
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