Mr Noorhaizamdin Abdullah, Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat introduced SEAMEO to the conference and shared the landscape of vocational and technical education in Southeast Asia. He also presented the programmes, projects and activities of the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (VOCTECH) as well as emerging trends and issues on vocational and technical education in Southeast Asia.

Moreover, Mr Noorhaizamdin Abdullah shared the insights and key points during the most recent policy forum of the SEAMEO education ministers on vocational and technical education that was hosted by Brunei Darussalam during the 46^th SEAMEO Council Conference in January 2011. The key points included aligning education systems with economic development, changing public perception and image of vocational and technical education and training, building a close partnership with industry, and the importance of organizational excellence in strengthening vocational and technical education and training.

Participants to the conference were from the Ibero-American countries including officials from ministries of education and labor, educators from public and private vocational and technical education institutes, representatives from production unions, researchers and technicians from NGOs, and representatives from multilateral agencies.

The Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture is an international governmental organization that fosters cooperation among Ibero American countries in the fields of education, science, technology and culture within the context of integral development, democracy and regional integration. Full Member States and observers are all 23 Ibero American countries that comprise the community of nations that includes: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Guatemala, Equatorial Guinea, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela.

SEAMEO ™s participation to the OEI-organized conference was the very first and opens up opportunity for more discussions on vocational and technical education and training as well as other fields between Southeast Asia and Ibero-America.

SEAMEO and OEI started discussions for possible collaboration in December 2011 during the 4^th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness with the theme "Building Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation" in Busan, Korea which was attended by both SEAMEO and OEI and provided opportunity for cooperative dialogues. As endorsed by the SEAMEO Council, SEAMEO is currently negotiating the terms of cooperation with the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture.

(Left photo) Mr Noorhaizamdin Abdullah, Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat presents initiatives of SEAMEO on vocational and technical education. (Right photo) Mr Noorhaizamdin Abdullah meets with Dr Luis Maria Scasso, General Director for Cooperation, Organization of Ibero-American States to follow up on areas of potential collaboration between SEAMEO and OEI.

Conference participants ask questions and seek for more information on SEAMEO ™s initiatives on vocational and technical education and training during the open forum.