Developing an IR4.0 Pedagogical Adoption Model for TVET: The Interplay of Institutional Readiness and Student Competency
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Malaysia's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector is under growing pressure to connect competency-based training with the digital, intelligent, and automated realities of Industry 4.0. However, technology does not improve learning on its own. Digital tools add value only when they are supported by sound pedagogy, meaningful student engagement, and sufficient institutional readiness. This paper presents a refined IR4.0 Pedagogical Adoption Model for Malaysian TVET within the Malaysian Skills Certification System and JPK-accredited training context. The study uses students as the only sample group. Student responses are used to measure perceived IR4.0 pedagogical adoption, student learning engagement, institutional readiness, including digital divide-related readiness conditions, and student competency development. The refined objectives are to evaluate the current level of IR4.0 pedagogical adoption and its direct influence on competency development, analyze the mediating role of engagement, examine the moderating role of institutional readiness, and validate the integrated structural model. The model treats IR4.0 pedagogical adoption as the independent variable, student learning engagement as the mediating variable, institutional readiness as the moderating variable, and student competency development as the dependent variable. A quantitative, deductive, explanatory, cross-sectional survey design and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling are used to examine descriptive levels, direct effects, mediation, moderation, explanatory power, and predictive relevance. The paper contributes to TVET theory and practice by explaining how IR4.0 pedagogy can strengthen competency development through engaged learning, particularly when institutions provide reliable infrastructure, digitally competent lecturers, and supportive policies for meaningful digital implementation.
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7204220542