Pilot Study of the Needs Analysis for Developing a TVET Employability Model for Industry 4.0 from a Career Counselling Perspective

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the need for developing a TVET Employability Model for Industry 4.0 (IR4.0) from a career counselling perspective among students enrolled in Malaysia's Public Skills Training Institutions. The study represents the needs analysis phase of the Design and Development Research (DDR) approach and provides an empirical foundation for developing an Industry 4.0-oriented TVET employability model. A quantitative survey design was employed involving 30 final-year diploma students from Malaysia's Public Skills Training Institutions selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising 11 items and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 25 through descriptive statistics and reliability analysis.The findings revealed that students' overall levels of knowledge, understanding, and exposure to Industry 4.0 were moderate (overall M = 3.62). In contrast, the item measuring the need for developing the proposed employability model recorded the highest mean score (M = 6.20), indicating a very high level of agreement regarding the necessity of such a model. The instrument demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.958. The findings provide empirical evidence supporting the development of a TVET Employability Model that integrates Industry 4.0 competencies with career counselling principles. They establish a strong empirical foundation for the subsequent design and validation phases of the proposed model while offering practical implications for career counselling practice, human capital development, and competency-based curriculum planning aimed at enhancing the employability of TVET graduates in Malaysia.