Strengthening halal culinary talent in Malaysian TVET: Development of a competency-based assessment kit (CBAK)

Abstract

Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector is instrumental in cultivating a skilled workforce for the food service industry, which constitutes a significant pillar of the national economy. Notwithstanding notable advancements in policy formulation and curriculum design, assessment practices in Malaysian TVET culinary programmes remain largely theory-driven, thereby constraining their capacity to effectively evaluate and develop workplace-ready halal assurance competencies. This paper outlines a proposed Competency-Based Assessment Kit (CBAK) for halal culinary TVET programmes, informed by constructivist learning principles and the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) approach. The framework incorporates performance-oriented assessment activities, selected halal certification components, digital assessment tools, and input from relevant industry stakeholders to improve alignment with Shariah-compliant practices. Attention is also given to the role of collaboration with halal industry actors and regulatory bodies in supporting graduate readiness across both professional practice and religious considerations. Overall, the proposed conceptual framework is presented as a reference point for enhancing halal talent development within Malaysian TVET institutions and may offer potential for adaptation in other ASEAN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contexts.