Advancing Technical and Vocational Education Through Digital Innovation: A Pathway to Future-Ready Skills

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) necessitates a paradigm shift in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to cultivate a digitally proficient, future-ready workforce. This study investigates the impact of digital tools on TVET pedagogy, identifies the core digital competencies for educators and learners, and examines the institutional factors influencing successful digital integration. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, the research involved surveys and semi-structured interviews with instructors, students, and administrators from public TVET institutions in Malaysia. The findings reveal a strong positive correlation between the use of digital tools, such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), and perceived teaching and learning effectiveness. However, significant challenges persist, including a notable competency gap between instructors and students, varied digital readiness across different academic programs, and critical institutional barriers like inadequate infrastructure and inconsistent investment. The study concludes that successful and sustainable digital transformation in TVET is not merely about technology adoption but requires a holistic strategy that integrates policy alignment, continuous professional development, structured digital literacy training, and long-term infrastructural investment. Such a multifaceted approach is crucial to bridging existing gaps and fully realizing the potential of digital innovation in vocational education.