The Asia-Pacific countries are in various stages of socio-economic development. Geo-political factors affect the pace of development of the countries in the area also referred to as the Colombo Plan region. TVET’s acknowledged importance in the efforts to improve the quality of life of its people is a common motif in the book. The twenty articles by TVET experts and practitioners as well as policy makers provide the reader researcher with a comprehensive appreciation of the respective TVET problems and issues in the countries included. The book is the latest attempt to put under one cover both macro and micro views of TVET, underscoring its current status, emerging trends, best practices and challenges that beset Individual systems. The book presents a comprehensive body of TVET information for use as a handy reference, both by serious researchers and national policymakers, also by practitioners on how TVET plays a pivotal role in national socio-economic development. The experiences shared can be models of “systems that worked,” learning from them and “avoiding the pitfalls.” They further emphasize that “no one solution fi ts all” when addressing the gamut of challenges and concerns, the resources required and the preferred mindset when implementing TVET reforms.

The aim of the Handbook is to present readily accessible, but scholarly sources of information about educational research in the Asia-Pacific region. The scale and scope of the Handbook is such that the articles included in it provide substantive contributions to knowledge and understanding of education in the Asia region. In so doing, the articles present the problems and issues facing education in the region and the findings of research conducted within the region that contribute to the resolution of these problems and issues. Moreover, since new problems and issues are constantly arising, the articles in the Handbook also indicate the likely directions of future developments. The different articles within the Handbook seek to conceptualize the problems in each specific content area under review, provide an integration of the research conducted within that area, the theoretical basis of the research the practical implications of the research and the contribution of the research towards the resolution of the problems identified. Thus, the articles do not involve the reporting of newly conducted research, but rather require a synthesis of the research undertaken in a particular area, with reference to the research methods employed and the theoretical frameworks on which the research is based. In general, the articles do not advocate a single point of view, but rather, present alternative points of view and comment on the debate and disagreements associated with the conduct and findings of the research. Furthermore, it should be noted, that the Handbook is not concerned with research methodology, and only considers the methods employed in inquiry in so far as the particular methods of research contribute to the effective investigation of problems and issues that have arisen in the conduct and provision of education at different levels within the region.