Three faculty members from Humber Polytechnic's Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology (FAST) recently returned from Bhutan where they delivered hands-on training and workshops to educators at technical and vocational institutes across the country.  

From February 17 to March 8, 2025, Ian Maclachlan, Donna Zarudny, and Craig Trineer participated in the Bhutan Education and Skills Training (BEST) project, an initiative designed to transform Bhutan’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system.

The BEST project is a $5 million initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and led by Humber, in partnership with Bhutan’s Ministry of Education and Skills Development, and RENEW, a Bhutanese non-profit organization. The project aims to equip Bhutanese youth with 21st-century skills to better meet labour-market demands and foster economic development.

Delivering skills and knowledge across Bhutan

As part of the project, the Humber instructors worked at three different TVET institutes in Bhutan, each sharing their specialized knowledge with local trainers to build institutional capacity and strengthen technical education programs.

Maclachlan, professor and program coordinator of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician and Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology programs, led training at the Technical Training Institute Thimphu in Bhutan’s capital. His sessions focused on enhancing teaching techniques in HVAC, Occupational Health and Safety comparisons between Ontario and Bhutan and other areas including introducing Universal Design for Learning concepts.
 
“I met, taught and became friends with some wonderful, like-minded educators,” said Maclachlan. “These partnerships push us to embrace innovation, foster lifelong learning and prepare learners to drive both economic and social progress.”

 
Zarudny, an instructor in the Horticulture Techniques – Apprenticeship program, conducted training at the Rural Development Training Centre (RDTC) in Zhemgang. Zarudny’s focus was on delivering curriculum training for the trainer's program for the Landscape Technician Course at RDTC, in-class and hands-on horticultural practices, landscape design principles and teaching strategies, and more.

“Being part of this project gave me a deep sense of accomplishment,” said Zarudny. “The participants’ enthusiasm was contagious, and their completed assignments far exceeded my expectations. It was an incredible opportunity to share knowledge and learn from a different culture.”
 
Trineer, a former coordinator in the Electrical Techniques - Industrial Electrician Apprenticeship program, led sessions at the Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute in Gelephu. Trineer covered many topics including programmable logic controllers, photovoltaic systems and hydronics.

Trineer also emphasized the importance of mentorship in trades education.

“You want to give a little more, a little better than what you had, and try to make things better,” said Trineer. “It’s especially rewarding to do this in an environment where your contributions can help launch entire new programs.”
 
Empowering local educators and supporting sustainable change
 
The training delivered by Humber faculty was part of a broader goal to empower Bhutanese trainers with the tools and knowledge to replicate the teachings for students at their respective institutes. The faculty worked closely with Bhutanese educators to develop both technical competencies and effective teaching strategies.

 
By investing in capacity-building at the institutional level, the BEST project supports Bhutan’s broader goal of aligning education with industry needs while enabling youth to access meaningful employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.
 
The faculty's experience in Bhutan highlights the global impact of Canadian post-secondary education and Humber’s commitment to international collaboration. Through projects like BEST, Humber continues to play a leadership role in advancing inclusive, skills-based learning around the world.

As part of Building Brilliance: Our Vision to 2030 and Beyond, we are shedding the traditional constraints of higher education and reimagining a model that both adapts to and shapes the world around us. At Humber, we don’t just want to have an impact – we want to drive it. By staying true to the values of courage, innovation, equity, sustainability, and health and well-being, values that have always guided us, Humber will continue to lead post-secondary education into 2030 and beyond. By making bold decisions around how we fundamentally operate, we can reimagine learning, forge deeper partnerships and drive impact, creating real value and progress. This story is an example of how we are building brilliance by driving impact every day.