Purpose – This study aims to develop and validate an Industry 4.0 (IR4.0) talent framework for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students enrolled in work-based learning (WBL) programmes, ensuring they are equipped with relevant technical, cognitive, personal and ethical competencies. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed. In Phase 1, semi-structured interviews with 11 experts identified key talent domains. In Phase 2, a survey of 159 final-year WBL students from four Malaysian polytechnics was conducted. Data were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) to validate the framework's domains and components. Findings – The study validated four distinct and unidimensional talent domains: Intellectual Talents, Proficiency in Work Talent, Individual Talent Potential and Ethical Professional Talent. PCA results confirmed strong construct validity across all domains, with high explained variance ratios and item fit indices, indicating the robustness of the framework. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to Malaysian polytechnic students and may not fully generalise across different education systems or countries. Future research should include cross-country comparisons and longitudinal assessments of framework impact on employability. Practical implications – The framework provides TVET educators and policymakers with a structured model to revise curricula and align WBL programmes with IR4.0 industry demands, enhancing graduate readiness. Social implications – Adoption of the framework can address the national skills mismatch by fostering a future-ready workforce equipped with ethical, adaptable and innovative capabilities. Originality/value – This study presents a validated and holistic IR4.0 talent framework uniquely tailored for TVET-WBL contexts, integrating theoretical and practical insights to inform talent development in the digital age. © 2025 Emerald Publishing Limited
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