University of Vocational Technology

University of Vocational Technology to be set up soon

A four member delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Manila concluded a Fact Finding Mission on May 20 and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Tilak Hapangama, Secretary Ministry of Skills Development Vocational and Technical Education and Director General of External Resources.

When the Mission met the Minister of Skills Development, Vocational and Technical Education, Piyasena Gamage, he explained the urgent need to establish a University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC). He said that this is a priority program of the Government 2005 Budget proposals.

The Presidential Task Force on Technical Education and Vocational Training, which commenced its activities in 1997, strongly recommended a scheme to provide upward mobility to those in the Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) sector.

For this purpose, the Task Force recommended the establishment of a University of Vocational Technology at the apex of the TVE system. The President approved this proposal and gave priority for the establishment of this University.

As a part of the process of rationalisation and reform of the technical and vocational education sector, nine Colleges of Technology (CoT) are to be established, one for each province.

Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) will support the establishment of a College of Technology at Maradana while Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) will support the establishment of the College of Technology in Jaffna.

In addition to JICA and KOICA, USAID will also provide funds to rebuild several training centres damaged by the tsunami and also assist in the establishment of two centres of excellence, which will be similar to colleges of technology.

For over three decades, the German Development Co-operation (GTZ) has been in the forefront of providing technical and financial assistance to develop Technical and Vocational Education (TVE).

The GTZ has come forward to support the establishment of two Colleges of Technology, one in Southern and Western Provinces and other in Eastern Province.

GTZ will also support the establishment of the UNIVOTEC,which is to be modeled after the Fachchochschule which may be described as University of Applied Technology. It is very popular in Germany as it provides an alternative to traditional academic universities.

The main campus of the proposed UNIVOTEC will be established at the premises of National Institute of Technical Education of Sri Lanka (NITESL), which will also be the Faculty of Training Technology of UNIVOTEC.

The resources of the Apprentice Training Institute (ATI), Ceylon German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI) and Ratmalana Technical College will be used initially to start the faculties of Advance Technology and Vocational Technology.

The ongoing Skills Development Project, which is also being funded by ADB has assisted the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) of the Ministry to develop a system of National Vocational Qualification (NVQ), which has seven levels.

The students who leave the general eduction system could now enter TEV institutions that offer certificates (level 2, 3 and 4) and diploma (level 5 and 6). UNIVOTEC will offer B. Tech Degree (level 7).

The admission to UNVOTEC will be from those who have completed diploma. Hence, for the first time in Sri Lanka, there will be an alternate path for those coming one of the school systems to progressively acquire certificate, diploma and degree.