US$50m fully fledged Ocean University from South Korea
View(s):The Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) sector is poised to receive its largest project funding in its history, of a US$ 50 million facility for a fully fledged Ocean University in Sri Lanka.
This includes 9 new hi-tech training facilities across the country, modelled on the lines of the ground-breaking, ultra-modern South Korean-backed KTEC Training Centre, unveiled in Orugodawatte on August 21, is to be set-up.
Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development & Vocational Training (ICTPDPCDSDVT), Rishad Bathiudeen said this week, he had met with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed how to create more modern TVET centres in Sri Lanka.
“We decided to set up 9 more centres, similar to the recently launched Korea-Sri Lanka National Vocational Training Institute in Orugodawatte, with South Koren funding,” he said.
He was speaking at the launch of the modernised Gampaha Technical College (GTC). He was joined by State Minister Buddhika Pathirana, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, Minister of Skills Development & Vocational Training, Karunatilleke Paranavithana, Minister of Transport Arjuna Ranatunga, South Korean Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Heon Lee, and the Country Director of Colombo Representative Office of Korea Eximbank, Daekyoo Park.
The 20-year-old GTC has been modernised with a US$ 4.5 million South Korean loan, which is part of Phase II of the 2-stage US$ 26 million project (Stage I was the Korea-Sri Lanka National Vocational Training Institute inaugurated on August 21 in Orugodawatte).
“We are also planning to set up a fully-fledged Ocean University at a cost of US$ 50 million. We will be able to start work on it in the coming weeks. The Ocean University we have at present is not a fully fledged institution,” said Minister Bathiudeen.
He said, a Sri Lanka Industry study last year revealed that 400,000 new jobs will be available in Sri Lanka, in the next three years, in Hospitality, Tourism and Industry sectors.
According to a study by the University of Colombo, 58% of unfilled vacancies in Sri Lanka are in the Apparel sector, 20% in the Food industry and 33% in other Manufacturing sectors. Therefore, the Skills Development & Vocational Training institutions under my Ministry are working to address this situation.”
The Director General of the Department of Technical Education & Training (DTET) Mrs. P.N.K Malalasekera said, “The NVQ certifications here, includes Electrical, CNC programming, Pneumatics & Hydraulics, Telecommunications, Automobile Tech, Electronics, Secretarial Training and Language Training that are offered absolutely free of charge.
The South Korean government is facilitating Korean language studies, and youth completing their GTC studies, will be given preference for South Korean employment.”
South Korean Ambassador Heon Lee stressed the importance of TVET in development. “In South Korea, in the ‘60s and ‘70s, TVET primarily aimed to provide low level training to light industries. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, TVET expanded to Heavy industries such as Shipbuilding and Electronics.
“The official direction of South Korean TVET is to create the 4th Industrial Revolution for sustainable growth. TVET also has been a cornerstone in the development history of Sri Lanka, like it did in South Korea,” he said.