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Vocational Training and Career Guidance Webinar conducted for Youths
Summary
Techjobs.lk; one of the leading recruitment service organizations in the country targeting a niche group in the areas of Technology, Construction, ICT, and industrial sectors; successfully conducted a free Vocational Training and Career Guidance Webinar for youths on Friday, 28 May 2021 from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm online via Zoom. The program was headed by two professionals in Vocational Training and Management Consultancy.
- Mr. Sathyajith Buthpitiya – Deputy Director (Career Guidance & Marketing)- Department of Technical Education and Training
- Mr. Tilakasiri Ekanayaka – Chartered Engineer, Consultant in Technology Management
This webinar was the first of the series of webinars that are planned to be conducted targeting individuals who are seeking vocational training and career guidance in the areas of Technology, IT, and Engineering. The objective of this programme was to give future jobseekers an understanding of the job opportunities in Sri Lanka and discuss the degree programmes they can participate in both State and government-approved universities. The summary of the webinar discussion is given below.
Every year about 350,000 students sit for the GCE Advanced Level Examination and only around 180,000 students pass the examination and become eligible to apply for the 17 State universities in Sri Lanka for 115 academic courses. Nevertheless, only around 30,000 students can be accommodated in state universities. For the 2020/21 intake, the student intake was increased by ten thousand.
As the Open University of Sri Lanka can also accommodate around 10,000 students it gives a total of about 50,000 students a chance for higher education. The following State and UGC-approved higher education centers for students who have passed or failed their GCE A/L were discussed.
- University of Vocational Technology
- University of Moratuwa-Institute of Technology-NDT
- NSBM
- SLT Campus
- Uva Wellassa University
- Sanasa Campus
- Sri Lanka Institute of Nano Technology
- Institute of Chemistry Ceylon
- Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute
1. An Introduction to the NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Laddering System and the courses offered at the university of vocational technology.
This is a nationally and internationally recognized system for granting tertiary education awards and vocational education awards including certificates and other academic distinctions. Accordingly, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) framework was introduced in 2005.
The curriculum in Sri Lanka updates every 3 years depending on the industrial requirement of the country and the NVQ system and the curriculum is similar to that of Malaysia and South Korea. When considering the international job market, the NVQ Level qualification is a Skill level qualification that makes you eligible to apply for foreign jobs. However, there is a third party involvement in the certification process; the government should certify the validity of the certificate before entering the foreign job market.
The National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Framework is a seven-level qualification framework. A Qualification is generally a package of competency units to suit requirements in a particular position in the labour market.
| NVQ Level | Qualification Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | National Certificate | Recognizes the acquisition of a core of entry-level competencies |
| Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 | National Certificate | Recognizes increasing levels of competencies. Level 4 qualification provides for full national craftsmanship. |
| Level 5 Level 6 | National Diploma Higher National Diploma | Recognizes increasing level of competencies ranging from technician level to management level |
| Level 7 | Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent | This level includes planning, re-sourcing & management process |
Technical colleges & College of Technology institutes under Department of Technical Education and Training are available in every district in Sri Lanka excluding Kilinochchi. Sri Lanka has 30 technical colleges and 9 colleges of Technology. You can visit www.TVEC.gov.lk to register and learn more about the degrees offered there. For more details
If you are a student who has failed your A/L s but has completed your O/Ls you can start your vocational education starting from NVQ level 3 or 4 based on the course you wish to follow. The duration of the courses also depends on the field you chose. However, if you are a student with 3 simple passes for your advanced level, you have direct access to apply to study for the NVQ level 7 qualification at the University of Vocational Technology which offers many degree programmes with a duration of three years.
Some of the recommended degree programmes with good job opportunities in Sri Lanka offered at the university are; Cinema and Video degree programme, Networking, Programming, Software Engineering and Civil engineering.
For more details visit their website www.univotec.ac.lk
2. The Institute of Technology at the University of Moratuwa -National Diploma in technology. (NDT)
Any student with three simple passes is eligible to apply for the following courses mentioned below. You can click the following links to get more details on the below courses.
Visit their website https://itum.mrt.ac.lk/ for more information.
3. National School for Business Management NSBM
Following are some degree programs that a student can follow which are offered at this university with a lot of job opportunities in Sri Lanka and abroad
- BSc in Business Management
- BSc in project management
- BSc industrial management- Has a huge demand in the industrial sector.
- BSc in management information systems
- BSc in software engineering
- BSc in computer system engineering
- BSc in engineering
- BSc maritime engineering- it is also offered at the CINEC campus
Visit their website https://www.nsbm.ac.lk/ for more information
4. Sri Lanka Technological Campus
Following are some degree programs that a student can follow which are offered at this university with a lot of job opportunities in Sri Lanka and abroad.
- BSc in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering- Has a good practical side and good lab facilities
- BSc in Engineering and Electronic Management
- BSc in Information and Communication Engineering
- BSc in Travel and Tourism
- BSc in E-tourism and Digital Marketing- A new degree programme with demand in the hotel field
- BSc in Cyber Security
- BSc in Mechatronics Engineering
- BSc in Biosystem Engineering
- BSc in Data Science
- BSc in Cloud Computing
- BSc in Software Engineering
Visit their website https://sltc.ac.lk/v for more information
5. Uva Wellassa University
This is a state university targeted towards futuristic industries that offers an entrepreneurship and management degree programme among other important degrees.
Website: http://www.uwu.ac.lk
6. Sanasa campus
Following are some degree programs that a student can follow which are offered at this university with a lot of job opportunities in Sri Lanka and abroad.
- BSc in insurance and risk management
- BSc in regional management and planning
Visit their website https://sanasacampus.lk/ for more information
7. Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology
Following are some degree programs that a student can follow which are offered at this university with a lot of job opportunities in Sri Lanka and abroad.
- BSc in Nano Science
- BSc in Information Technology
Visit their website https://www.slintec.lk/ for more information
8. Institute of Chemistry Ceylon
Refer to the degree programme that a student can follow which is offered at this university with a lot of job opportunities in Sri Lanka and abroad.
- BSc degree in Chemical Science
Visit their website http://www.ichemc.ac.lk/ for more information
9. Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Institute
Following are some degree programs that a student can follow which are offered at this university with a lot of job opportunities in Sri Lanka and abroad.
- BSc. in Yoga and Parapsychology -Opportunities in the Tourism and Ayurvedic sector best if followed while studying a foreign language.
- BSc. in Social Science
Visit their website http://web.gwai.kln.ac.lk/ for more information
Some final words of advice given at the end of the programme.
- Apply to a higher number of courses when applying to state universities as there will be a higher chance to get selected for a good degree programme.
- Work on your performance, attitude, and communication skills.
Summary prepared by – Isumi De Silva