Germany to train local automobile mechatronics
Germany will set up a vocational training council in Sri Lanka to train automobile mechatronics according to German standards, and oriented towards demands in the market, an official said.
In a brief interview with Daily Mirror, Chief Delegate of German Industry and Commerce Andreas Hergenroether said a certificate, equivalent to MEQ 5, would be issued to trainees after completion of their courses. He said the course component would cover 98 percent of German curricular.
“We are trying to enlarge our vocational training initiatives here. The most important thing for us is that it will be demand-oriented,” he said.
He said this would include the representatives of the companies, vocational training institutions etc.
“We will have this as a continuous dialogue platform to make sure that the curricular we offer is recognized in Sri Lanka on the one hand and is oriented towards demands of the companies on the other hand,” he said.
Otherwise, he said there had been complaints that the outcome of training did not correspond with the companies needed.
“In Germany, we have totally different vocational training systems. The system is really organized through businesses and their representatives – the chambers of commerce. The chambers are the only organizations in Germany authorized to certify vocational training. They prepare the examinations. For this, they have set up vocational training committees. That is what we are also doing here now in Sri Lanka. That is to make sure that training is up to the standard, and according to the specific needs of the companies,” he said.
Asked as to why Germany took this initiative as a country that has already invested in Sri Lanka’s vocational training, he said, “We have this initiative. We have to distinguish it now. We are really certifying according to the German standards. That has not been the case before. Before, there were local standards only. The chambers of commerce are the only authorized companies in Germany to authorize them,” he said.