A career with a promise for the future

Learn at an Institute dedicated to serving the Printing and Graphic Arts Community of our Country

The large number of students, who have been denied university entrance due to competition and insufficient cut off marks, are eventually joining the job seekers queue every year. What would the future of these youngsters be? This phenomenon occurs every year and a large number of students is joining the queue with a bleak future.

At a time when even university undergrads are taking to the street demanding government jobs, what would the fate of the others be? What would youth with only Ordinary Level qualifications do in the future? Uncertainty looms for the younger generation!

Having recognized this as a burning social issue, a number of private institutions have taken advantage of the situation and are attempting to attract this student population to their various courses of study. The mushrooming newspaper advertisements on this are clear evidence of the enormity of this national question.

Further, certain private tutors send leaflets to students’ personal addresses intending to lure them into various skill development courses in various areas of education, such as computer, graphic designing and new media education. Ultimately many of these expensive skill development courses, with costly fees, will only exploit the parents’ hard earned savings. As there are neither proper guidelines nor right directions for monitoring them provided by the government in the field of training students for available jobs, these students would not be able to achieve the expected levels of skills and proficiency.

As far back as 1984, in view of this national dilemma, the Sri Lanka Institute of Printing was mooted by Act of Parliament to fill this void, by training skillful professionals in the Printing and Digital Arts sector. As the government affiliated pioneer professional body committed to the advancement of knowledge, skills and expertise in the Print and Graphic Arts Industry, the Sri Lanka Institute of Printing has already produced hundreds of professionals in the field. They have been successfully running Printing and Graphic business institutions both here and abroad and in the latter case, contributing towards the economic success of those countries in which they work.

Against the backdrop of increased competition in trade and commerce, the Sri Lanka Institute of Printing is also engaged in a restructuring programme where new strategies are being utilized for the furtherance of knowledge and modern industrial technology to meet the demands of modern markets.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Printing, as the leading industrial education body providing training in the various disciplines of the Graphic Arts industry and higher levels of print education in Sri Lanka today, has courses leading to the MBA in Government and private Universities. Equipped with the necessary infrastructure, equipment, modern machinery and above all, an expert teaching staff to impart modern technical knowhow to the students, the Institute can meet the training needs of the industry. In addition, the Institute could provide guidance and assistance to individual printers to develop techniques and methods to meet the technological advancement needs of their individual business houses.

To support the Government’s endeavour to make the country quality and productivity conscious, the Institute has already introduced short courses for managerial and supervisory staff with a view to enhancing their knowledge and skills. Quality and productivity have been made two inseparable elements in these courses.

Among the objectives of the Institute are: to train those presently employed in the printing industry by improving techniques, processes, raw- material utilization, planning etc. with a view to improving the standards of local printing business organizations. It is also committed to organizing longer term training courses in printing technology and management. It offers Certificates, Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas relating to its training courses, shares industry information on new syllabuses, techniques and available courses of study through news and electronic media. The Institute has also participated in international trade fairs to acquire the latest know- how and techniques and relevant information to uplift the standards of the country’s Graphic Arts industry.

An outstanding achievement of the Institute is its overall performance in its academic and skill development area, recognized by the University of Colombo. As a result of this achievement, the Advanced Diploma in Printing Technology and Management and Advanced Diploma in Visual Communication and Management courses have been recognized as pre- requisites to enter the MBA course offered by the University of Colombo. The much coveted MBA is a plus point for any highly paid printing and graphic art job locally or internationally.

Apart from this highest ever printing qualification in Sri Lanka, offered by the Sri Lanka Printing Institute - there are several technical training courses for different sectors of Printing and Digital Arts industry.

Those who enroll in these courses, during the first couple of months, learn the theoretical and basic environment of the subject and, and later are provided internship with various state or private sector institutions who lead the industry in the country today.

As the country’s economic development gains momentum, and especially with the core of the economy expanding mainly in the area of export, the printing and packaging industry is definitely on course for an attractive future. The manpower requirement will continue to be high as the demand for printing and packaging increases due to international trade and the growth of industry world- wide, with Sri Lanka also a trade hub in the Indian Ocean.

Under these circumstances, young learners of printing and graphic arts will have ample job opportunities. To qualify, one should study the technology at a reputed and recognized institution such as the Sri Lanka Printing Institute.

At the Sri Lanka Institute of Printing, the student has the additional assurance of an organization which is affiliated to the government and is recognized by the University of Colombo, has modern educational facilities, a good rapport with leading industrial partners, and a top class group of lecturers to guide the students on the right path.

The Institute functions under the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training and is located at the Government Printing Department premises, Borella. For information regarding courses, the SLIOP can be contacted via internet at www. sliop. edu. lk or by phoning 011 2686162 or 011 2679791.

Sisira Baranage CEO – Sri Lanka Institute of

Printing