Korean Tech begins student enrollment for the inaugural academic year
Sri Lanka’s ne west vocational training i n s t i t u t e, the‘ Korean Tech’ in Orugodawatte will commence its inaugural academic year introducing the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 5 Diploma courses in April this year.
The Diploma courses will be conducted on Automotive Technology, Pneumatic & Hydraulic Technology, Robotic Technology, Computer Numerical Control ( CNC) Technology, Welding Technology, Refrigeration & A/ C Technology, Electrical Technology, and Mechatronic Technology.
NVQ Certificate Holders (Level 3/4) as well as pass out students from GCE (A/L) – Engineering Technology & Mathematics streams are eligible to apply for this Diploma course. The student interviews will be held after a selection test.
According to the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority (VTA), which oversees this facility, there will be an intake of 40 students for each Diploma course conducted on the full-time basis, while there will also be part-time courses on the same for the students who are currently employed.
Semester Exams will be conducted every six months during the 1- year Diploma programme. After the 2nd Semester exam results, a 6-months On-theJob-Training (OJT) will be arranged. This will be followed by the Final Assessment and then the Graduation (presentation of the National Diplomas NVQ Level 5).
Students with the NVQ Level 5Diploma could either seek employment locally or abroad or continue with higher education and thereafter get employed. There are many industry openings both in Sri Lanka as well as abroad in the respective fields.
Those who have followed the NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Automotive Technologycould find employment in the Automobile Industry, Transportation Industry, and Academic Sector or else become entrepreneurs. Those with NVQLevel 5 Diploma in Pneumatic &Hydraulic Technology could get employed as Automation technicians, Hydraulic and Pneumatic technicians in the construction industry, Fabrication industry, Plastic industry or Pneumatic technicians in the Food and Beverage industry. CNC ( Computer Numerical Control) Technology field provides CNC Programmer, CAD Designer, CAM Programmer and Workshop Supervisor (CNC) jobs. Inthe Automation and Robotic Technology sector, there are Process Tool designer, Production Machine Line Supervisor and Robotic Technician jobs. Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology field has employment opportunities for NVQ-qualified Air Condition Plant Maintenance Managers, Site Supervisors, HVAC Supervisors or even create entrepreneurs.
The Electronic Technology field has jobs for Acoustic Consultants, Electronic System Analysts, Electronic Engineers, Broadcast Engineers, and Electronic Sales Engineers and for Electronic Supervisors. In the Electrical Technology field it is possible to get employed as Electrical Engineers, Electrical Supervisors, and Academic Sectoror become entrepreneurs. Mechatronic Technology is the area with the highest- paid jobs. Here, employment could be found in relation to Medical and Assistive technology, HumanMachine interaction, Manufacturing and Unmanned Aerial and Ground Vehicles and education.
Korean Tech is equipped with four Academic divisions and three NonAcademic divisions. The Academic divisions include the Mechanical Department ( dedicated for Automobile Technology, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, Welding Technology), Electrical Department ( dedicated for Electrical Technology, Electronic Technology, Mechatronic Technology), Automation Department ( dedicated for CNC Technology, Automation & Robotic Technology, Pneumatic & Hydraulic Technology) and Learning Supportive Department ( dedicated for Korean & English Language, Information & Communication Technology, Soft Skills/ Lifeskills). The Non-Academic divisions include Administration Divisions ( 26), Industry Engagement Unit and Marketing, Business Promotion & Carrier Guidance Units (04).
With regard to learning facilities, the Korean Tech comprises of Lecture Rooms, Conference Room, Auditorium, Library, and Cafeteria with modern Kitchen, Accommodation, Langue Lab and ICT labs.
The management team of Korean Tech has mapped out a fully- fledged plan to develop the educational facility as a wellrecognized, highly effective vocational training institute in the country.
Under this plan, it looks forward to enhancing industry participation through an Industry RelationsUnit and assign industrial partners for each study programme, and also establish a network of industries as certified centres for the placement of OJT. In addition, it will establish an Innovation Centre and create an innovation culture within the center, assign projects for students to provide solutionsto the real problems in the industry, establish an Innovations and Business Incubation Unit with a well- structured entrepreneur training embedded to the curriculum of the programmes, introduce soft skills, IT, Korean and English language to the curriculum, establish a student care and supporting unit ( to communicate with students , parents and to provide student care services and student guidance serv i c e s ) , a f f i l i ated with Korean Polytechnic / Universities, develop a holistic training delivery system, establish an academic council and quality circles, obtain ISO quality certification, introduce an authentic learning environment and adopt techniques of smart learning and e-learning methods.
Fifteen Instructors have been already appointed and provided 03 months of training in Korea in their respective fields. In addition, three officers have been also trained for 02 weeks on ‘ Center Management’in Korea.
The project of establishing a Colombo Vocational Training Center was initiated in late 2010, and the contract agreement was signed in 2014. It was funded by the Exim Bank of Korea as a soft loan. Following several time extensions, the final completion date of the project was fixed for 31st of December 2018.