Vocational Training Authority the Platinum Sponsor for EDEX EXPO 2015

The Vocational Training Authority (VTA) of Sri Lanka will sponsor the EDEX Expo 2015 as Platinum Sponsor, signifying the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) being showcased on the premier national platform for aspiring Sri Lankan youth.

The VTA was established in 1995, under the purview of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development with the aim of empowering youth with competitive skills training in diverse vocational fields.

The VTA operates 253 training centers island-wide, to cater to youth from all walks of life, especially rural youth offering ease of access.

Currently more than thirty thousand youth enrol for courses under 18 different trade sectors island-wide. Such as Information Communication Technology (ICT), Metal & Light engineering, Building & Construction, Hotel & Tourism. Students who follow those courses have the option to obtain a degree through University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), and University Colleges which are coming up island wide.

In the industry for instance, there is a constant need for youth who are professionally qualified. To address this need VTA now has introduced to offer NVQ ( National Vocat i o n a l Qualification) Level 5. Competitive programmes such as the NVQ 5 in ICT, Quantity Surveying, Draughtsmanship, Hospitality Management, Cosmetology. These training programmes enables a youth to become a sought after candidate.

VTA has also identified the gap between “learning” and “working”, and engages key corporates in Sri Lanka to develop employer led curriculum, with work- based learning arrangements.

“VTA is extremely happy to be a Platinum Sponsor of EDEX as we aim to expand our outreach to a wider profile of youth who can benefit from 1000+ TVET programmes offered by us. VTA training ensures that all participants get the right skills training, have positive attitudes and create for themselves a meaningful livelihood. Many school leavers may not be aware that some of our programmes are offered absolutely free”, stated Colonel Dharshana Ratnayake, Chairman, VTA.

“Our relationship with VTA is more than a decade strong. Considering the significance of vocational training for any young person to become a competi- tive job seeker or even an entrepreneur, we are delighted to welcome the value addition VTA would bring in to our one-stop platform. Students who are unable to proceed through academic route, can still have a head start in life by getting enrolled in TVET courses, benefit from specific training, be gainfully employed and continue progress in an academic path whilst being selfsupportive financially” stated Kamal Abeysinghe, Chairman-EDEX.

EDEX Expo Sri Lanka’s largest higher education and careers exhibition organized by the Royal College Union will be held on January 23rd, 24th & 25th at BMICH Colombo and on January 30th and 31st at the Kandy City Centre, Kandy. For further details please contact the EDEX Secretariat. Tel: 0727 567 000/ 55 21 497. E-mail info@ edex.lk Web site www.edex.lk