A TVET Institute-Industry Engagement and Innovation Forum in Sarpang has brought together trainees, instructors and industry representatives to address the gap between skills acquired through technical training and the requirements of employers.
When trainees graduate, they are expected to enter the workforce equipped with the skills employers need. However, training institutes say some employers find that graduates lack the specific skills required in the workplace, creating uncertainty about employment opportunities.
The forum, organised by the Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute in collaboration with the Technical Training Institute Khuruthang, focused on strengthening collaboration between training institutes and industries.
The event brought together trainees, instructors and industry representatives to showcase trainee projects, assess technical skills and discuss workforce expectations across sectors, including manufacturing, construction, IT and automotive.
Yeshi Rigsel Wangchuk, Assistant Lecturer at JWPTI in Gelephu, said the forum aims to help training institutes better understand industry requirements and reduce the skills gap.
“Basically, the purpose of the forum is for us as an institute to understand the requirements and needs of the industry and to reduce the skill gap between the industry and the institutions. Currently, when our trainees graduate, industries say that the skills they have acquired do not match their requirements. The main goal of this forum is to reduce that gap,” he said.
For trainees, the engagement is expected to help create career pathways and employment opportunities while giving them a better understanding of employers’ expectations.
Dil Maya Gurung, a trainee in the Electrical Department at JWPTI, said such forums could benefit training institutes across the country and help trainees prepare for employment after completing their courses.
“Such forums will help benefit not only the institutions here but about ten institutions across the country. As soon as we complete our training, such forums will help create career pathways and employment opportunities. We have many business partners from the government and private sector here, and it has helped us learn a lot of things,” she said.
The forum also saw the signing of memoranda of understanding between training institutes and industries to strengthen collaboration, industry mentorship and on-the-job training opportunities.
The challenge now is to translate these partnerships into practical workplace experience and employment opportunities, ensuring that technical training equips graduates with the skills industries require.
Passang Dorji/Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
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