Sri Lanka Marks Milestone in Vocational Education Digitalization with Career Platform Handover Ceremony

Sri Lanka Marks Milestone in Vocational Education Digitalization with Career Platform Handover Ceremony

Sri Lanka recently celebrated a significant milestone in its efforts to modernize government service delivery for vocational education. The Career Platform Handover Ceremony and Server Room Opening, which is part of the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Career Platform Project funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) of the Republic of Korea, marked a pivotal moment in Sri Lanka’s journey toward digitalization. ‘Career One’ is Sri Lanka’s first national career platform for the Technical and Vocational Education sector. The event featured the formal signing of the career platform handover documents by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education (MOE).

Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, underscored the need for greater visibility to ensure the platform’s sustainability. He stressed that awareness should not be limited to internal stakeholders, as the broader society must be informed about the platform’s benefits. The Secretary further emphasized the need to build a strong, recognizable ‘Career One’ brand, one that is considered the definitive national career platform, to ensure its long-term success and credibility.

He also pointed out that the government is currently serving over 200,000 trainees within the TVET sector, with vocational education playing a critical role for students who are unable to access traditional higher education. In this context, the ‘Career One’ platform is vital for providing these students with career pathways and opportunities.

The Secretary also noted the restructuring of the Ministry, which has been renamed to the “Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education.” This change reflects a strategic shift in policy, aligning general education, higher education, and vocational education under one umbrella.

In his remarks, the Secretary expressed confidence that the ‘Career One’ platform would bridge the gap between education and employment, helping TVET students connect with job opportunities. He also extended his appreciation to KOICA for its ongoing support, both in terms of funding and expertise, which has been essential for advancing vocational education in Sri Lanka.

Ms. Samanthi Senanayake, the Additional Secretary (Vocational Education), pointed out that while the general education and higher education sectors receive the majority of Sri Lanka’s education budget, the TVET sector has historically received limited funding. In this regard, KOICA’s contribution has been vital.

The KOICA Country Director Ms. Lee Yoo Li highlighted that while the opening of the career platform is a major achievement, continuous promotion and capacity-building efforts are necessary to ensure its success. She called on all stakeholders to continue supporting the project’s long-term sustainability.

Mr. Yoo In Shik, the Project Manager, provided an overview of the project’s progress, which began in 2023 with a series of workshops and the development of a master plan. This was followed by the creation of the Career Platform, the remodeling of the server room, and training for Career Guidance Officers (CGOs).

The platform offers a range of benefits for TVET graduates/students, Career Guidance Officers, and companies. For Career Guidance Officers (CGOs): the platform facilitates career test analysis, reduces paperwork, provides industry insights to support more informed career guidance, and enables direct connection of students to job opportunities. For TVET graduates/students the platform supports students in discovering their future career paths, managing personal portfolios, scheduling appointments for career guidance, and staying informed about the latest job postings. For Companies, the platform streamlines the recruitment process by providing access to a verified pool of skilled talent, offering free hiring services, enabling recruitment within industry-specific talent pools, and supporting the development of long-term talent pipelines.

To ensure the platform’s continued success, the Project Manager requested the Ministry’s support in three key areas: promotion, content development, and ongoing operations. The event concluded with the ribbon-cutting ceremony and the opening of the server room. The facility, developed with KOICA’s support, will play a crucial role in sustaining the career platform’s operations and ensuring its long-term success.

As Sri Lanka moves forward with its efforts to integrate digital solutions into vocational education, the ‘Career One’ platform stands as a key tool in bridging the gap between education and employment, offering new opportunities for the nation’s workforce.