KATHMANDU, AUGUST 30

The National Seminar on Education and Employment Linkage, jointly organized by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), the Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), and the Nepal Automobiles Dealers' Association (NADA), concluded successfully at Hotel Himalaya, Lalitpur on Thursday.

Supported by the Enhanced Skills for Sustainable and Rewarding Employment (ENSSURE) project, a bilateral initiative between Nepal and Switzerland, the event focused on strengthening the synergy between education and employment to equip Nepalese youth with employable skills.

The seminar aimed to address challenges that limit private sector engagement in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Nepal, provide policy recommendations for enhancing this engagement, and improve the social perception of TVET education. The program was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Bidya Bhattarai.

'Until recently, we would talk about education, labor and business as different sectors. Today, I would like to thank all the private sectors for organizing this seminar with the aim of connecting these three areas. We had established CTEVT in 2045 B.S. Even though we are in the year 2081 B.S today, we are still using the same 45-year-old policies and have not revised them. If we make an effort to revise the curriculum and restructure CTEVT, we can also make suggestions for policy level change,' the education minister Bhattarai remarked.

Professor Dr. Ursula Reynolds, Chair of Education Systems at ETH Zurich, delivered a keynote speech on industry engagement in the TVET sector within the federalized context, stating, 'Industry partnership is important to ensure that education system produces the human resource that industries want. Private sector needs be coordinated and TVET industry council would be the way forward!'

Welcoming the participants, The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Vice President Birendra Raj Pandey emphasized that, 'There is a significant shortage of skilled labor in the country. Industries are struggling to find qualified human resources, while youth are searching for employment opportunities. As a result, industries are compelled to hire skilled workers from neighboring country India. It is essential to bridge the gap between the education and employment sectors, which must collaborate to develop the necessary skilled workforce. The Dual VET-Apprenticeship program plays a crucial role in producing the skilled professionals that industries require.'

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Embassy of Switzerland in Nepal Matthias Meier said, 'Switzerland has promoted dual VET apprenticeships in Nepal for over a decade. Thanks to the research of ETH and Kathmandu University, we now have the hard scientific evidence that this approach is indeed a win-win proposition for both, the apprentices and the industries that employ them. But this research needs to be translated into action and, I believe, this seminar will contribute to that endeavor'.

The opening session also featured insights from Mahesh Bhattarai, Member Secretary of Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Binayak Shah, President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), and Karan Chaudhary, President of the Nepal Automobiles Dealers' Association (NADA) who emphasized the importance of linking education with employment to better prepare the youth.

Two technical sessions were held during the seminar. The first session discussed the private sector's role in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), policy barriers, and potential solutions. It featured presentations on the Dual VET-Apprenticeship programs in Nepal, a randomized controlled trial on the benefits of apprenticeship programs, and a study on policy gaps in TVET. A panel discussion followed, with representatives from the Parliamentary Education Committee, the Ministry of Education, The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), and provincial Business and Industry Associations (BIAs).

The second session delved into the private sector's role in the training cycle of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, discussing current practices and areas for improvement. Two presentations covered the state of TVET schools in Nepal and how industry led sector skills committee can bridge the gap in what employers need and what employers' produce, followed by a panel discussion featuring members of the sector skills committee, Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), and Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS). A highlight of the seminar was the mini-skills competitions among apprentices from the pre-diploma programs in hospitality management and automobile engineering. The apprentices showcased their skills in vehicle repair and food preparation for a hi-tea session, with attendees enjoying the food in the 'Hospitality Pavilion.'

Panchakanya Group Pvt. Ltd., Nepal Ekarat Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Arihant Multi Fibres Ltd., CG Moto Corp, and Airport Hotel were honored with the Apprenticeship Champion Award. These awards recognized industries that have actively supported the apprenticeship program, prioritizing disadvantaged groups, including women, and consistently placing a high number of apprentices in their industries. The winners of the skill competitions, Basanta Kumar Chowdhary, Raveena Rai and Rashmi Mukhiya were also recognized.

The seminar attracted significant participation from Federal and Provincial Business and Industry Associations (BIAs), leading industries, key governmental bodies, and esteemed academic and research institutions.