The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with FNCCI (Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries) and CTEVT (Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training) organized the workshop on institute-industry partnership building on November 24.

The main objective of the workshop was to develop a strong partnership between Korean training institutes and industries in Nepal to produce competent workforces as per the market demand and promote their employment opportunities.

On behalf of the Korean Government, ambassador of the Republic of Korea  Choe Yong-Jin congratulated all the organizers and participants for their genuine effort for the employment promotion of training graduates in Nepal.

On behalf of KOICA Nepal Office, the Resident Representative HaengLan JO, extended her sincere welcome to all the participants and encouraged them for their active participation in the workshop. There were presentations on the need of institute-industry partnership and skills of training graduates from Korean training institutes of Nepal, delivered by the experts of Korean training institutes like Kathmandu University Technical Training Institutes (KUTTC) and Korea Nepal Institute of Technology (KNIT).

In addition, the member secretary of CTEVT, Dr Ram Hari Lamichhane informed the participants about the efforts made by Nepal government on building institute-industry partnership in Nepal along with the existing challenges and ways forward for improvements.

According to a press release issued by KOICA, the workshop was aimed at sharing fruitful insights and suggestions among industrial associations and Korean training institutes on developing strong institute-industry partnership in Nepal. Various industrial associations working for the automobile, mechanical and electrical trades interacted with the managers and instructors of Korean training institutes on how they can build a suitable institute-industry partnership in Nepal.

KOICA supported for the establishment of KNIT (Korea Nepal Institute of Technology) in 2012 with the grant amount of 5.68 million USD located at Butwal, Tamnagar. KNIT runs 3 year diploma programs in Mechanical, Automobile and Electrical/electronic Engineering trades under CTEVT. Similarly, KOICA supported for the establishment of KU TTC (Kathmandu University Technical Training Center) in 2013 with the grant amount of 3.5 million USD located at Dhulikhel, Kavre.

The KU TTC runs short-term training courses in Automobile, Carpentry, Wielding and Machine of duration ranging from 3 months to 1 year. These Korean training institutes aim at providing quality technical education and skill-oriented trainings to under privileged and unemployed youth of Nepal.

KOICA’s strategic goal for the education in Nepal includes providing vocational education opportunities to Nepalese people in order to increase their productivity and income level. KOICA has been providing development assistance to Nepal for the upliftment of education, health and agriculture sector since 1991.