Conference Challenge
Mrs Chandrani Senaratna, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training Sri Lanka

			Globalisation is influencing the type and level of skills required from individuals (workers) which in turn is affecting the local training needs and methods
			Eradicating poverty, facing international competitiveness and national level human resource development are some of the key objectives for developing skills in Sri Lanka
			There are currently 7.6 million workers in Sri Lanka (Country Population is 20 million) and the unemployment rate is 22%
			There is a mismatch between market needs and workers’ skills. Low social acceptance and quality of training are the key barriers for skills development in Sri Lanka
			Capacity development, upward mobility and private sector engagement are critical success factors for skills development
			Sri Lanka should aim to develop an adaptable, global workforce`
			Commended the British Council’s initiative and wished success

Keynote
Hon. P Radhakrishnan, Deputy Minister of Vocational and Technical Training Sri Lanka

			Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training has been developing the TEVT in Sri Lanka during the past decade mainly in areas of capacity building and infrastructure
			Endorsed the British Council’s initiative and requested further support.
			NVQs are being developed but should cover all sectors
			TVEC (Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission) and NEC (National Education Commission) have revised TVET policies under the approval of HE the President.
			A new policy for TVET for vulnerable groups has been recently passed
			Recommended that the Sector Policy and Advisory Councils (SPTACs) to be more autonomous
			Recommended that the TVEC to work closely with the British Council to take this initiative forward

Plenary 1	The vision for Sri Lanka’s Tertiary and Vocational Education Dr. T A Piyasiri, Director General, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission Sri Lanka Download Presentation
Plenary 2	Why sectors matter and the experience of the UK’s Sector Skills Councils Tom Bewick, Chief Executive, Creative & Cultural Skills, UK Download Presentation
Plenary 3	Developing workers for the changing global workplace Brian Wisdom, Chief Executive, People 1st (Sector Skills Council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism) Download Presentation

A model for Sector Skills Councils in Sri Lanka: from training providers’ point of view Dr Dayantha Wijeyesekera, Chairman, Standing Committee on Tertiary and Technological Education of National Education Commission Sri Lanka Download Presentation

Developing Employment Skills in the Creative Sector - A Practical Approach Case study by Bradford College, UK Download Presentation 1 and Presentation 2

Parallel session 1
How to create a suitable governance mechanism for Sector Skills Council in Sri Lanka (scope, remit and structure)
Chaired by Tom Bewick

			UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) which is similar to TVEC in Sri Lanka has the critical role of coordinating SSCs in the UK
			SSCs should be developed based on the country’s needs and strategic importance
			Core of SSCs should comprise of industry with educators and government as parts of the structure
			TVEC should initiate SSCs but it would take some time for such bodies to become standalone institutions
			Central government need to fund SSCs initially but SSCs should have a deal-to-deal offer (ROI).
			SSCs remit: 3 main areas        - Advise on skills development        - Setting competency standards        - Provide link between industry, educators and government
			There should be national and regional sector organisations
			It is important to consider geographical locations when setting SSCs (Ex Hambantota – Port) aiming to fulfil the skills demands of the region

Parallel session 2
How to engage different stakeholders in realising sector based approach in Sri Lanka (strategy for employer engagement)
Chaired by Brian Wisdom

			Companies (employers) in the region (location) should be involved in the relevant SSCs
			Trade Associations, Industry Chambers should closely engage with SSCs
			Barriers for SSCs:        - Effective communication (links) with employers        - Lack of motivation for employers to join
			Solutions:        - Show benefits to the employers        - Reduce bureaucracy and time wasted in typical government processes        - Private sector should be given more ownership

Next steps

			The TVEC will prepare a policy paper to develop a sector based approach in skills development in Sri Lanka which will be presented to the National Education Commission
			The NEC will proceed to obtain relevant government approval

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Keynote - The role of industry in developing skills for employability Tom Bewick, Chief Executive, Creative and Cultural Skills, UK Download Presentation

The skills challenge for Sri Lanka: an industry perspective D K Rajapaksa, Managing Director, DSI Download Presentation

Skilling people for the future Brian Wisdom, Chief Executive, People 1st (Sector Skills Council for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism) Download Presentations

The skills challenge: the Laugfs experience W K H Wegapitiya, Chairman, Laugfs Holdings Download Presentation

A model for sector based approach in developing skills in Sri Lanka: outcome of the policy dialogue Prof Dayantha Wijeyesekera, Chairman, Standing Committee on Tertiary and Technological Education of National Education Commission Sri Lanka Download Presentation