22 April 2008
Addis Abeba — Some 66 first year students of the Adama Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) colleges in Adama, and 30 graduates from similar colleges at Sodo in the Southern region are being trained on internship and entrepreneurial skills training, the university capacity building program (UCBP) disclosed on Friday.
Whereas the intern students are doing three-month skill development activities at Adama University project site, the graduates have already completed a 25-day business development training at Sodo facilitated and funded by GTZ IS.
According to UCBP Adama and Sodo projects site managers Anthony Di Stefan and Ulrick Klocke, integrating TVET colleges aims at creating successful middle level professionals who can tackle employment and entrepreneurial problems.
TVET graduates who take competency-based Economics through Formation of Enterprises (CEFE) said the training has enabled them to develop a sound and workable business plan to engage themselves and others in at a later date.
Students at Adama in their part described the training they received as an opportunity, a stepping stone for a higher technical training.
Around 40 Students from construction department specifically studying masonry and 20 students training in electricity are using the internship facilities through rotational schedule in a group of three students.
In a three months internship program, each group of students will have the chance to pursue practical activities in different construction works.
"In the morning these TVET students work within three constriction companies together with skill upgrade and in the afternoon from Monday to Wednesday, there is training program for students," explains Franz Goldman who is in charge of the main construction trade.
According to Franz, TVET students get comprehensive skills in concrete and form works, reinforcement, masonry, pre-cast and new innovations.
On 04 April 2008, UCBP introduced the concept of quality management standard- ISO 9001: 2000 in TVET colleges through out Ethiopia during an event to award a certificate to three additional UCBP companies reaching the same goal.
As part of commitment in creating more demand - led and employment focused graduates, UCBP is providing skill upgrading facilities to TVET students targeting in masonry, plastering, painting, electrical work, pre cast production in the construction trade.
The integration activities of TVET college comprises on job training ,business creation for graduates, support establishment of trade specific clusters of TEVET graduates and subsidize scheme to employee TVET graduates' local sub contractors in collaboration with local trade and industries offices , chamber of commerce as well as sectarian associations at 4 UCBP sits. The reform of TVET system begun in Ethiopia following the implementation of new education policy in 2003.
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