Solving the Pakistani industry’s problems, one graduate at a time
The provision of skilled workforce to meet the growing industrial needs of a nation is critical for the economic development and growth of the industry. To meet this demand, there has been a global increase in the recognition of Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) by governments and corporate sector alike, due to the skills gap it fills.
According to a report published by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics in 2015, only 32% of the Pakistani population is considered a part of the labour force. The provision of quality primary and higher education in Pakistan is reserved for a rather small strata of this over populated country leaving a huge gap of between the blue collar masses and the white collar groups. It is therefore essential for Technical and Vocational Education to be coupled with industrial progress and creation of opportunities. The core problem lies in the inability of educational structures of Pakistan to produce a steady supply of technical skills and expertise.
Education for the sake of employment
Over 118 technical and vocational training institutes were registered across Pakistan in 2009 to meet the dire industry need of a skilled workforce. Aman Tech is one of the largest vocational training institutes in Pakistan, set up to arm the youth with competitive technical skills and abilities. The facility has the capacity to train over 2,000 students at a time.
The industrial sector of Pakistan is constantly growing, creating the demand for an increasing number of skilled technicians to join the labour force. The proportion of Pakistan’s labour force employed by the transport, manufacturing, service and repair sectors is approximately 21% and rising. The industry is currently functioning on a shortage of technicians who are skilled in particular trades and have practical experience prior to joining the labour force.
At Aman Tech, the workshops have been built to provide the students with hands-on experience in various trades, including analyzing, isolating, and fixing problems in vehicles, refrigerators, air conditioners, wiring and circuitry. The Automobile, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC), Mechanical, and Electrical & Electronics are the most sought after trades at the institute.
Education at the Aman Tech has one primary goal – Employment. There is flexibility in the trades that are offered, so that they are constantly aligned with the most persisting demands of the industry. The alignment between the Industry and the City & Guilds UK accredited curriculum at Aman Tech is a winning feature of the institute, so that its output is captured into the workforce soon after the students graduate. This requires collaborative liaison with the industry, and ensures that the institute can meet the dire industry need of quality, consistency and numbers. High performing students have the opportunity to take part in an exam for an official City & Guilds certification, which boosts their employability when they join Pakistan’s workforce.
And it doesn’t end there. Performance of Aman Tech graduates is gauged by the institute through regular feedback mechanism from organizations where they have been placed. This allows for evolution of curriculum and high standard of instruction across all trades.
“As a manufacturing organization, we have a dire need for skilled technicians from various trades. In this regard, Aman Tech is doing an excellent job by giving fresh candidates technical knowledge and onsite training so that they can easily become a productive part of an organization.” – Kompass Pakistan
The purpose of vocational skills development in the youth is for them to have access to an educational cycle that includes practical training and implementation. The trainee should be allowed the benefit of making mistakes and learning from them so that he/she is capable of facing the challenges at work. At Aman Tech, the curriculum across all trades includes a mix of theoretical and simulation-based learning, to achieve educational goals through experiential learning.
There is more to it than technical skills!
While technical knowledge and ability is required for one to be proficient at work, a large proportion of workplace satisfaction and success depends on the ability to communicate and engage with people.
Interpersonal communication skills play an important part in removing barriers between employees and ensure the survivability of a productive environment. Today, HR departments of every organization, stress upon the need for such abilities on a resume.
Life skills training classes are a mandatory part of every trade offered at Aman Tech. Students take up various classes that teach them basic ethics and etiquettes to utilize in their daily activities. Emphasis is laid on stress and time
management, presentation and dressing, interview skills and ethics. These sessions are designed to provide the students a contained platform to practically implement what they learn. The students are taught to ponder upon the idea of collaborative efforts and progress as a life skill that will benefit them in the long run.
“We prefer to hire Aman Tech graduates because they have a rather positive attitude to go with their quality technical ability and proficiency.” – PAAPAM
Blueprint to the problems
Considering Pakistan’s current predicament with respect to the inflation rate at 3.7%, the salary structure in industry thrives to overcome rising prices. It is the responsibility of the organization to offer its employees a respectable monetary compensation for their services and keep a check on the inflation rate in the country.
The place
ment rate of 74%, Aman Tech ensures that capable graduating students receive job offers from various established companies and opportunities of growth in their professions. The institute has made over 3,200 certified placements in local industry and 198 international placements.
The worldwide thrust towards the advancement of vocational education and training is to address the increasing crisis of poverty, and the development of skills capable of global competitiveness. The world of work is changing; characterized by rapid technological and systematic advancements, coupled with a decreasing labour participation rate.
In order to solve the problem that Pakistan’s industry and economy is facing, the social and private sectors need to synergize and create a blueprint which should be implemented across the country. This is the blueprint that Aman Tech is thriving to create, one graduate at a time.
