In full swing since it was launched in 2010, the Skills Development for Poverty Alleviation project (SDPA Project), a project under the CPSC-India initiative on Asia-Pacific Capacity Building Project for Technical Human Resources Development for Poverty Alleviation, had been on its sixth special SDPA ICP. CPSC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Myanmar, recently concluded the SDPA special In-Country Program on Champion Leaders’ Development Program for TVET Skills for Poverty Alleviation from March 18 to 22 2012 at the Myanma Scientific and Technological Research Department (MSTRD), MOST, Myanmar.
Designed to strengthen and harness capacities of TVET educators in devising and implementing skills development plan and programs for poverty eradication in the member countries, the program benefited a total of 30 TVET practitioners and academicians in Myanmar. Said participants were significantly comprised of 28 females and 2 males, demonstrating increasing number of women in the field of TVET.
Three modules focusing on three major topics namely: TVET Skills for Poverty Alleviation, Generic Skills for Employability and Social Entrepreneurship were delivered by Engr. Md. Jahangir Alam, CPSC Faculty Specialist who also acted as Program Coordinator and Resource Person. A series of tasks, group works and cyber lectures including writing of action plans to execute modular employable skills programs were facilitated to inculcate the relevance of skills development in addressing poverty alleviation.
Another significant component of the program was the conduct of field visits made by the participants to two industrial manufacturing companies in Myanmar namely: Earth Industrial (Myanmar) Co., Ltd. and Soe Electric & Machinery (SEM) Co., Ltd.. The companies are both manufacturers and distributors of power transformers and other power supply devices and accessories. The educational visits provided additional knowledge on the current trends in employment creation in manufacturing industries of the country. Dr. Mohammad Naim Yaakub, CPSC Director General, delivered a Special Lecture on the SDPA-India Project Overview: TVET Skills for Poverty Alleviation. The CPSC DG together with Dr. Zaw Min Aung, Director General, Department of Technical and Vocational Education, MOST, welcomed participants and guests and led the overall management and implementation of the program as Program Supervisors and joint organizers.
Engr. Alam welcomed the participants of the program during the opening ceremonies and conveyed his wish that the program, CPSC may “contribute to raising awareness necessary to put TVET skills into practice for mutual efforts for poverty alleviation in Myanmar”.
Prof. Dr. Mya Mya Oo, Rector, Yangon Technological University, Chief Guest of the program expressed confidence that the training program would be beneficial in building capacity of TVET educators who play lead roles in promoting TVET skills and shall champion the cause of poverty alleviation in the country. Dr. Myint Han, Advisor to the Union Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology, and other officials also graced the closing ceremonies. Dr. Zaw Min Naing, Pro Rector, Technological University (Maubin), Myanmar, shared about current initiatives and practices in TVET for poverty alleviation in Myanmar as Resource Person. U Win Khaing Moe, Deputy Director General, Myanma Scientific and Technological Research Department (MSTRD), also collaborated with Engr. Alam for the successful conduct of the program as Local Coordinator.
The program achieved an overall rating of above 99%.
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 Program participants’ visit to Earth Industrial Co. Ltd. |
 Participants visit to Soe Electric & Machinery (SEM) Co., Ltd. |
