New varsity to sharpen Punjab’s vocational skills

The first of its kind institute aims to fulfil needs of CPEC.

LAHORE: To fulfil the future manpower needs of China Pakistan Economic Corridor, TEVTA Punjab will establish Pakistan’s first vocational training university in collaboration with the Tianjin University of Technical Education (TUTE).

The agreement to set up the University of Technical and Vocational Education (UTVE) was signed by TEVTA Chairperson Irfan Qaiser Sheikh and TUTE President Liu Xin in Tianjin, China. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Minister for School Education Rana Mashhood were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Irfan said that youth comprised 60% of Pakistan and establishing UTVE would provide skilled manpower to CPEC.





According to the agreement, around nine degree courses would be offered at the university, including information technology, automobile, electronics, mechanical mechatronics, management sciences, advanced Chinese language, pedagogical training and 3D printing.

The agreement stated that the Chinese varsity would share its experience to establish and operate the new university. The areas in which expertise would be shared include curricula and discipline setup, development of core courses, curricula development, revision, laboratories and training of trainers.



TEVTA would provide a building in Punjab, bear the expenses of operational aspects and the required equipment. It would also have UTVE teachers trained in China when required. At the same time, TUTE would send Chinese experts/master trainers to Pakistan, stated the document. TEVTA would annually arrange trainings of a mutually agreed number of people who would be sent to China.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2017.