National Institute of Technical Education of Sri Lanka is empowered to initiate, promote, conduct and coordinate research in relation to any aspect of the development of technical and vocational education and training of technical trainers by the Institutional Act. Accordingly, the Institute plays an active role in developing a research culture in the TVET sector.
The research Division of the NITESL was established in year 2005, but even before that the Institute has been conducting research in various areas related to the TVET sector.
At the inaugural research convention of the TVET sector under the theme “Research for Sustainable Reforms in Vocational Training” which was successfully held at the BMICH in April 2005, organized by the Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational and Technical Education in collaboration with Skills Development Project staff members of NITESL had presented six research papers in the following areas.
- A study to examine the efficiency of resource management at NITESL.
- A study to evaluate the contribution of government TVET Institutions in Sri Lanka for accomplishing the training requirements and upgrading occupational areas in the industrial sector.
- A study to identify training courses that could introduce E-learning systems and propose implementation plan for TVET sector.
- A Tracer Study relating to the trainees
who have completed the National Diploma in Engineering
Draufhting Technology (NDEDT) Course conducted by NITESL
during 2001 and 2002.
- A study to examine the possibility to upgrade the national system to eliminate the issues related to Trade Testing conducted by the government TVET sector of Sri Lanka
- A study to evaluate the tendency of
enrollment of A/L school girls in government technical
and vocational education sector.
The Institute has a group
of trained researchers who have undergone on the job research
training provided by the Skills Development Project under
the guidance of a panel of supervisors from the Faculty of
Education, University of Colombo. They will be the members
of the Research Circle to be formed and will have to take
active part in conducting sector research. In future, others
officers with aptitude for research will also be given the
opportunity to be trained and conduct research for the sector.
The Institutional Research Division is closely linked to the Research Cell of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), which is comprised of senior representatives of each sector Institutions, headed by the TVEC as the monitoring body.
In year 2006, NITESL conducted the following research studies under the sponsorship of the Skills Development Project and these will be presented at the next research convention.
- A Study to Identify Constraints and Opportunities to Improve English Language Skills of the Trainees of the government TVET Sector of Sri Lanka.
- Contribution of Instructional Resource Development program conducted by NITESL for improving teaching-learning environment of TVET centers.
- Identification of the competencies that are expected to be possessed by research personnel in public and private organizations.
The Institute had conducted a survey research and developed the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Plan for the Food and Beverages Industry of Sri Lanka in year 2006 under the sponsorship of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission.
In year 2008, the Institute will be conducting the following research studies.
- A Study to Identify constraints and opportunities for providing Technical & Vocational Training the Physically Disabled persons in Sri Lanka
- A study to find out ways to popularize craft level training Programmes such as mason, carpentry and plumbing in Sri Lankan context
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