The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC), together with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Nepal has successfully completed the In-Country Program on Management of Business Incubation for TVET Institutes last March 27 to 31, 2023. The training program was conducted face-to-face at CTEVT headquarters in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, Nepal and was participated by a total of 26 college directors, instructors, administrators, teachers, and officials from various TVET institutes in Nepal.
This program aims to facilitate understanding of the concepts of Business Incubation Centers (BIC) in TVET, explore its models, roles, and provide necessary skills and knowledge needed in establishing and managing BICs for TVET leaders. The program design ensures that the participants will be able to provide an analysis of TVET institute image-building mechanisms within the 21st century environment, and competency-based training frameworks for business incubation.
Supervising the program are CPSC Director General Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and CTEVT Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle. The training was facilitated by the designated program coordinator and resource person, Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, CPSC’s Senior Faculty Specialist. Moreover, the nominations for the program participants and local coordination were facilitated by CTEVT’s Technical Division, led by its Director, Mr. Deepak Prasad Poudel. The theme papers were likewise delivered by the engaged resource persons namely: Dr. Hari Prasad Lamsal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), Nepal; Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane, Managing Director, Human Development Consultants Group, Nepal and former CPSC Director General; Ms. Rachana Khatri, Programs and Communications Officer, Impact Hub Kathmandu; Engr. Pallab Shrestha, Technical Lead, FabLab Program; Engr. Sanyog Bhattarai, former faculty specialist, CPSC; Engr. Anoj Bhattarai, PhD, Director of the Curriculum Development and Equivalence Division, CTEVT; and Mr. Birendra Raj Pandey, Vice President, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI).
During the opening ceremony, key officials from CPSC and CTEVT graced the participants and delivered welcome remarks. During his opening remarks, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe wished the participants good luck and expressed his appreciation for CTEVT for managing the event successfully. CTEVT Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle, on a positive note, likewise signified CTEVT’s gratitude to CPSC for continuously providing quality training programs to Nepal TVET administrators. Attendees also include chief guest Mr. Ram Krishna Subedi, Secretary, MoEST; Mr. Khagendra Prasad Adhikary, Vice Chairperson, CTEVT; and Dr. Hari Prasad Lamsal, Joint Secretary, MoEST.
Program Supervisors (top) Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle as well as CPSC and CTEVT officials (bottom) during the opening ceremony
The theme papers during the five-day training emphasized topics such as design and structural integration for entrepreneurial skills, digitalization of TVET as a tool for global entrepreneurial competitiveness, discussion of examples and case studies of international business incubation models in TVET institutions, and introduction of the PDCA cycle in TVET institute management through change management. Along with these theme papers, the participants were given synchronous activities that were also facilitated by the resource persons. They were able to craft a competency-based training that integrated entrepreneurial and employability skills and a business incubation model that detailed roles and concepts of partnerships with business industries.
On the fourth day of the training program, a national seminar was held entitled Management of Business Incubation in TVET Institutes for Sustainable TVET which was opened for external participants. The sessions that were presented included topics on BIC as a tool toward achieving sustainability within the TVET sector, industry innovation through BIC models, green economy and BIC, as well as a case study on Nepal institutions adopting BIC frameworks.
The closing ceremony was held on the last day of the five-day training program, and was attended as well by key officials from CPSC and CTEVT. Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan delivered the summary of the program and the vote of thanks while Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe delivered the closing address on behalf of CPSC. Together, they expressed their gratitude to the organizing team from CTEVT for making this program a success and signified strong continuous support to CTEVT’s future programs and projects.
In addition to the program, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan conducted courtesy visits to CPSC’s linkage institutions in Nepal in a continuous effort to expand and promote the staff college’s capabilities and network. They have met with representatives of the British Council in Nepal and officials from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), as well as the Training Institute for Technical Instruction (TITI), Nepal.
Courtesy visit of CPSC Director General Prof. Wickramasinghe and CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan (rightmost) to the British Council in Nepal with officials Mr. Gaurab Sharma (leftmost) and Ms. Shahida MacDougall (third from the left)
Courtesy visit to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST), Nepal with Education Secretary Mr. Ramkrishna Subedi (third from the left) and TVET Joint Secretary Dr. Kamal Prasad Pokhrel (rightmost)
Courtesy visit to the Training Institute for Technical Instruction (TITI), Nepal with TITI Executive Director Er. Mahesh Bhattarai (center)
Courtesy visit to the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) with CTVET Vice-Chairperson Mr. Khagendra Adhikari (second from the right) and Member Secretary Mr. Jeeb Narayan Kafle (leftmost)
