SHMA-VTA SL to implement Swiss-designed curriculum

A moment of MoU signing

From left: Baurs Director Finance Pavithra Samarasinghe, SHMA Dean of Academy Daniela Munasinghe, Education Minister Prof. Susil Premajayantha, VTA Chairman Upali Keppitipola, Baurs CEO/MD Rolf Blaser and Swiss Ambassador Dominik Furgler

Swiss Hospitality and Management Academy (SHMA) of A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd, also known as Baurs, a leading conglomerate with diversified business interests, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA), under the Education Ministry, to implement its Skills for Sustainable Growth (SSG) project among selected learning centres across the country.

This partnership marks a significant milestone, following its ongoing discussions with the VTA since 2019. The planning phase is already underway and SHMA is currently in the process of evaluating and selecting the existing learning centres of the VTA, building on their infrastructure and reach, with the aim of uplifting the learning capacities and aligning the current learning content, curriculums and teaching methodologies to that of international standards. 

With its first phase running from last year up until 2025, a total of 2,240 students will be trained and the lecturers at the VTA learning centres will go through a Train the Trainer programme, which will enhance their teaching skills to embrace newer and practical approaches that deliver a hands-on learning experience to the students. The focus will go beyond just grasping technical skills to also include personal development and language training.

The aim of the entire SSG initiative, which is based on a public-private funding partnership, is to strengthen and match the learning standards in the country to that of the global industry, to enable fast-track routes to employability in just nine months with the learning taking a hands-on practical approach and to minimise or bridge the widening skill gap. The internationally aligned qualification delivered through this initiative will help various unskilled and semi-skilled young men and women in Sri Lanka, including providing migrants with a skill set needed for better employment opportunities. The programme is developed on a ‘Plug & Play’ basis, giving more practical and feasible learning modules and methodologies for the learner and
learning centre. 

Site visits have already begun, with a pool of total 22 centres across 16 districts across the country, to select the most feasible centres to kick start the SSG project. By July 2023, six centres will be selected and 240 students will see themselves equipping with the skill set required today in the world of hospitality management over a period of nine months. 

The skills development project is established to align and implement a Swiss Vocational Skills Development (VSD) curriculum. The project will take a lead in bridging the skills gap, instil quality education standards, encourage female participation and make Sri Lanka not just a most sought-after talent destination for hospitality but also one of the best tourist spots. These will undoubtedly go onto strengthen the economy further.