SAGT enables opportunities for emerging mechatronic engineers

South Asia Gateway Terminals CEO Romesh David (right) exchanges the MoU signed with Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka Chairman/Chief Executive Officer S.K. Rajapakse 

South Asia Gateway Terminals Ltd., (SAGT), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with the Sri Lanka Korea National Vocational Training Institute (K-Tec) to offer workplace training opportunities for students following the Mechatronic Technician National Vocational Qualification Level V. 

The specialised six-month training program has been carefully designed to meet the prerequisite of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level V and also provide students with additional specialisation in Seaport Container Terminal Operations. Students successfully completing the industrial training program will be equipped to pursue a career as a skilled maintenance technician for seaport container terminals anywhere in the world. Students demonstrating exceptional performance during the first six months of the training program, may be offered a one-year fixed term work opportunity at SAGT.

The rapid growth of the global logistics industry has increased the demand for skilled specialist maintenance technicians in the maritime industry. 

The SAGT K-Tec training partnership program aims to bridge the gap between the existing vocational training programs and demands of the local and foreign seaport container terminal job market. The training program will expose students to container terminal operations, process automation and enhancement of transferable soft skills. 

The MoU further provides scope for enhancement of the current curriculum of Mechatronics Level 5 with practical industry related case studies, guest lectures from SAGT engineers and train the trainer programs for instructors of K-Tec. 

SAGT General Manager – Engineering Sandun Edirisinghe said: “Sri Lanka has a talented labour pool. This partnership creates potential for Sri Lankan talent to show leadership as skilled mechatronics engineers on the global stage. We are delighted to partner with K-Tec towards the common objective of future proofing a specialised workforce of Sri Lanka talents.”

Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka Chairman/Chief Executive Officer S. K. Rajapakse said: “This program is a first of its kind and aims to incorporate the latest trends and requirements of the job market to ensure our students are equipped with not just technical skills from a classroom but also dynamic exposure to the working world. We are proud to have a partner such as SAGT who is as committed as we are to ensuring the highest level of technical exposure for our students. We are confident that the program will elevate the profile of our graduates and open up job opportunities for them around the world.”