With the prevalence of unemployment and underemployment in developing countries like Nepal, there is an urgent need for the empowerment of individuals by equipping them with the necessary workplace skills that are aligned with the market needs. Unfortunately, Nepal has not yet fully discovered and embraced the possibilities of exploring other fields like TVET as their career of choice. TVET remains to be a secondary alternative to conventional academic options due to its low popularity and lesser mass appeal.
To address this concern, the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) together with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) organized an online In-Country Program for Nepal on Branding and Image Building of TVET from April 1 to 4, 2025 via Zoom platform. The training was designed to uplift the current brand and image of TVET in the country. A total of 35 Nepalese principals, vice principals, technical officers, and TVET practitioners participated in the training program.
The program was jointly supervised by CPSC Director General Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja and CTEVT Member Secretary Er. Mahesh Bhattarai. Meanwhile, CPSC Faculty Consultant Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen served as the Program Coordinator and Mr. Nala Ram Devkota, Director of the Technical Division, and Mr. Shishir Subba, Technical Officer of CTEVT, as Local Program Coordinators.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Nala Ram delivered the welcome remarks and extended his greetings to the participants and guests, while Dr. Kesavan presented the Program Overview. Special remarks were then delivered by the Program Supervisors, Prof. Dr. Dhameja and Engr. Mahesh, who both emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in advancing TVET in Nepal.
Prof. Dr. Suresh Kumar Dhameja delivers his special lecture
After the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Dhameja presented his special lecture titled “Blue Ocean Strategy for Branding and Image Building of TVET.”
Mr. Ek Raj Adhikari (top photo) and Dr. Harsh Vardhan Samalia (bottom photo) facilitate the training sessions
The training program proceeded with workshops and presentations of theme papers. These were facilitated by Dr. Kesavan, along with Prof. Naeem Yaqoob, CPSC Faculty Specialist; Mr. Ek Raj Adhikari, CTEVT Deputy Director; and Dr. Harsh Vardhan Samalia, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Entrepreneurship Development and Industrial Coordination at the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research (NITTTR), Chandigarh, India. Furthermore, the workshops allowed the participants to craft a branding strategic plan and marketing plans as an output from the training program.
The four-day training program concluded with a closing ceremony where selected participants shared their appreciation for the learning experience and the program’s relevance to enhancing the branding of TVET in Nepal.
Dr. Kesavan presented a program summary and expressed his appreciation to the efforts of CPSC and CTEVT, as well as the active engagement of all the participants. Moreover, Mr. Nala Ram gave his closing remarks while special remarks were delivered by Mr. Tek Bahadur Malla, Director of CTEVT and Head of Delegation, who emphasized the importance of sustaining such initiatives for the continued growth of the TVET sector in Nepal. Both expressed their gratitude for the training program in hopes of building an enhanced TVET brand in Nepal.
