scholarly journals How successful is the Industrial Institutes, Kuwait, in reducing dependence on expatriates?

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 78-102
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

Nowadays, no one can deny the role played by technical and vocational education in reducing the rate of youth unemployment, low rate of poverty, high wages, and livelihood for workers, particularly younger workers. Technical and vocational education is a dual type of educational system that permit students to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes mostly needed by industries and business. The quality of technical and vocational educations would facilitate the transformation of students from classrooms, workshops, and laboratories into real work environment. The success of technical and vocational education in achieving the its objectives would depend on the quality of management in forging a strong linkage with industries and business. The concept of working in a “black box” would not apply in technical and vocational education since industries and business are the main contributors in shaping students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Kuwait, as one of the gulf states, the shortage of indigenous skilled and semi-skilled manpower in noted in essential sectors of the economy (e.g., electricity and water and the oil sector). Key figures have appreciated the significant role of technical and vocational institutions in providing essential sectors of the economy with the skilled and semi-skilled national manpower in order to reduce, to great extent, the dependence on expatriates. The Sabah Al-Salem Industrial Institute, SSII, and Shuwaikh Industrial Institute, SII, was forged between 1992-1993, by the Kuwaiti Government with the aim to equipped local manpower with the know-how and know-why that are applied in local industries and business. The research is focus on measuring the perception of a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector towards the quality of the graduates from the Sabah Al-Salem Industrial Institute, SSII, and Shuwaikh Industrial Institute, SII. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector to assess the quality of SSII & SII, graduates. Finally, the research will argue that unless the Sabah Al-Salem Industrial Institute, SSII, and the Shuwaikh Industrial Institute, SII, recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.  

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 187-208
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

The role of technical and vocational education in enhancing indigenous capabilities is highly discussed by authors, observers, and academics. In fact, there is a common understanding that technical and vocational education is a dual educational system that allow students to transfer what they have been learned in classroom, laboratories and workshops into real work environment. The success of technical and vocational education would depend on the management mentality in the ability in forging and effective and fruitful linkage with industries and business. It is a management responsibility to identify and determine the level of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are mostly required by the recipients of technical and vocational graduates.  Kuwait, as one of the gulf states, the shortage of indigenous skilled and semi-skilled manpower in noted in essential sectors of the economy (e.g., electricity and water and the oil sector). Decision makers have realized the significant role of technical and vocational institutions in providing essential sectors of the economy with the skilled and semi-skilled national manpower in order to reduce, to great extent, the dependence on expatriates. The Higher Institute of Energy, HIE, was forged by the Kuwaiti Government with the aim to equipped local manpower with the know-how and know-why that are applied in local industries. The research is focus on measuring the perception of a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector towards the quality of HIE graduates. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with a sample of heads of supervisors at the Ministry of Electricity and Water and at the oil sector to assess the quality of field training program and the standard of the HIE graduates. Finally, the research will argue that unless the HIE recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.  


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 256-284
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

There is a common perception that technical and vocational education is the ultimate solution for providing industries and business with skilled and semi-skilled manpower. It is considered as a dual type of education system that would allow students to transfer what they have learned in their schools and colleges into real work environment. It is a combination of education that encompasses theory and practice where students spend a certain time in industrial and business premises to acquire the needed knowledge, skills and attitudes. Due to the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous manpower, the gulf states (e.g., Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates) have forged technical and vocational education colleges and institutions with the aim to supply essential sectors of their economy (e.g., oil, electricity and water, health sector, infrastructure), with qualified national manpower able to manage, maintain, and adapt the imported technology to suite local environments. However, the success of technical and vocational institution in achieving an acceptable outcome would, to great extent, depend on the quality of the management of technical and vocational institutions. The fact is managing technical and vocational education is completely different from managing a formal education (e.g., formal colleges and universities). This research paper examines how successful is the management of technical and vocational colleges and institutions in providing local industries with indigenous skilled and semi-skilled qualified manpower. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with sample of heads of supervisors/heads of departments at the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Electricity and Water, and the oil sector in order to assess the quality of graduates from technical and vocational colleges and institutions. Finally, the research will argue that unless the management of technical and vocational colleges and institutions recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 28-53
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

The need for skilled and semi-skilled indigenous manpower in the gulf states (e.g., Kuwait. Qatar, United Arab Emirates) is highly noted in the related literature. Technical and vocational education is considered as a dual type of education system that allow students to transfer what they have learned in classrooms, workshops, and laboratories into real work environment. It is the ultimate solution, particularly for the gulf states, to overcome and/or reduce the rate of dependance on expatriates especially in essential sectors in their economy (e.g., oil, electricity and water, health sector). The governments of the gulf states have realized the urgent need to forge technical and vocational colleges and institutions hoping to close the gap with industries and business. Technical and vocational education is completely different from formal education and thus requires a careful design, planning, and monitoring to ensure meeting industrial and business current and future requirements. However, the success of technical and vocational education would depend, to great extent, on the type of management since it requires a specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are distinguished technical and vocational education from any other types of education. The Higher Institute of Communications and Navigation, HIC&N, was forged by the Kuwaiti Government with the aim to equipped local manpower with the know-how and know-why that are mostly needed by local industries. The research is focus on measuring the perception of a sample of heads of departments at the Ministry of Communications towards the quality of HIC&N graduates. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with a sample of heads of departments at the Ministry Communications to assess the quality of field training program and the standard of the HIC&N graduates. Finally, the research will argue that unless the HIC&N recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 227-248
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

Imparting knowledge, skills and positive attitude is the core component of technical and vocational education. It is a dual system that permit students, if well organized and monitored, to transfer what they have learned in classroom, laboratories, and workshops into real work environment.  It is an opportunity to overcome the shortage of skills in labour market and reduce the rate of unemployment, particularly between youth graduates. Technical and vocational education would not only contribute in reducing the level of unemployment, especially in developing countries, but also in increasing and diversifying productivity, reducing poverty level, maintaining social security and prosperity, decreasing crime rate, and maintaining a stable economic and political status. In the gulf states (e.g., Kuwait, Qatar, Oman), the shortage of indigenous skilled and semi-skilled manpower is highly marked in essential sectors of the economy (oil, electricity and water, infrastructure, health care). As a result, key figures have thoroughly realized the importance of forging technical and vocational institutions to respond to the needs of local industries and business. Kuwait, has realized and appreciate the urgent need of the health sector of highly qualified indigenous specialist and thus established the Institute of Nursing, IN, with the aim to overcome or reduce the level of dependence on expatriates in major hospitals and clinics. The research focuses on identifying and examining the perception of the head of nurses at the health sector towards the standard of the filed training program, and the quality of the Institute of Nursing, IN, graduates.  The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with a sample of heads of nurses at the health sector.  Finally, the research will argue that unless the IN recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with the health sector, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous health care specialist will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 332-344
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

No one can deny the role of technical and vocational education in the world of work. Technical and vocational education would improve productivity, increase in wages, promote self-employment, and provide an opportunity for practicing talent and creativity in work place. It is an ultimate venue for youth to gain the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes that are mostly needed by industries and business. Indeed, it is different from a formal education where students spend a certain time in real work environment to interact with machines and tools. Technical and vocational education would allow students to work in workshops and laboratories and provide them with the ability to transfer with they learn in classrooms, workshops, and laboratories into real work place. Developing countries (e.g., Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Qatar), has thoroughly realized and appreciate the role of technical and vocational education in reducing the dependence on expatriates, particularly in essential sectors of the economy (e.g., oil, electricity and water, constructions). Kuwait, as a developing country has recognized and appreciate the need to reduce dependence on expatriates by forging the College of Technological Studies, CTS.  The main objective of the College of Technological Studies, Kuwait, is preparing students for the world of work by enhancing the level of student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes that are mostly needed by local industries and business. The research paper focuses on identifying and examining the CTS student’s perception towards the quality of teaching and learning. In addition to, examining industrial perception towards the standard of the CTS graduates. The oil sector and the Ministry of Electricity and Water will be selected to represent the recipients of CTS graduates. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, questionnaires, and an interview with a sample of heads of departments at the CTS.  Interviews will be also conducted with the CTS graduates’ supervisor in selected industries. Finally, the research will argue that unless the CTS recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with industry, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous manpower will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.    


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 101-111
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

Technology transfer is the main ingredient of technical and vocational education.  The transfer of know-how and know-why can take several forms either within technical and vocational institutions boundaries such as: transfer of technology from research and development department to other academic departments or interactions and exchange of technology between academic departments. The transfer of technology can transcend technical and vocational institutions boundaries to allow a free transformation and exchange of technology with local and international industries and business. The main objective is to enhance the quality of technical and vocational graduates as well as to provide industries and business with the require skilled and semi-skilled manpower able to managing, maintain, adapt, and monitor the technology applied in various production processes. Therefore, for a successful transfer of technology, a mutual interest has to be achieved for both parties (the provider of technology and the recipient of technology). The management of technical and vocational education must exert their time and efforts to gain the best fruitful results from the transfer of technology in enhancing their academic capabilities (e.g., upgrading the standard of workshops and laboratories, applying and effective scheme for reviewing and assessing curriculum development, enhancing staff competencies) in order to meet the quality assurance standard in producing a high quality of graduates. In this paper, I present some of the empirical results and observations which describe the interactions between the supplier of technology (Civil Engineering Technology) and the recipient of the technology (PAAE&T) in the field of technology transfer. In other word, whether the PAAE&T have taken the opportunity, while building its new headquarter, in the transfer of technology from the supplier Civil Engineering Technology to its academic staff in its various Civil Engineering Academic Departments in its various colleges and institutions. The paper argues that, for effective and efficient transfer of technology, the recipient (PAAE&T) must ensure that the agreement with the supplier of Civil Engineering Technology include calluses that would allow the PAAE&T academic staff in the Civil Engineering Academic Departments in its various colleges and institutions to acquire the technology embedded in the agreement. The paper concludes that the transfer of technology and the building of a local scientific and technical infrastructure must be viewed by Kuwaiti decision-makers as a complementary to one another. Thus, reducing, to great extent, the level of dependence on expatriate, particularly in essential sector of the economy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 54-66
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

Technical and vocational education would significantly serve the need of developing countries in terms of lower the rate of poverty, reducing the number of people/youth unemployment, ensuring a stable economy, reducing rate of crimes, higher earning, and increasing self-development. It is also essential for the gulf states such as: Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, where the lack of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous manpower is notable in essential sectors of their economy (e.g., electricity and water, health care, oil sector, infrastructure). Technical and vocational education is a dual type of educational system that would facilitate the transmission of students into work place. It is considered as a ‘golden” opportunity particularly for youth to be easily employed by industries and business. The success of technical and vocational education would depend, to great extent, on the efficiency of apprenticeship where students spend certain time at industrial premises to gain the required skills. It allows students to experience the real work environment and to interact with machine, devices, and tools applied in industrial production site. This paper examines how successful is the field training program offered by the selected colleges and institutions at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, PAAE&T, in providing local industries with indigenous skilled and semi-skilled qualified manpower. The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, interviews with sample of heads of supervisors/heads of departments at the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Electricity and Water, and the oil sector in order to assess the quality of field training program. Finally, the research will argue that unless the management of technical and vocational colleges and institutions recognize and appreciate the value of enhancing the quality of field training program with local industries, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous in essential sectors on the economy will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 393-413
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali

The importance of technical and vocational education in enhancing student’s capabilities, reducing unemployment level among youth, increase work wages, reduce poverty, and create an aspiration and hope among youth is highly noted in related literature. The image that technical and vocational education is considered as low-quality education for those who fail to be accepted in higher education is start to vanish. It is a creditable and certified type of education and cost less comparing to enrolling in a higher education institution. In fact, the ability to be employed in higher now comparing to a university degree holder.  Industries and business require urgent semi and skilled manpower able to deal with the rapid change in technological changes, particularly those dealing with diversity production techniques. Kuwait as one of the gulf states, lack the availability of semi and skilled manpower in most of the countries sector. In governmental hospitals, the lack of national specialist in medical laboratory, dental care, and natural sciences is pharmaceutical is highly noted. As a result, the government has realized the importance of encouraging Kuwaiti to enroll in the College of Health Sciences with the hope to reduce dependence on expatriates. The research paper focuses on identifying and examining the perception of students at the College of Health Sciences, CHS, towards the quality of teaching and learning. In addition to, examining the perception of the CHS graduates direct supervisor in the health sector towards the standard of the filed training program, and the quality CHS graduates.  The research is based on extensive field work that encompasses a review of the related literature, questionnaires, and an interview with a sample of heads of departments at the CHS.  Interviews were also conducted with the CHS graduates’ direct supervisor in the health sector. Finally, the research will argue that unless the CHS recognize and appreciate the value of building a strong linkage with the health sector, its contribution in tackling the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled indigenous health care specialist will be below the government expectations, thus continuing relaying on expatriates for years ahead.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhamad Hafidz Mohd Yusof ◽  
Mahyuddin Arsat ◽  
Nor Fadila Amin ◽  
Adibah Abdul Latif

Based on demand for professional labor and the growing economy, the Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) system has been transformed into a system that works to develop and equip individuals with current technical skills based on industry demand. The government has undertaken various efforts to strengthen the field of Technical and Vocational Education. Among the efforts undertaken was the transformation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. Kurikulum Standard Kolej Vokasional (KSKV) syllabus has been introduced to guide the teaching process at Vocational College. The KSKV was developed based on the latest industry requirements under the National Occupational Skill Standard (NOSS). Jabatan Pembangunan Kemahiran (JPK) is responsible for ensuring that the skills provided to students meet NOSS standards. However, there are issues and challenges faced in implementing the transformation, which is the level of knowledge and technical skills proficiency that lecturers have that is an important aspect of enabling educators to cope with growing technology. In line with the latest technological advances and industry demands, the issue that has begun among lecturers is the preparation of lecturers in terms of knowledge and technical skills related to the latest technologies updated in KSKV. This will further impact the quality of teaching delivery delivered by lecturers at Vocational College. Finally, the latest technical skills are essential to enable the teaching process delivered by the lecturers to be mastered by the students and thus produce qualified Vocational College graduates according to the latest industry employment standards.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Titus A Umoru ◽  
A U Okeke

This article focuses on the challenges of technical and vocational education in mitigating climate change induced catastrophes in Nigeria. The concepts of climate change and related areas were discussed in the paper including the causes and effects of climate, as well as, issues of prevention, preparation and adaptation processes. The roles that technical and vocational education may play in preparing citizens to prevent, adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change are presented. These include technical assistance; conducting research with a view to improve the quality of predictions of future changes to regional and environmental conditions; and changing the attitudes of citizens through education and public enlightenment to achieve a balance between ethics and the management of the environment. In light of these issues, the authors view technical and vocational education as an effective and significant tool in ameliorating the effects of climate change. It is recommended that technical and vocational education practitioners use their understanding of science and technology to deal with challenges posed by climate change in Nigeria.


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