ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education and Technical Training Muhammad Balighur Rehman said on Monday that collaboration between Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and industry was vital for enhancing productivity accelerating economic growth. The federal minister was addressing as chief guest the inaugural ceremony of a four-day International Conference on Regional Programme on Skills for Youth Employability through Industrial Linkages at Islamabad Hotel on Monday. National Vocational and Technical Training Commission of Pakistan (NAVTTC) and Colombo Staff Plan College (CPSC) are jointly organising the conference. Delegates from 12 countries are participating in the conference. “In this global village and rapidly changing technologies, our youth and workforce should be equipped with excellent skills and they should have expertise to succeed in whatever they do. Youth should be given the right direction in right manner,” he said. He said that the present government had passed the Apprenticeship Act to strengthen the link between the industry and TVET institutions. “The new paradigm of TVET sector in the region needs to be conceived in such a way that training systems can respond to demands of the industry. Industry should also play its due role in skill modernisation, setting skills standards and providing direction to TEVT sector for ensuring maximum employability,” he said. He said that Higher Education Commission (HEC) had started research for employability through industrial linkages. Rehman said that the present government was working for the higher education sector. “The government is moving in the right direction. The economic growth has been good and we expect 6 percent GDP growth this year,” he said. Published in Daily Times, August 29th 2017.