Technical Education & Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) of Punjab has signed an agreement to introduce Britain's City & Guilds International Vocational Qualifications (IVQs) amongst its constituent polytechnics in the province of Punjab. Tevta accepted the initiative made by City & Guilds to introduce IVQs in addition to the currently offered technician and technology-related national qualifications.
The agreement between the parties was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif at the CM's Secretariat. John Dunken McGee, Head of International Operations, signed on behalf of City & Guilds International. The move is expected to result in adding to the options available to students of polytechnics by giving them the opportunity to sit in international City & Guilds theory examinations, and to be assessed for practical work through their polytechnics.
According to the spokesperson of Tevta, in the initial phase, City & Guilds qualifications introduced will be in the fields of telecommunications, construction, quantity surveying, mechanical, electronics, electrical, automobile, refrigeration/air conditioning, machining, and Computer Aided Design & Drafting. These, he added, will be introduced in 24 polytechnic institutes coming under Punjab Tevta. Through its country representative skills, City & Guilds will also provide 'training of trainer' services to resource persons identified for the delivery of City & Guilds programmes.
Furthermore, the spokesman said, granting of 'City & Guilds Approved Centre' status to the participating polytechnics will earn the institutions an international benchmarking that will be pursued through City & Guilds' quality audits by external verifiers appointed in Pakistan.