Introduction
The National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority, (NAITA) in its efforts to enhance the National Economy through a wide range of activities aimed in particular at youth skill development, takes on the challenge of human resource development in the country. NAITA recognizes the possible avenues of skill development, and the occupations so identified for skill development are grouped, or in it’s terminology, “categorized” based on the educational achievements required. Thus, Industrial Training provided to Universities and Training Institutions by placing the students in the Industrial environment enable them to apply disciplines learned to gain practical experience, sound appreciation and understanding of the theoretical principles in work stations/ sites. This function is carried out by the Special Industrial Training Section (SIT).
Role of the Industry
The industries make provision for these trainees to receive training as far as possible in keeping with the relevant Training Standard/Training Schedule The training would be supervised by a senior officer or a qualified Engineer, who may have been assigned for this purpose. These officers guide the trainees in maintaining their log books(Daily Diaries}, writing intermittent reports and assisting in making up a considerable coverage of their training.
In – Plant Training of Undergraduate and Diploma Students of Universities
The In-Plant training is a supplementary component to the courses conducted by the Universities of Moratuwa and Peradeniya for the Engineering Degree and Information Technology students, National Diploma In Technology(NDT) students of Institute of Technologies, University of Moratuwa. and also to the NDT Agriculture students of Hardy Advanced Technological Institute, Ampari.
The Authority is also providing internship for the first time to the Micro Biology, Biological Science and Zoological Science students of Kelaniya University and the Applied Science students of the Wayamba University. . Refer the table given below for more details.
All trainees of the above institutions are placed in the industry relevant to their disciplines of study and subjected to interim and final assessments. The results of the successful trainees are forwarded to the Institutions for them to become qualified for the award of the Degree or Diploma Certificates.
Industrial Training of Higher National Diploma (HND) students of Advanced Technical Institutes.
The industrial training part of HND students is provided by our authority and there results are notified to the respective Institutions as in the above case for them to become eligible for their certificates. Refer the table given below for more details.
National Certificate for Industrial Technician(NCIT) students of the Technical Colleges, Maradana and Ratmalana
NCIT students of the above institutions too are provided industrial Training and their results are notified for them to be eligible for their Certificate . Refer the table given below for more details.
Monitoring of Training
All trainees are expected to sign the contract of apprenticeship, and will be called an “Apprentice” in general irrespective of the academic background Monitoring is carried out for the purpose of eliminating possible shortcomings and thus backing up the trainees to get a successful industrial experience.
Apart from the industry personnel and NAITA staff, Training engineers of the respective universities/institutions along with the academic staff of the respective departments are expected to attend to this activity.
Final/ Interim Assessment of Apprentices
The assessments to evaluate their training performance are to be carried out during two stages. That is, at the end of each 12 weeks (or 3 months) period of training.
Each panel comprises,
- Training Engineer of the University
- NAITA representatives
- Industry representative
All members of the panel must be suitably qualified engineers.
The assessments evaluate their performance mainly in 4 aspects.
- Report on In-plant Training
- Daily Dairy records
- Attendance and conduct during their training.
- Viva
Marks are allocated on a percentage basis and a pass is awarded on a grading system. A minimum of 50 marks should be obtained subject to not below 25 marks being scored for the viva, for a pass. The result of the successful apprentice are submitted to the relevant institution for prepare for certification.
Table gives the details of the various categories of trainees and the duration of training
| Training Scheme | Duration | Institution |
| Engineering Undergraduate | 06 months | University of Peradeniya |
| Engineering Undergraduate | 06 months | University of Moratuwa |
| Information Technology | 06 months | University of Moratuwa |
| Quantity Surveying | 08 (04 months two phases) | University of Moratuwa |
| Facilities Management | 08 (04 months two phases) | University of Moratuwa |
| NDT (Engineering) | 12 (06 months two phases) | University of Moratuwa |
| NDT (Agriculture) | 12 (04 months three phases) | Advance Technical Institute Hardy & Naiwala |
| Micro Biology | 03 months | University of Kelaniya |
| Biological Science | 03 months | University of Kelaniya |
| Zoological Science | 03 months | University of Kelaniya |
| Applied Science | 06 months | University of Wayamba |
| Higher National Diploma in Information Technology | 06 months | Advanced TechnologicalInstitute, Labuduwa |
| Higher National Diploma in Management | 06 months | Advanced Technological Institute Dehiwala, Kandy, Galle, Badulla, Jaffna |
| National Certificate for Industrial Technician | 06 months | Technical College-Kandy and Ratmalana. |
| National Diploma in Agriculture | 06 (03 months two phases) | Technical College-Kuliyapitiya/ Dambulla |
| Higher National Diploma in Technology | 06 (03 months two phases) | Advance Technological Institute Mattakkuliya |
06 months training for Higher National Diploma in Information Technology students of National Institute of Business Management is also commenced in March 2008.