Senior education officials and industry leaders from New Zealand and Sri Lanka gathered in Colombo to explore collaborative opportunities in skills development and vocational training, marking the first phase of a broader bilateral education partnership.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have initiated discussions on strengthening education ties through a collaborative framework focused on workforce development and skills training. The Applied Learning and Industry Connect event, hosted by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo on 24 August, brought together government representatives, educational institutions and industry stakeholders from both nations to identify practical partnership models.
New Zealand High Commissioner David Pine highlighted his country's commitment to supporting Sri Lanka's education reforms during the inaugural address. The initiative comes as Sri Lanka undertakes reforms in its higher education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sectors to better align skills development with economic priorities. Participants examined vocational education systems, reviewed best practices in applied learning, and explored collaboration opportunities in programme delivery and trainer development. The Asian Development Bank contributed perspectives on Sri Lanka's skills ecosystem during facilitated discussions.
According to Adrian Hirst, ENZ's Regional Director for India and South Asia, the partnership aims to bridge classroom learning with workplace requirements. "Applied learning ensures students graduate with practical skills and adaptability that employers value," Hirst stated, emphasizing industry's role in shaping workforce development. The event discussions identified opportunities for institutional collaboration, knowledge exchange and co-designed partnership models intended to create scalable outcomes for education providers, employers and students.
The initiative follows ENZ's Study with New Zealand Roadshow conducted in Sri Lanka earlier this year. Officials indicated that combining New Zealand's expertise in applied learning with Sri Lanka's education reform agenda could generate innovative partnerships benefiting learners, institutions and industry across both countries.
