Chevron Bangladesh-funded Uttoron has provided advanced level welding training to workers at Khulna Shipyard (KSY). Recently 24 trainees from the first batch received certificates from the international certification authority Bureau Veritas (BV), said a press release. Out of 24, three trainees received 4G level certifications. Read: Chevron concludes community-based Jibika project Executive Chairman of National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) Dulal Krishna Saha and Director, Corporate Affairs of Chevron Bangladesh Muhammad Imrul Kabir recently visited the country's first internationally standardized advanced welding training implemented by Khulna Shipyard (KSY) and Swisscontact. During the visit, Saha and Chevron officials participated in a welcoming event arranged by KSY. At the event, NSDA executive chairman learned about Uttoron’s internationally standardized advanced welding training. Dulal Krishna Saha said, “Our productivity has increased, but we still struggle to get a skilled labor force. And if we can make the youth skilled, they will contribute to the country’s growth. Read: Chevron’s Uttoron project launches android-based Bangla app to develop soft skills for job market He thanked Chevron, Swisscontact, and Khulna Shipyard for such an initiative. “This training will help the youth be skilled and contribute to the economy,” he said. Muhammad Imrul Kabir said, “Chevron is very proud that Uttoron has started an advanced welding training course with Khulna Shipyard. Hopefully, this partnership will help the youth become more skilled and join the workforce.” Managing director of Khulna Shipyard, Commodore M Shamsul Aziz, NGP, psc, BN, Captain Abul Kalam Azad, psc, BN, gave a tour to the guests of the Khulna Shipyard campus. Dulal Krishna Saha appreciated the training facilities and acknowledged the prospect of the training program. Read Chevron partners with Save the Children to launch integrated support for children with disabilities

Uttoron - Skills for better life is a skill development project, funded by Chevron, implemented by Swisscontact, has launched its first android-based Bangla app to develop soft skills of unskilled and semi-skilled youth engaged in formal job market. Soft skill is an essential factor for higher productivity and prosperity in career. From an entry-level worker in a factory to a CEO of a multi-national firm, soft skill is required everywhere. Also read: Chevron concludes community-based Jibika project The Uttoron app covers fundamental factors like communication, teamwork, time management and problem-solving skills, said a Chevron press release. The launching event took place in Dhaka Westin Hotel recently. The app launching ceremony was attended by N M Zeaul Alam, Senior Secretary, ICT Division, Eric M. Walker, President, Chevron Bangladesh, Imrul Kabir, Director, Corporate Affairs, Chevron Bangladesh and Mujibul Hasan, Country Director, Swisscontact. Addressing the function N M Zeaul Alam said the government continues to place great importance on applying Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in all spheres of development. Proper skills will open new doors for our youth in the internal and international jobs market, where we face fierce competition, he added. Eric M. Walker said this app will focus on building soft skills for the graduating trainees to help them cope up in their professional life. Uttoron has taken a holistic approach by infusing digital access to resources along with technical training that will help the trainees to develop themselves entirely as we work towards increasing the human capital through technical and vocational training, he said. Imrul Kabir said the new app is a soft skill development tool which is a new addition under the Uttoron project, indulging digital resource to the trainees which can be downloaded in android-based smartphones. Mujibul Hasan said that Uttoron Soft Skills development app is purely driven by our learning from the field and industry. Also read: Chevron partners with Save the Children to launch integrated support for children with disabilities Uttoron Skills for better life is a three-year project that Swisscontact is currently implementing in Sylhet, Dhaka & Khulna division with funding from Chevron. The other three objectives of the project are to provide vocational training to 2000 youth, establish a permanent training facility in collaboration with Sylhet City Corporation that SCC will operate beyond the project period and to support upgrading a national level training institute to offer training in advanced welding skills. In addition, it has already introduced a new trade Packaging and Finishing Operation to meet the demand of the packaging industry first time in Bangladesh. The trade has already been validated by National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) and is under the process of approval from the PM office.