An Investigation into the Role of Engineering and Technical Education in Providing the Skills Needed by Libyan Manufacturing Industry

The Libyan manufacturing industry has traditionally suffered from a shortage of skilled manpower. In 1990s, a network of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions were introduced for the purpose of enhancing the supply of skilled manpower needed for the economic and social transformation plans. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the Libyan TVET system in providing the skills needed by the national manufacturing industry. To achieve this goal a questionnaire has been designed to test the research hypothesis, and distributed to students in institutes of higher education; and engineers and technicians employed in manufacturing industry in Libya to explore their views in this regard. The study indicated a direct relationship between the needs of the industrial sector and technical disciplines. The results of the research indicated that there is a substantial mismatch between the outcome of TVET and the exact requirements of manufacturing industry. The analysis of available statistics, however, suggests the unplanned nature of the link between the TVET and manufacturing industry. The results also indicated how to improve technical programmes which will help serve the community by providing students with adequate technical information.