Professionals

SLIOP trains printing industry professionals

by Hiran H. Senewiratne

The Sri Lanka Institute of Printing (SLIOP), is a premier organisation in the country aimed at enhancing the quality of the printing industry by conducting professional courses for prospective students, its Director of Studies Asoka Nanayakkara said.

It is the pioneer professional body in the industry dedicated to advancing knowledge, skills and expertise in the printing industry, which has realised very substantially the major objectives set out at its inception.

"Its main task is to help the industry meet the demand of modernisation in the context of economic expansion," he said.

The SLIOP conducts courses from certificate to diploma level covering 17-course programmes in different areas of the printing industry. For a year, the Institute accommodates more than 1000 students in areas relating to printing and graphics.

It also offers professional memberships for printing in Sri Lanka.It conducts programmes for operator level, supervisor level and management level categories of people. It conducts short duration courses and also two and half year programmes. It has a full time course on machine printing as well, he said.

The SLIOP conducts courses for basic level, certificate and diploma programmes for prospective youth who intend to join the industry.

Most of courses are designed for school leavers and industry personnel as well. It is said there are many overseas employment opportunities for mechanical printing personnel and graphic designers. Offset designers and desktop publishers have a big demand in the printing industry.

The SLIOP is a government body, which is a self-funded organisation. The funds are being generated from students' fees.

The Diploma in Printing Technology and Management awarded by SLIOP is well recognised and is the highest qualification in the Printing industry in Sri Lanka.

The diploma is conducted in collaboration with the University of Colombo. By this university-recognised diploma, printing professionals can pursue higher studies at the University of Colombo.

The Institute has all the facilities including computer labs and other equipment to conduct courses for students. The new diploma course conducted by the Institute on Visual Communications was started recently.

This diploma is designed for those in graphics, multimedia and advertising industry. The Diploma in Printing Technology and Management and the Diploma in Visual Communication and Management are being considered as an entry qualification for the MBA of the University of Colombo.

The SLIOP offers study programmes some of them leading to diploma programmes and career opportunities. It has two branches in Beruwala and Matale to serve the suburban community.

The SLIOP was established in 1984 by an Act of Parliament to serve the printing community in Sri Lanka.