The National Skills and Career Expo, titled Vara Expo, has been inaugurated by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed.
Organised by the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, the Vara Expo aims to strengthen the Maldivian workforce by increasing local participation in the national labour market, enhancing skills and abilities needed to further develop the workforce, and empowering youth through digital innovations, in line with government policies. The expo is being held from 6 to 8 November at Hulhumale’ Central Park.
During the opening ceremony, First Lady Sajidha launched a special publication highlighting the achievements and milestones of the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development. Following the inauguration, the First Lady toured the exhibition stalls.
The Vara Expo is the first such event to be held in the Maldives, and features three main zones.
The Career Zone includes employer booths and interview spaces, while the Education Provider Zone offers information on academic opportunities available to students, and includes stations where interested students can apply for first-degree programmes offered by the Ministry, and other technical and scientific centres.
Meanwhile, the Skills Experience Zone provides hands-on opportunities to experience practical skills in fields such as carpentry, electrical work and information technology.
According to the Ministry, over 1,000 jobs and more than 500 educational courses will be available for registration during the expo. The newly developed Higher Education Management System portal will allow students to register and apply for courses instantly, while the expo’s digital integration will help identify skills and match them to relevant job opportunities.