Profile: Professor Ved Goel

Professor Ved Goel believes good quality technical and vocational education and training can lead directly to the foundation of new technical and business skills – and from there, to greater prosperity for a country.

“In a small country like Lesotho with limited industrial infrastructure, people are encouraged to set up their own businesses in the hope that some of these enterprises may grow bigger,” notes Professor Goel, a Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) expert from India. “Polytechnic education is one of the ways to achieve that goal.”

Professor Goel was posted by the CFTC to Lesotho in March 2007 for a two-year assignment to serve as an adviser to the rector at Lerotholi Polytechnic, one of the country’s eight further education institutions.

During his assignment, Professor Goel assisted the polytechnic in improving its management and financial structures – specifically, by devising a strategic plan for the institution, which is in line with government policies and plans, and includes a new performance management system for staff.

He works closely with the rector, deputy rectors, bursar and directors of schools at the polytechnic, and says his most challenging task has been “to develop a strategic plan which would not just be acceptable to stakeholders, but which they would get excited about”.

“People would only get excited about the plan if they saw how it would contribute to social and national goals, and this was crucial if the plan was to be implemented,” he explains. “I put in a great deal of work and in the end, the Ministry of Education, Governing Council, staff and Students’ Representative Council all endorsed the plan.”

A key aspect in the performance management system is aimed at helping the polytechnic make the most of available human resources for optimum output. Each year, every staff member will develop a work plan and agree it with their supervisor, following it up with six-monthly reviews, which includes a provision for any training that is needed.

Once a year, the staff member will review their own performance and comment on the support they had received from their supervisor – “introducing a comprehensive performance review,” says Professor Goel. “This has been much appreciated by the staff.” In a similar pattern, students will now be offered the chance to review their teachers.

The system, he emphasises, is based on the premise that “people need to be developed, rather than penalised for their shortcomings”.

As part of his posting, Professor Goel has helped to build capacity by training teachers in teaching methods, classroom management, assessment and distance learning. The School of the Built Environment requested his help in putting together a new course in irrigation for civil engineering students. “Irrigation is a national priority in Lesotho, so this should make a real difference.”

His enduring memory will be of seeing polytechnic students taught useful skills to improve their opportunities in life.

“Technical and vocational education and training is one of the most important empowerment tools you can provide to people to fight poverty through improved wages,” asserts Professor Goel.

“Besides, there is a focus on entrepreneurship and computer literacy in all programmes at the polytechnic, with graduates able to set up their own businesses and to create jobs.”

Key Links:

• Country Profile: Lesotho
• What is CFTC?