“Sri Lanka, for sure, is brimming with talent in the fields of hair technicians and stylists,”according to Ranjeewa Perera, Managing Director of Train Edge Institute Education. This inevitably creates an opportunity for Sri Lankans to expand their horizons overseas. The only hitch is acquiring an internationally accepted qualification.
While there are several reputable training institutes in the country, none provide a qualification that is recognized outside of the island. But that was up until Train Edge came to Sri Lanka. Fairly new to the country, Train Edge Institute of Education is an Australian institute that is committed to delivering a high level Australian hairdressing qualification.
Aware of the talent in Sri Lanka Train Edge set up an institute here to train students to Australian standards. “When we say Australian we mean it. Too many people are using the word Australian in Sri Lanka but are they really Australian? If a course is to be classified as Australian it must have Australian or Australian qualified staff doing the training,” assured Mr. Perera.
Sullen Conway is the head trainer in Australia, and visits Sri Lanka frequently to check on the curriculum and ensure that the institute is up to the standard of Australian qualifications. She will instruct the students and keep them updated on the latest hair dressing and fashion trends in Australia.
The institute was established in Sri Lanka in August of 2008. Though the institute is rather new to Sri Lanka, Train Edge plans to be recognized as a leading hairdressing institute in the country in a short time. “We have 140 students in Melbourne, while today we are still setting up here. We have about 40 students as it is and we have got a new intake coming in soon,” explained Suellen. Managing Director of Train Edge, Mr. Perera stressed that the Sri Lankan hair dressing industry is of a high standard. What the industry lacks is a recognized qualification that will allow hairstylists and technicians to expand their capabilities by working abroad.
Sri Lanka will be able to benefit from the links between the two countries just as much as Australia. Mr. Perera stated, “We are committed to working with the Sri Lankan Hair dressing industry. Sri Lanka has some world class hair dressers and some great hair dressing salons. We want to invite the salon owners and the hair dressing industry to work with us so that we can make Sri Lanka a leading nation in new hair dressing trends.”
Profile:
Suellen Conway - Head Trainer, Train Edge Institute of Education, Australia.
Having started out when she was just 15-years-old, Sullen Conway is certainly an experienced hair technician. She completed a full time four year apprenticeship and went on to work with Tony and Guy in Melbourne where she worked as a hair technician. While working with them she had the opportunity to travel and work in London, Amsterdam and Scotland Salons.
After which she worked on three different cruise ships on contracts of nine months. When she returned to Australia she decided that working at a Salon day to day was not for her, instead she wanted to train hairdressers. Her mind made up, she followed a course in Hairdressing and went on to work at other colleges in Melbourne till she found Train Edge, where she was given the position of Head Trainer.
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