The Centre for Technical Vocational Education, Training & Research (CETVETAR) is based in two Departments of University of Nigeria, Nsukka namely Departments of Vocational Teacher Education and Fine and Applied Arts. Fine and Applied Arts Department was established in 1961 while Department of Vocational Teacher Education was established by a special grant of Ford Foundation in 1963 for instituting leadership in Vocational Education in Nigeria. Both Departments were the first of their types to be established in the Nigerian University system. These Departments have been instrumental to the establishment of vocational education and fine/applied arts programmes in Universities all over the country and south east geo-political zone respectively.

The Centre runs training and retraining programmes for youths, TVET teachers women, pre-retiring staff and adults in different areas of skills’ need. These programmes are either for certificate and diploma level skills. At the instance of private establishments the Centre also conducts in-plant training programmes. At regular intervals, CETVETAR organises peer review and tutoring programmes meant to build the capacity of research fellows (Core staff of the Centre) and the University community. These programmes are also availed to small scale industrialists and entrepreneurs for updating their skills in managing their businesses. University undergraduates are equally afforded the opportunity of these programmes to upgrade their skills for self help such as, computer utilization, maintenance of domestic appliances among others.