Ahmedabad: During the APAC National Skill Conclave held in Gujarat, IAS Dr Anju Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary in the Labour, Skill & Employment Department, Government of Gujarat, spoke on the topic “Fostering Government-Industry-Academia Collaboration to ensure Skilled, Employable Workforce in the era of Industry 4.0.”
Elaborating on Gujarat’s vision for a skilled and innovative workforce, Dr Sharma emphasised greatly on the importance of aligning education with industry needs.
Gujarat’s initiative to enable startups and innovation: SSIP 2.0
The Gujarat government’s Education Department launched the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP) to support startups and innovation. It enabled individuals or groups with innovative ideas/concepts qualify, and institutions such as universities, educational establishments, incubation centres, public sector undertakings (PSUs), research and development institutions, private entities, and other approved establishments are eligible to provide support and mentorship to innovators, as sanctioned by the Committee.
SSIP 2.0, an upgraded version of the SSIP 1.0 policy, was launched in January 2022 and extends over 5 years, from January 2022 to March 2027. Its primary goal is to enhance support for startups and entrepreneurs within the state by building on the successes of its predecessor.
An innovative element in SSIP 2.0 is the introduction of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (iHub), serving as a comprehensive solution for sector-specific startups. These hubs, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like co-working spaces, laboratories, and incubation centres, cater to diverse startup needs.
Moving from degrees to diplomas
“The need of the industry is given, they can’t modify it because they have certain product line, they have certain assembly line, they have certain services that they have to produce that they have to deliver and for that they require a certain skill set they don’t require education, they require skill set and the problem with them is that they don’t link skill set to degree,” Dr Sharma said.
While a degree typically offers a broader and more in-depth academic experience, a diploma program tends to be more specific and practical, prioritising skill development in a particular field. As a result, Dr Sharma urged a shift from degrees to diplomas to create a better skilled and employable workforce.
Embracing Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 signifies the integration of digital technologies into industrial processes to create “smart factories.” It incorporates the following key components:
- Internet of Things (IoT) to enable the connection and data exchange of physical devices.
- Big Data and Analytics for data-driven decision-making.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for intelligent automation and predictive maintenance.
- Advanced robotics to enhance efficiency in manufacturing.
- Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that integrate computational and physical processes.
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) for immersive experiences and training.
The goal of Industry 4.0 is to optimise the entire value chain, from production to supply chain management, fostering increased efficiency, productivity, and flexibility in industrial processes. Dr Sharma assured, “Nations are adopting it because it gives better productivity, better performance and gives cleaner work places, more precise products and better quality.”
Changing skill requirements with the integration of Industry 4.0
“Industry 4.0 depends very heavily on emerging technology, especially IT and computer science. What would be required will be people sitting in front of control rooms and dashboards managing the entire factory,” Dr Sharma informed, requesting people of the academia to experience what an Industry 4.0 workplace looks like.
This request stemmed from the objective to change the courses provided in today’s academia and making frequent amendments, thereby preparing the oncoming workforce of people with the experience of operating, monitoring and maintaining smart machines.
“Let’s come together and work together in integrating skills and working towards redefining education to ensure an employable and skilled workforce,” IAS Dr Anju Sharma said.
