Visakhapatnam: The APAC National Skill Conclave at Andhra Pradesh, hosted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporations (APSSDC) saw several state ministers, IAS and IPS officers, industry leaders, HRs, University VCs come together, aiming to connect the government, industry and academia, to bridge the skill gap. “We are in the process of designing our Skill University,” the event’s chief guest, Buggana Rajendranath, the Minister For Finance, Planning, Commercial Taxes, Skills Development & Training and Legislative Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh, informed.
In his address, Rajendranath said skills have transformed into a focus on enhancing employment productivity, knowledge, and capacity building. As a result, the Andhra Pradesh government is adopting the best practices after observing the gradual progress in countries such as Switzerland and Germany, as well as inputs from Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh. He further said that each unit within the local assembly constituency aims to fulfil half of the local requirements, allowing the remainder to be sourced externally.
IAS S Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary of APSSDC, Government of Andhra Pradesh, highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s distinctive position within the national skilling ecosystem, emphasising its role not only in job creation but in life transformation.
Recognising the importance of leveraging the demographic dividend, he highlighted the necessity of a skilled workforce. Additionally, Kumar emphasised the importance of skilling individuals in the unorganised informal sector and advocated for the provision of both hard and soft skills to youth at the university level. “From Class 6 onwards AP will introduce futuristic skills,” he concluded.
Konduru Ajay Reddy, Chairman of APSSDC in the Government of Andhra Pradesh, recognised the demands of Industry 4.0 and stressed the necessity of nurturing a highly skilled and future-driven workforce. To address this, APSSDC has initiated 175 Skill hubs, 192 skill training centers, and 26 skill colleges, he informed.
IAS officer Dr Vinod Kumar V, the MD & CEO of APSSDC, said, “Average salary in AP is higher than India’s national average but we aspire to do more.” Andhra Pradesh holds the top position in futuristic skills across the country, he informed. The impact of APSSDC’s efforts is evidenced by the number of beneficiaries, totalling 26.6 lakh individuals to date.
IPS officer Dr A. Ravishankar Ayyanar, the Commissioner of Police of Visakhapatnam City Police, proposed a modernised approach to policing, stating that it’s not solely about enforcing the law but also about enhancing skills. He highlighted the importance of accessibility, affordability, accountability, and availability in skill development. Addressing the growing threat of cybercrimes and cyberterrorism, he highlighted a critical gap in police training. Ayyanar advocated for amendments to recruitment rules to better equip the workforce, particularly in communication skills, where skilled personnel can provide invaluable support to law enforcement efforts.
Apoorva Palkar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra State Skills University, outlined Maharashtra’s vision to establish a robust skill ecosystem. Maharashtra boasts a formal skill workforce comprising 10-15%, exceeding the national average of 5%. With 21 incubators, including 12 within public universities, the state fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, she informed. Furthermore, Maharashtra demonstrates a strong commitment to rural skill development, having established 511 skill centres and facilitating placements for 2.7 lakh rural individuals. It leads the nation with the largest number of Government ITIs, Palkar added.
“AP wants every student to have a degree in one hand and a job offer in another hand,” Pola Bhaskar, the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, Government of AP, said. He informed that the curriculum has been redesigned, keeping in mind industry relevance and soft skills enhancement. He further told the audience about the exclusive college portal that has been created, along with the division of colleges into clusters.
Kab Dong Lee, the Chief Administrative Officer of KIA Motors India, underscored the significant role of technology in modern manufacturing processes, even within small-scale industries. He anticipates that the advent of Industry 4.0 will lead to the emergence of a highly agile and technology-driven workforce. In line with this vision, he informed that KIA India is actively engaging with all relevant stakeholders within the skilling ecosystem of the state, aiming to shape a skilled workforce capable of thriving in an increasingly technologically advanced industrial landscape.
The event was also attended by Gareth Wynn Owen, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He said, “We are looking forward to collaborating with the Govt of Andhra Pradesh in the area of skill development and vocational training.”
Several panel discussions were held. The first panel discussed the skill development efforts by the governments in collaboration with industry. The second panel discussed the theme “Evolution of Talent Market – Changing Equation of Demand Supply Management in the Digital Age.” The third panel discussed the changing perspective of HRs where the panellists outlined their strategies and initiatives undertaken to change the scenario and foster a more productive collaboration between the industry and academic institutions.
The fourth panel discussed the theme ‘New Age Skilling – Fostering Academia-Industry-Government Collaboration to ensure Skilled, Employable Workforce.’ The concluding panel discussed the role of skill universities in transforming the education ecosystem to address the challenges of industry-ready students.
The event saw the presence of 200 delegates across the country which included 50+ HRs, industry leaders, university leaders, and experts as speakers. HR leaders from various companies such as Ashok Leyland, Wipro, Biocon, L&T Tech, Adani Energy, attended the event along with various Sector Skill Council officials.
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