This seems to be the underlying motto of the 4th APAC National Skill Conclave held recently in Pune. Key bureaucrats, policymakers, educators, vice-chancellors, directors, and industry leaders shared their insights and best practices to address the skill gap in the economy and enhance employability. The discussions revolved around collaboration between academia, government, and industry to ensure a holistic approach to skill development. Anannya Saraswat of CXO News and APAC News Network brings into focus the key insights shared by various stakeholders at the Conclave.
India, with its vast and youthful population, has the potential to become a global hub for skilled talent across diverse sectors. More than 65% of the country’s population is under the age of 35 which represents a significant demographic dividend, that if empowered with the right skills, could transform India into the Skill Capital of the World. This includes facilitating opportunities for the youth to provide them with industry-relevant skills, technological expertise, and innovation-driven competencies that cater to the evolving global demands.
The 4th APAC National Skill Conclave held in Pune brought together all the relevant stakeholders to discuss skill-building strategies that must be undertaken to realize the goals stated above. Pune, renowned as Oxford of the East, was a fitting venue for the event as the city as an educational hub symbolizes India’s broader educational aspirations.
Aligning education with future industry needs
As India gears for the next wave of the Industrial Revolution, the role of technical education has never been more crucial. Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice Chancellor of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), shed light on the measures taken by AICTE to support technical education in India and prepare the Indian youth for the future challenges posed by rapid economic transition.
In his keynote address, Dr. Jere provided a national perspective on skill development. He emphasized that for India to transition into an Industry 5.0 economy, there is a need to redefine our policies and transform them into action. He called for a proactive approach to ensure that India’s workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to stay relevant on a global scale.
“Industry 5.0 focuses on human-machine collaboration, sustainability, and personalizing production processes, which requires a new approach to manpower training. We have to think creatively and adopt out-of-the-box solutions to redesign India’s skilling initiatives.”
Highlighting the efforts taken by AICTE in this regard, Dr Jere informed that with 12,000 institutions and over 10 million students under its purview, AICTE is playing a pivotal role in advancing the future of skills and aligning them with industry needs. The organization has posited itself as a facilitator of technical education and skill development.
“AICTE has launched a mission to train 500,000 students in different aspects of AI over the next few years to ensure that the next generation of students is equipped with skills related to machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and Predictive Analysis.”
Adding to this idea, Anil Sonawane, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra State Skill Development Society (MSSDS), cited the mismatch between the skills possessed by individuals and industry requirements as the primary reason for the challenges faced by the youth in the current job market. He further highlighted the Maharashtra government’s initiatives in making the youth employable through its skilling programs, skill development centers, and a strong network of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
“Maharashtra aims to skill 500,000 individuals annually across all districts through various programs. The state has a strong network of over 400 government and private ITIs, training around 125,000 students per year. Skill development centers are being established in 1,000 colleges to integrate vocational training with regular education, with costs reimbursed by state schemes.”
Bringing the international perspective into discussion, Frank Geerkins, Consul General of Belgium, talked about the partnership between India and Belgium in the nursing sector to address the growing shortage of nurses in the latter country. Currently, Belgium is exploring collaboration initiatives with India in other sectors like mechanical and manufacturing jobs.
“There’s a growing interest from Belgium’s business community to explore opportunities in Maharashtra, particularly in manufacturing and education sectors.”
Moreover, Geerkins emphasized the need for public-private partnerships between countries for skill development and highlighted the ongoing joint efforts taken by India and Belgium, particularly in vocational training and business exchange programs. He mentioned successful collaborations such as the ‘NMIMS (Mumbai)-Belgium program’ wherein students are exposed to Belgium’s business environment, including a visit to the port of Antwerp and some major companies.
Anjani Kumar Das, General Manager, SIDBI, stressed the need for reskilling and upskilling the youth for them to meet the current industrial standards. He called for a collaborative approach wherein university curriculums are updated regularly based on the inputs provided by key industry players.
Highlighting SIDBI’s contribution to skill development in India, Das said that the bank has collaborated with 14 universities to create a “Skill to Enterprise” module, helping students transition from skilled workers to entrepreneurs. In addition, SIDBI is also the technology partner for the PM Vishwakarma scheme, which provides basic skills, toolkits, credit access, and market connections to artisans and small business owners (e.g., plumbers, blacksmiths), supporting their sustainable livelihoods.
Industry players transforming India’s skill landscape
Representatives from key industries threw light on their initiatives for bridging the current skill gap in India.
Sheetal Soni, Country Channel Manager for IBM Career Education, shared how the company is playing a crucial role when it comes to skilling students in a wide range of areas. IBM has been collaborating closely with academia to upskill students and faculty across various institutions in diverse fields such as AI, IoT, and Data Science.
It has worked with the Tamil Nadu State Government in training 55,000 students through a three-credit course that includes technical and professional competencies, access to IBM’s platform, project evaluations, and certifications. Going further, the company aims to establish 100 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) to train students in Generative AI across India, thereby preparing them for the current job market.
Rakshit Kejriwal, President of Phillips Education, emphasized the role of advanced manufacturing for India to become a global power like the US, Germany, Japan, and China.
“As India stands at a crucial inflection point with both a large youth population and government initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat aimed at boosting manufacturing, it is critical to train the youth in advanced manufacturing skills.”
In light of this, Phillips Education offers training in advanced manufacturing technologies such as CAD, CAM, 3D printing, and robotics. Through its initiatives in ITI, polytechnic, and engineering training, the organization has been able to achieve 100% placement for its trainees. Students, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds have been able to receive a salary of Rs. 25,000-30,000 per month after getting trained from Phillip’s skilling centers.
Pulakesh Sen, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, UNIKUL Solutions Pvt Ltd, emphasized the need for technology to enhance the scale, speed, and efficiency of skill development in India. He shared UNIKUL’s experience of working with the Odisha Government to digitize and automate the training processes.
This included transitioning from manual to computerized systems, increasing the number of institutions, improving budget forecasting and cash flow management, and simplifying and standardizing processes to reduce costs and improve operations. Moreover, he highlighted the potential for further automation in training and shared services to address challenges in remote areas to improve overall productivity in training programs.
Sunil Dahiya, EVP, Skilling, Wadhwani Foundation, outlined the organization’s mission and activities, focusing on their efforts in skilling, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation across 28 countries globally.
Dahiya emphasized the importance of adapting to rapid technological changes, such as conversational AI and co-pilots, to help individuals meet their career goals. Through their copilot model, the Wadhwani Foundation is transforming the way individuals learn, teach, and prepare for job application processes. The co-pilot, ‘My Career Coach’ and ‘My Interview Coach’ provide support in career decision-making and provide personalized solutions for interview preparation, ‘My Tutor’ aids students through on-demand tutoring in various languages, and ‘Faculty Mentor’ assists teachers in creating educational content and generating assessment questions.
Raj Mishra and Sachin Malbari, Regional Heads at AU Small Finance Bank, shared how the bank is empowering underserved communities by providing access to financial services and supporting entrepreneurship.
They discussed in detail their efforts at educating these communities on financial management, savings and investments, and entrepreneurship, thereby highlighting the importance of financial education for sustainable and inclusive skill development.
The Academia Perspective to the Skill Conundrum
Esteemed stakeholders from academia came together to discuss the current gaps in skilling initiatives and their initiatives to address the issue.
Recognizing the shift towards academia-industry collaboration, Dr. Ravikumar M Chitnis, Vice Chancellor, of MIT World Peace University, underlined how private universities have started focusing on developing their curriculum based on industry-relevant skills.
He remarked that industry engagement, labor market analysis, skill gap identification, and competency-based education are necessary for developing a curriculum aligned with emerging technologies.
Going a step further, Professor Dr. Vivek Saoji, Vice Chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth, highlighted the rapid obsolescence of knowledge in today’s fast-paced technological environment, wherein acquired knowledge becomes outdated in as little as 12-18 months in some fields.
This would mean that by the time students graduate, a significant portion of what they learned may be obsolete, making it essential to bring dynamism into the curriculum. This makes it even more important for academia and industry to come together to ensure dynamism in the university curriculum.
Dr. Sushma Kulkarni, Vice Chancellor, of NICMAR University, described NIKMAR as an example of successful industry-driven curriculum development.
The university has incorporated internships, case-based learning, and project-based learning to give students on-the-job training and practical problem-solving abilities.
Bringing an interesting angle to the discussion, Dr. Prabhat Ranjan, Vice Chancellor, DY Patil International University, argued that the traditional focus on the industry-academia gap is outdated. He called for an approach where rather than training the youth in just the existing technologies, the academia should focus on developing newer technologies, letting the industry follow.
In this regard, he shared the example of his university wherein innovative programs such as digital fabrication technologies using 3D printing have been launched early on. He advised private universities to leverage the freedom they have to create innovative working professionals programs like the one DY Patil University has introduced in collaboration with Tata Motors.
Karan Shah, CEO and Founder, of IIDE- The Digital School, talked about his digital career-focused B-School that specializes in digital marketing and e-commerce course
He highlighted that the school is currently serving 2,000 students across Mumbai and Delhi through training material, interview preparation, and placement resources in collaboration with industry leaders. Through partnerships, IIDE has helped universities launch bachelor’s and master’s programs in digital strategy, improving enrollment as well as placements by connecting students with industry experts.
The State Perspective: Maharashtra, Punjab, Himachal and MP Forward their Cases
Government representatives and an Industry expert shared insights on how a skill ecosystem can be developed in India.
Putting skilling at the core of employability, IAS Amrit Singh, Director, Department of Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training (Punjab Govt.), stressed the need for educational reforms to meet the realities of the modern job market.
She shared how the Punjab government is collaborating with international universities to embed technical skills into higher education.
IAS Harshika Singh, Director, Directorate of Skill Development (MP Govt.), discussed the MP government’s initiatives in providing ‘green skills’ to the youth in the state. For this purpose, the government has partnered with the Department of Science and Technology and industry player Suzlon.
In addition, the Chief Minister’s Seekho Kamao Yojana, the state version of the national apprenticeship scheme, is actively engaging industries in skilling. The state is also developing a Samagra platform to map the skills of every individual and match them with industry needs, helping with job opportunities and self-employment.
The Maharashtra Government representative, IAS Nidhi Choudhari, highlighted the state government’s efforts for rural skill development.
Maharashtra has launched the Rural Skill Development Center initiative, establishing over 500 centers in villages to promote skill development and to implement the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. In addition, the state has set up more than 1,000 skill development centers in polytechnic, engineering, and medical colleges, turning them into hubs for community-based skill training.
While acknowledging the need to incorporate AI and machine learning into skilling, IAS Gandharva Rathore, Managing Director, Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam, emphasized the challenge of understanding how to effectively leverage these technologies.
She urged industries to help define the required skills and develop appropriate training programs for AI and other emerging technologies.
Prashasti Rastogi, Sr. Director, Coursera for Campus, reinforced that education and skill development are intertwined and should not be viewed as separate entities. She expressed that reskilling is crucial, as education alone is not sufficient to meet industry demands. Furthermore, she emphasized the need for lifelong skilling, with reskilling or upskilling every 12-24 months for individuals to stay relevant in the dynamic job market. While highlighting generative AI as a key area for skilling, she encouraged embracing AI as an enabler for education and skill development, suggesting that it will be a critical element of Industry 5.0.
T.V. Vinod, Chief Operating Officer, Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), highlighted two major challenges faced by states, including Kerala, in the realm of skill development. The first challenge outlined was the shortage of qualified professionals in the skill development sector.
“Given the rapid advancements in industries and technologies, skill development requires a technical approach that is responsive to changing industry dynamics. However, many skill development programs and policies struggle due to the lack of experienced professionals who can effectively understand and adapt to these industry shifts.”
The second challenge that he emphasized was the shortage of qualified skilled trainers, especially in states like Kerala.
“Despite the state’s higher education enrollment, there is a shortfall in trainers who can meet the specific requirements of high-demand areas in emerging industries. This gap between available skills and industry needs poses a significant obstacle in creating a skilled workforce aligned with market demands.”
Measuring the impact of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and its current role
Vice Chancellors and Directors from renowned educational institutions deliberated upon the impacts of NEP 2020, how it has been inculcated in their respective university curriculum, and the challenges faced in practical implementation. The speakers agreed on the need to view challenges as opportunities and continue adapting to NEP’s demands. They prioritized continuous improvement and collaboration to achieve the policy’s goals.
Dr. Sayalee. Ganker, Vice Chancellor, DY Patil University, Pune, discussed how NEP in addition to supporting curriculum changes has encouraged interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches, as well as the use of digital certifications and platforms. COVID-19 accelerated digital transformation in education, leading to more rapid adoption of digital tools and platforms, thereby improving personalized education. Before the pandemic, digital tools were limited. The pandemic increased the availability and use of digital platforms and NEP’s flexibility and autonomy made access to these platforms easier. She further emphasized the need for faculty and students to be fully educated about NEP’s provisions and the importance of designing curricula that meet both national and international standards.
Dr. Manimala Puri, Vice Chancellor, Pimpri Chinchwad University, described the use of an ERP system for managing various aspects of university operations, including admissions, exams, grading, and staff management. This system supports strategic planning and aligns with NEP’s focus on evidence-based education. She also mentioned that their university has comprehensive digital systems for data management and is equipped with strong network connectivity.
Dr. Sema Mahajan, Director, PD School of Entrepreneurship and Family Business Management, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, focused on the importance of skills-based learning and its integration into the educational framework. She talked about a growing emphasis on practical skills and competencies in addition to traditional academic knowledge. For inculcating this element in a streamlined manner, NEP 2020 has provided with a progressive approach and holistic view, stressing that education must integrate interdisciplinary learning rather than isolated subjects. Highlighting the practical challenges in implementing NEP, she elaborated on the difficulty faced in establishing effective collaboration between universities. In addition, she pointed out that while NEP suggests interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary approaches, practical issues arise, such as varying student needs and the difficulty of implementing these ideas within existing institutional structures.
Dr. Parimala Veluvali, Director, Symbiosis School for Online and Digital Learning discussed the manner in which digital tools have enhanced online education by replicating the traditional student experience in an online environment. This includes 24/7 access to curated content and dynamic learning management systems. She acknowledged challenges like varying technology quality and socio-economic factors but emphasized efforts to address these through scholarships and innovative solutions in online learning. Furthermore, she deliberated on the gap between NEP’s ideal vision and practical implementation and noted difficulties in offering truly interdisciplinary education due to logistical and structural issues within universities.
Addressing Sector Skill Gap and Action Plan: The Way Forward
Coming together from different industry areas, the speakers discussed strategies to address sector-specific skill gaps. They highlighted the importance of continuous upskilling, reskilling, and skill evaluation to align with rapid technological transformation.
Saleem Ahmed, Sr. Vice President-Strategic Partnerships, Electronic Sector Skills Council of India, stressed the importance of national and global benchmarking standards in electronics to ensure uniformity and quality across the industry.
Girish Kulkarni, Lead-Apprenticeship, RPL & Assessment Design, IT-ITeS, SSC highlighted the need for skill standardization to ensure that technologies like AI and IoT create value across different industries.
Ananda Khade, Regional Head, West and Central Region, Automotive Skills Development Council, focused on the importance of verifying skills through practical application rather than just certification. He suggested providing opportunities for individuals to demonstrate their skills in real-world scenarios.
Vignesh Raja, Regional Head, Southern India, Textile Sector Skill Council added that skill competency should include the ability to perform tasks within a set time frame while maintaining quality and efficiency He emphasized the importance of capturing performance metrics.
Sunil Dahiya, EVP, Skilling, Wadhwani Foundation highlighted the significance of soft skills such as communication, creative thinking, problem-solving, and design thinking across all job roles.
Punit Pandey, Vice President, Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative emphasized the historical importance of learning by doing in India. He advocated for a comprehensive, cross-sector approach to address nutritional and agricultural surplus issues through food processing, integrating skills and education for a broader impact.
India has the potential to become the skill capital of the world as highlighted by all the speakers present at the National Skill Conclave. What the country needs is a collaborative approach to bring forth the perspectives and expertise of all relevant stakeholders involved. Although efforts to ensure this are already in place in a fragmented manner, developing a national-level roadmap for skill development is what would really benefit the Indian youth and transform our nation into a skill ecosystem.
Preparing India’s workforce for Local and Global Challenges
Leaders from the Academia and Industry came forward to discuss challenges and steps in making Indian students Industry-ready. They deliberated upon strategies to ensure that the Indian workforce is skilled for the Global Market.
The panel witnessed contributions coming from distinguished academic leaders and the industry expert. Dr. Sidhharth Jabade, Vice Chancellor, Vishwakarma University (VU), discussed the importance of creating impactful internships that align with industry needs. He mentioned VU’s approach of having an “industry on campus” model, where industries collaborate with the university to address real-world problems through projects that are then converted into internships.
Borrowing from the same idea, Dr. Swapnali, Director, Dr. DY Patil University Centre for Skill Development, stated that in order to provide relevant skills to the students at the university level, there is a need to establish Centres of Excellence. These centres can play a pivotal role in enhancing industry-tie ups and enable students to get real-time insights from experts. She also stressed that along with students, it also equally important to equip the faculty with relevant skills so that they can train students better.
Adding to the idea of skilling the faculty, Dr Poonam Kashyap, Vice Chancellor, Alard University, emphasized the need for international partnerships for faculty and student training as well as for curriculum development. Universities should engage with their international counterparts to understand different teaching methodologies and curriculum design.
In a similar manner, other panelists including Prof. Dr.Keshari Lal Verma, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University; Dr Ganesh Rao, Director, Pune Business School; Dr. Shriram Dawkhar, Director, Sinhgad Business School; Dr. H. T. Jadhav, Ph. D., Dean Faculty of Science and Technology, SNDT Women’s University; Dr. Parag Amin, Registrar, ATLAS SkillTech University University; and Dr. Supriya Patil , Prof and Head of Department, Savitribai Phule Pune University discussed the need for bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application through enhanced collaborations.
The Way Forward
India has the potential to become the skill capital of the world as highlighted by all the speakers present at the National Skill Conclave. What the country needs is a collaborative approach to bring forth the perspectives and expertise of all relevant stakeholders involved. Although efforts to ensure this are already in place in a fragmented manner, developing a national-level roadmap for skill development is what would really benefit the Indian youth and transform our nation into a skill ecosystem.
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