National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Jain (Deemed-to-be) University along with their training facilitators – Yuvashakti Skill India Pvt Ltd (YSI) and Deccan Management Consultants Finishing School (DMCFS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to impart Work-Integrated Learning Skill Programme (WILSP), to enhance the employability of the youth primarily from rural and tribal parts of India. The employability enhancement would be done by enrolling them in the skill-based certificate and diploma program and providing on-the-job practical training, to make the youth self-reliant to earn a livelihood.
The program aims to boost employment prospects for school and dropout students, helping them apply their academic knowledge in real-life scenarios. It also provides an opportunity to network with peers and the industry. The program has been designed under the guidelines of UGC (earn and learn model) for multiple sectors, bridging the gap between academia and the world of work, as per an official statement.
Under WILSP, the student-trainees would get sponsorships from Industrial and Commercial organisations. As per the curriculum, the duration of the programme shall be a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 24 months. Student trainees shall go through job training and simultaneously receive theoretical instructions online through live classes or a Learning Management System. The student trainees will further get a stipend from the training facilitator during the period of on-the-job training and will receive a certificate from NSDC and University on completion of the programme.
Commenting on the strategic partnership, Chief Executive Officer of NSDC and Managing Director of NSDC International, Ved Mani Tewari:
NSDC under its core purpose of providing #OpportunitiesForAll through #SkillsForAll mission is not only aiming to fill the growing need for skilled human resources in India across sectors but also narrow the existing gap between demand and supply of skills. The move aims to enhance the vocational education and certification opportunities for the Indian youth and evolve their skill sets in ‘Earn as you Learn’ mode to make them future ready.
Tewari further added:
The collaboration is a remarkable step in building knowledge, capacities, and entrepreneurial skills, unlocking placement opportunities with other industries for students, and creating a ready pool of skilled talent within the ecosystem to strengthen the vision of the Skill India Mission. These efforts altogether equip youth with skills critical to the organizations, and these courses are paving the way for a more supportive and holistic ecosystem. The signing of the MoU seeks to increase job opportunities for India’s youth in line with the National Education Policy 2020.
Based in Bangalore, Jain University offers a conducive environment for learning, be it academically or extracurricular activities. The university is known for its emphasis on education, entrepreneurship, research and sports. It has some of the best minds in the educational and research fields, and centers that inspire entrepreneurship and groundbreaking work to simplify and manage life better. The platform’s vision is to foster human development through excellence in Quality Education, Research, and Entrepreneurial Development.
The training facilitators, Yuvashakti Skill India Pvt. Ltd. and Deccan management Consultants Finishing School shall arrange on-the-job training (OJT) for the student trainees enrolled under WILSP across India, the release said.
NSDC was set up as part of a national skill development mission to fulfil the growing need in India for skilled manpower across sectors and narrow the existing gap between the demand and supply of skills. The organization aims to promote skill development by catalyzing the creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. It provides funding to build scalable and profitable vocational training initiatives. Its mandate is also to enable a support system that focuses on quality assurance, information systems and training the trainer academies directly or through partnerships.
Earlier this week, NSDC announced its partnership with Certif-ID International GmbH (Certif-ID), a Germany-based HRTech provider to support Indian talents to gain employment opportunities across the world.