14th Global Skills Summit 2023: Building Skills. Empowering Youth. Creating Future.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) hosted the “14th Global Skills Summit (GSS)- Building Skills. Empowering Youth. Creating Future” on September 20th and 21st, 2023.

This summit aligns with India’s vision to become the Skill Capital of the World and address the growing need for a skilled workforce. The theme for GSS 2023 is “Building Skills. Empowering Youth. Creating Future”, underscores the dedication to constructing a robust skill infrastructure that empowers the youth and paves the way for a future filled with opportunities.

The summit was attended by eminent speakers, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India; Mr K Ramakrishnan, Chair – FICCI Skill Development Committee and Chief Executive -Skill Development Mission, Office of the Group Chairman L&T, Larsen & Toubro Limited; Mr Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director, Lenovo India P Ltd and Site Leader Lenovo Group; Dr Basheerhamad Shadrach, Director, Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA); r Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi, IAS (Retd.), Chairperson, National Council for Vocational Education & Training (NCVET), Government of India; Mr Narayanan Swamy, National Leader – Education and Skill Development, KPMG in India; Mr Sanjay Gupta, President & CEO – Electronics & Advanced Technologies, Minda Corporations and Chairman, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association; Mr Manish Kumar Vimal, Director, NITI AAYOG; Mr Rodney Reviere, Cluster Coordinator SPSD cluster – GIZ India; Dr Usha Titus, Executive Director, Chairperson & Managing Director, ASAP Kerala; Dr Jung Hwan (Paul) Lee, Founder & CEO, Mind AI, South Korea©; Mr Manoj Agrawal, Co-Chair – FICCI Skill Development Committee and Executive Advisor, Training Academy, Maruti Suzuki India Limited; Ms Veena Swarup, Former Director- HR–Engineers India Limited and Chair of FICCI’s taskforce on Traditional Cluster Development; Dr Darlie Koshy, Chief Mentor at Central Bharat Sevak Samaj (CBSS).

The commencement of the 14th FICCI GSS 2023 was marked by remarkable enthusiasm. The inaugural session featured a warm welcome address delivered by Mr. Manab Majumdar, Senior Adviser at FICCI, 

One of the key highlights during the inaugural session was the launch of the following Knowledge reports:

•      High-Quality Demand-Driven Skilling with a Focus on Electronics Manufacturing
•      Skill Financing Models in India

Session 1 – Education and Skills: Pillars for making India the Skill Capital of the World

In the first session, titled “Education and Skills: Pillars for making India the Skill Capital of the World,” the discussion emphasized integrating formal education with vocational education. Dr. Basheerhamad Shadrach, Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), provided special remarks to begin the session.

The session focused on:

• Existing efforts are being made to integrate formal education (school and higher) with vocational education.
• Best practices and lessons gained during the three years of NEP 2020 implementation, focusing on models that can be scaled up nationally.
• Identifying impediments, recommendations, and suggestions to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

This discussion highlighted how the educational landscape in India is evolving to meet the changing needs of learners and the workforce.

Session 2: Industry-Driven High-Quality Skilling: Imperative Roadmap

Industry is critical in accelerating education and skilling initiatives in our country. Active industry involvement is vital to create a continuous learning ecosystem that produces future professionals. The synergy between Industry and Academia should be mutually beneficial.

With booming sectors like semiconductors, electric vehicles, biofuels, AI/ML, and significant investments in India, there is a pressing need for a skilled workforce ready for deployment. The second session focused on addressing these key questions:

• How can academia and government create value that appeals to the industry?
• How has the government facilitated the establishment of clusters in emerging sectors nationwide?
• How can we understand industry needs and facilitate meaningful engagement with academic institutions, including schools, higher education, and vocational institutes?

This session provided valuable insights into bridging the gap between academia and industry to meet the demands of evolving sectors.

Session 3: Green Skills and Green Jobs

The shift towards low-carbon economies is a global priority in today’s world. Our education and skill training systems support this transition toward sustainable, green economies through lifelong learning.

According to an ILO 2022 report, the green transition could create an additional 8.4 million jobs for young people aged 15-29 by 2030. As the demand for sustainable solutions rises, TVET systems must efficiently identify new green qualifications and competencies. This involves mapping professions in sectors relevant to the green economy, creating course content for various educational institutions and professionals, and putting these competencies into practice.

This session delved into three key areas:

1. The significance of developing skills for inclusive and sustainable economies and how businesses can ensure these skills are integrated into the workforce while engaging with educational institutions.
2. Identifying the skills required for the transition to digital and green economies.
3. Supporting TVET institutions in cultivating green and future-oriented skills to meet evolving demands.

The session explored strategies for bridging the skills gap and fostering green skills and job opportunities in the changing economic landscape.

Session 4: Empowering TVET Leadership & Practitioners – Empowering TVET Leadership & Practitioners: Without co-operation, there is no development

Expanding access to high-quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is crucial for advancing the skilling landscape in our country. This includes work-based learning, digital education, and promoting green transitions. Empowering TVET leaders and professionals is essential in translating policies into effective practice.

The fourth session focused on,

1. Bridging the knowledge gap empowers TVET professionals to support transitions in green skills, Industry 4.0, and global skill trends.
2. Enhancing collaboration between TVET leaders and practitioners to understand better market demands, business models, and economic structures.
3. Encouraging systemic and social dialogues that foster entrepreneurial capacities and address evolving economic, social, and developmental challenges.

The session highlighted the importance of cooperation and capacity building for TVET leadership and practitioners in driving skill development and economic growth.

On the second day of the 14th FICCI GSS, the summit commenced with Mr. K. Ramakrishnan, Chair of FICCI’s Skill Development Committee and Chief Executive of the Skill Development Mission at the Office of the Group Chairman of Larsen & Toubro Limited. Following, the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Jung Hwan (Paul) Lee, the Founder and CEO of Mind AI, South Korea.

Session 5: Skilling Initiatives in India: Sharing of Best Practices

The Indian TVET ecosystem has been dedicated to narrowing the gap between local, state, and national skill supply and demand. Numerous initiatives, policies, and schemes have been established to encourage young learners to embrace hands-on skills. This includes central government schemes like PMKVY 4.0 (MSDE), DDUGKY (MoRD), NULM (MoHUPA), Samarth Scheme (Ministry of Textile), PM Daksh (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment), Seekho Kamao (MoMA), and state-level initiatives like Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation, Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (KDISC), Madhya Pradesh State Skill Development & Employment Generation Board, and many others.

This session aimed to gather insights from leading initiatives on how they effectively contribute to our country’s skilling ecosystem. 

The discussion focused on the following:

1. Sharing best practices and case studies from the Indian TVET ecosystem.
2. Stakeholders play a role in building a more cohesive and robust skilling ecosystem that aligns with the National Education Policy and the National Credit Framework.
3. Achieving interoperability between various schemes and initiatives, focusing on skill-based training, assessments, and certifications.

Session 06: VIRASAT – The Heritage’ Vocal for Local: Go Global’

In the final session of the 14th FICCI GSS, titled “VIRASAT – The Heritage: Vocal for Local, Going Global,” the discussion revolved around:

• How can we empower Indian craftsmen and artisans to transform this sector into one of the largest non-farm rural sectors?
• How can we strengthen the connections between local entrepreneurs and their forward and backward linkages?
• How can we unite all stakeholders to ensure that the national scheme, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, maximally benefits artisans and craftspeople?

Also read: 13th Global Skills Summit – Education to Employability: Making it happen

The 14th FICCI GSS included a fireside chat with winners of WorldSkills and IndiaSkills, who shared their inspiring journeys. The event concluded with a UNICEF (YuWaah) and Magic Bus Employability Skills Workshop with over 100 students from various ITIs and colleges.