As part of its ongoing efforts to engage with leading skill development institutions and gain deeper insights into emerging workforce trends, the National Skills Network-NSN has launched a series of visits to prominent training centres, educational institutions and industry-linked skill development hubs.
The objective is to better understand the opportunities, challenges, technologies and career pathways shaping India’s evolving skilling ecosystem, while bringing these insights to students, educators, industry stakeholders and policymakers.
As part of this initiative, we from NSN, recently visited the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET): Centre for Skilling and Technical Support (CSTS), Hyderabad, one of India’s leading institutions supporting plastics technology, manufacturing skills and industry-focused technical education.
During the visit, Dr. Madhuri Dubey, Founder and Director, NSN, and S. Divya Sree, Senior Content Executive, NSN, interacted with Mr. B. Ravi, Principal Director and Head, CIPET: CSTS Hyderabad, Mr. D. Anjaneya Sharma, Manager (Technical), and Mr. B. Srikar, Manager (Technical). The discussions and facility tour provided valuable insights into plastics technology, workforce development, manufacturing careers, entrepreneurship opportunities and the growing demand for skilled talent across the sector.
CIPET: CSTS Hyderabad: Supporting skills, industry and innovation
Established in 1987, CIPET: CSTS Hyderabad has been providing training and technical services to the plastics and allied industries for nearly four decades. The institute is equipped with advanced facilities in plastics processing, mould design, CAD/CAM/CAE, tooling and testing, enabling it to support both industry requirements and workforce development.
The visit offered an opportunity to explore:
- Industry-grade training facilities
- Plastics processing and manufacturing laboratories
- Tool room and testing facilities
- Industry-focused skill development programs
- Technical services and industry support infrastructure
CIPET Hyderabad offers a range of academic programs that prepare students for careers in plastics technology and manufacturing, including:
- Post Graduate Diploma in Plastics Processing & Testing (PGD-PPT)
- Post Diploma in Plastics Mould Design with CAD/CAM (PD-PMD)
- Diploma in Plastics Technology (DPT)
- Diploma in Plastics Mould Technology (DPMT)
The interactions highlighted CIPET’s contribution to developing skilled manpower while supporting industries through consultancy, testing, research and technical services.
Careers in plastics manufacturing and technical education
One of the key takeaways from the discussions was the strong demand for skilled technicians, operators and diploma holders in manufacturing industries.
According to the CIPET team, industries continue to seek trained manpower for a wide range of technical roles. However, attracting students to specialized manufacturing careers remains a challenge despite growing employment opportunities.
The conversations highlighted the need for greater awareness about career pathways in:
- Plastics processing
- Tool and mould making
- Manufacturing operations
- Quality testing
- Production engineering
Beyond employment opportunities, the discussions also highlighted the growing scope for entrepreneurship within the plastics and polymers sector. From packaging solutions and consumer products to specialised industrial components, the industry offers multiple pathways for individuals interested in building their own enterprises.
Hands-on learning and industry exposure
During the facility tour, the NSN team observed advanced manufacturing and training facilities, including plastics processing units, CNC machining centres, mould manufacturing labs and workshops where students gain hands-on experience with industry-relevant technologies.
The visit also highlighted the close relationship between plastics, tooling and metalworking technologies, demonstrating how multiple disciplines come together in modern manufacturing environments.
Also read: How to build a career in Tool Engineering and Digital Manufacturing with the right skills
Building awareness for future workforce needs
Beyond infrastructure and technology, the discussions highlighted a challenge that extends beyond the plastics industry—the need to create greater awareness about technical and manufacturing careers among students.
While industries continue to seek skilled talent, many young people remain unaware of the diverse opportunities available in areas such as plastics processing, tool and mould making, manufacturing operations, testing, automation and entrepreneurship. As a result, specialized sectors often struggle to attract students despite offering strong career prospects.
The discussions also explored the importance of creating awareness about manufacturing careers from an early stage. Encouraging students to understand how products are designed, developed and manufactured can help build aspirations around technical careers and expose them to opportunities that often remain outside mainstream career conversations.
Visits such as these form an important part of NSN’s efforts to understand the changing landscape of skill development and showcase institutions that are creating meaningful pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and industry engagement.
Institutions such as CIPET play an important role in building the skilled workforce required for India’s growing manufacturing ecosystem. Through technical education, industry engagement and hands-on training, they help create pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning.
One of the most memorable takeaways from the visit was a simple yet powerful idea: while institutions like CIPET are helping industry mould products and develop skilled talent, the larger challenge for the ecosystem is moulding aspirations and helping young people discover the opportunities that exist within India’s manufacturing future.
