Enthusiastic response to HPKVN’s B.Voc Orientation workshops in Himachal Pradesh

The need to integrate academic learning with vocational training at the level of higher education has been long overdue.Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam (HPKVN) has taken a lead in the state to sensitise students at college and school level about the options for enhanced employability through skill-based course. In the rapidly changing job market, skilling is gradually becoming a key distinguisher to enhance employability and boost career growth. While training is a crucial part of the skilling process, it is also important to create awareness of the skilling ecosystem among the stakeholders.

As an important step towards this aim, Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam (HPKVN) along with Directorate of Higher Education (DOHE) recently conducted four workshops across the state to provide a better perspective of vocational education and its prospects to students, teachers, trainers and other key stakeholders.

The B.Voc. Awareness Workshops were organized in the first fortnight of October at Government Degree College Sanjoli (participating colleges: Sanjoli and Rampur), Solan (participating colleges: Solan and Nahan , Hamirpur (participating colleges: Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Una) and Mandi (participating colleges – Mandi and Kullu).

B.Voc Orientation Workshops in Himachal Pradesh

HPKVN General Manager Dr. Anurita Saxena, Skill Development, Experts Basab Banerjee and Ashish Tyagi, and HPKVN’s B.Voc. Coordinator Ajay Sharma were the keynote speakers.

Recounting the journey of B.Voc. degree programme in Himachal, Dr. Saxena said the biggest challenge in introducing a vocational course in colleges was “to bring all the stakeholders on the same platform.” The on-the-job training (OJT) component in the programme provided students a distinct edge at the workplace, she added. Dr. Saxena said 800 Students had completed successfully their OJT in 2017-18, and complimented the HPKVN team, DOHE officials, college faculty, trainers, nodal officers, students and parents for the achievement.

Speaking on the framework of skilling ecosystem and vocationalization of education, Mr. Basab Banerjee outlined the job opportunities scenario in the global employment market and emphasized the importance of Skill India Mission in promoting skilling. He also spoke at length on how the Government of India and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) were exploring the possibility of matching Indian skill qualifications to international labour markets, and sending Indian youth to foreign countries after appropriate skill training.

The workshops were attended by principals of GDCs, college faculty, nodal officers, district coordinators, B.Voc. students, vocational trainers, higher secondary school children and teachers, DOHE officials of B.Voc. cell, Dr. Anju Sharma (OSD), and the HPKVN team. School students and their parents, in particular, participated in B.Voc. orientation programmes.

The B.Voc. course is offered in 12 Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) across 10 Districts in Himachal, making it the first state in India to launch the programme on such a large scale. To provide more specialized training, HPKVN has tied up with Training Partners to impart the skill component. B.Voc. is the only UGC recognised programme with multiple entry and exit options.

HPKVN is the Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam (HPKVN) is a nodal agency for skill development in the state. Its training programs are aligned to NSQF.