Life Sciences Skill Development Council (LSSSDC) has, since its inception some six years ago, recognized and ensured inclusion of various segments of Industry in the Life Sciences (LS) sector. Each of the sub sectors—Pharmaceuticals, both APIs and Formulations; Bio Pharma; and Contract or Clinical Research are well represented. In addition, Industry, whether by size or by origin, is well covered.
As many as nine active and major associations are members of LSSSDC governing body (GB). As a consequence, over 98 percent of LS Industry, both by revenue and by employment, is mapped by the Council, making “inclusion”, a key strength of the Council.
LSSSDC has over the course of these six years forged close bonds with the associations and the industry. The deep involvement of industry is seen in every element of the ‘skilling chain’ from development of QP, Curriculum, Content; participation of Master Trainers inducted from key organisations in ‘Train the Trainer’ (TTT) program, validation of Question Bank for assessment, Apprenticeship, Skilling and Placement. Existing workforce too has been covered through their assessment and certification, leveraging the ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL) initiative.
It is the top organisations that in general set the benchmarks of quality, and due to the resources, infrastructure and leading edge technology at their command, have the ability to utilize these in helping develop a reservoir of skilled workforce, which the sector/ country so desperately needs. Recognizing this, LSSSDC ensured that India Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), which today constitutes the top 25 LS companies in India, was a member of its general body from the very outset.
Over time, the Council has developed a special relationship with IPA. In this, the Council has been fortunate to have not just the Secretary General Mr Sudarshan Jain, but its President Mr Satish Reddy, who is concurrently Chairman Dr Reddy’s Lab and LSSSDC on its GB. Today, practically each of the IPA member companies are closely involved in each facet of ‘Skill India’ initiative. In fact top companies, including Zydus Cadila, are involved in the five Centres of Excellence (COEs) of the Council currently established in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
More recently, to supplement the Council’s deep connect with top employers in the sector, HR Presidents of four top companies have joined its Governing Body: Mr Rishikesh Rawal, President Group HR, Zydus Cadila, Dr Sapna Purohit, SVP and Head HR , Sun Pharma, Mr Yashwant Mahadik, President Global HR, Lupin and Dr Raju Mistry, President and Global Chief People Office, Cipla.
With Dr Reddy’s already well represented through Mr Satish Reddy, Chairman, the top five companies in the sector are now part of the GB of the Council. Presence of these HR stalwarts, will undoubtedly give further impetus and strategic direction to the Council’s activities. Their valued presence and participation in Council’s GB is a testament of the value in the human capital space that the Council is creating, certification of the good work being done by Team LSSSDC, and a crucial catalyst for the Council to continue working relentlessly and with resilience in meeting the high expectations of its multifarious stakeholders.
Also read: Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council contributes towards combating COVID-19 https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/life-sciences-sector-skill-development-council-contributes-towards-combating-covid-19/
