IIS Kanpur signs three MOUs for shaping the future of skill development and empowering India’s youth

The Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Kanpur announced three key partnerships with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Dassault Aircraft Services India (DASI) on November 9, 2023.

These partnerships, in accordance with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) objectives, aim to empower and equip local youth in the Aerospace and Defence sectors, specifically contributing to the Defence Industrial Corridor in Uttar Pradesh by providing the youth with access to quality modules in new-age courses. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were formally exchanged in New Delhi with the distinguished presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India.

For the first time, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a unique collaboration is taking shape between education, skill development, and prominent industries to enhance the capabilities of IIS Kanpur. The inspiration for these institutes came from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who envisioned them during his visit to Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education. IISs across the country aim to elevate training standards in the existing skill ecosystem.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that the collaboration between IIT Kanpur, the Indian Institute of Skills, Kanpur, HAL, and Dassault Aircraft Services India marks a significant chapter towards shaping the future of skill development and empowering India’s youth.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan stated that, “For the first-ever educational institute, skilling institutions and industry are coming together to synergize efforts to certify and future-proof youth.”

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasized that the futuristic courses resulting from this collaboration are a special gift from the Prime Minister to the youth and workforce of our country. This partnership is poised to harness opportunities arising from UP’s defense corridor, creating avenues for skill development, upskilling, employment, and entrepreneurship in the aerospace, aviation, and defence sectors, he added.

Lauding the partnership, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, said that “It’s an important day for India as we build the capabilities in IISs with the exchange of three MoUs for IIS Kanpur today. With these partnerships, stakeholders envision the setting up of best-in-class infrastructure accompanied by modern training methodology to build a strong foundation for the youth, particularly those in Uttar Pradesh. It is certain that the young cadre associated with IIS will benefit immensely from the commitment showcased by IIT Kanpur, HAL, and DASSAULT in offering high-quality education in new-age courses in the defence and aviation sectors.”

The vision behind setting up IIS is to build world-class skill training centres by learning from and imbibing best practices from internationally renowned existing skill institutions. And the designed courses have been put together in consultation with the subject matter experts from the most respected institution in the country, IIT, Kanpur.

The planned modules will provide knowledge for Industry 4.0 courses such as,

• AI
• Machine Learning
• Cloud Computing
• Data Analytics
• Advance Manufacturing
• Krishi 2.0 Smart Agriculture
• Robotics
• Automation and more

In another strategic collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), HAL will establish a CNC lab at the new IIS Kanpur building as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This initiative aims to provide IIS Kanpur’s faculties and trainees with exposure to advanced CNC machining technology, facilitating training, re-skilling, and up-skilling for the targeted group. The objective is to enhance the preparedness of trainees for industrial roles, thereby contributing to the Skill India initiative. Furthermore, this project intends to strengthen the collaboration between academia and industry by creating a shared engineering environment familiar to both, fostering more effective knowledge exchange.

In terms of infrastructure development, the IIS project encompasses 12 laboratories, 12 classrooms, a multipurpose room, an open theatre, an outdoor training area, conference and discussion rooms, and a cafeteria.

Also read: MSDE organized a one-day workshop on the implementation of skill development under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme

Furthermore, the collaboration with Dassault Aviation aims to launch a course in Aeronautical Structure and Equipment Fitter (AS and EF) at IIS, providing extensive training in the aviation sector in Kanpur. As part of this partnership, a Dassault Aviation Centre of Excellence is being established for Aeronautical Vocational Training within the IIS building on the Kanpur Campus.

These collaborations are designed to establish a robust connection between the industry and employers, ensuring advanced training facilities in IIS and offering on-the-job training opportunities with leading industries. Moreover, these partnerships contribute to societal welfare by facilitating the local ecosystem’s adaptation to state-of-the-art technology. The Government of India has already established IISs in three locations across the country, namely Mumbai, Kanpur, and Ahmedabad.