Odisha CM inaugurates India’s first World Skill Centre in Bhubaneswar

India’s first World Skill Centre was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar by the Chief Minister of Odisha, Mr Naveen Patnaik on 5th March 2021. World Skill Center (WSC), a premier advance skill training institute, is being modelled around leading TVET Institute, ITE (Institute of Technical Education) Singapore and seeks inspiration from World Skills, Russia and GIFTS (Global Institute for Transferring Skills), South Korea. 

WSC is being established under the Odisha Skill Development Project assisted by the Asian Development Bank with ITE Education Services (ITEES), Singapore as a knowledge partner. It is being set up at a budget of nearly Rs.1342.2 Crores.  It would run long-term manufacturing and services programmes as a Finishing School for the best among the ITI and Polytechnic students as well as serve as a centre for capacity building for ITI and Polytechnic teachers. 

Mr Premananda Nayak Minister for Skill Development and Technical Education, Mr Subroto Bagchi Chairman, OSDA,  Mr SC Mohapatra, Chief Secretary, Mr Kenichi Yokoyama, DG, Asian Development Bank, Mr Bruce Poh CEO ITEES, Mr Sanjay Kumar Singh, Commissioner cum Secretary, SD and TE and industry leaders were also present during the event.

Mr Sanjay Kumar Singh welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted the role of the WSC in the skill ecosystem of India. He said the World Skill Centre will act as the Centre for Industry Partnership and landing point for industries in Odisha for their employment needs. 

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Odisha said, “ Odisha has made rapid strides in Skill Development in the last five years. We have created new avenues for our youth to compete with their counterparts anywhere. Our aim is to meet their aspirations, to make them globally employable”. He also said that Government is intensely investing in the future of youth by creating infrastructure and mechanism for making them future-ready. World Skill Center will significantly accelerate this endeavour by providing advance skill training to our youth and prepare them for competing at the Global level.”

Mr Subroto Bagchi, Chairman, OSDA highlighted the achievements of “Skilled-in-Odisha” during the last five years and emphasized the need to expand skill development efforts to the next level, reaching every village. He emphasized the need for a holistic approach in providing better opportunities for skill development to make our children aware of career choices and youth globally employable.  He also said that State will create Odisha Skill Vision 2030 and the same will guide future efforts of all implementing departments.

The World Skill Centre is ready to roll out the first set of courses in areas like Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Mechanical and Electrical Services, Vertical Transportation, Precision Engineering, Mechatronics, and Electrical Technology along with a few other courses in the services sectors like Hair Fashion and Design and Beauty and Wellness. 

Also read: NSDC partners HP to support home learning and early childhood skill development https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/oldsite/nsdc-partners-hp-to-support-early-childhood-skill-development/

The World Skill Center is going to be the nodal agency for preparing Odisha’s youth for the World Skills Competition. The other key role for WSC will be to act as Centre for Industry Partnership and landing point for industries in Odisha for their employment needs. Finally, the World Skill Centre will be the Nodal agency of the state for the State Chapter of World Skills and will prepare Odisha’s youth for global glory.