The 13th Skill Connect Roadshow on Apprenticeships held in Guwahati

The 13th Skill Connect Roadshow to promote apprenticeships was held in Guwahati on 24th September 2018. The event had impressive participation from all the stakeholders such as the sector skill councils, the training partners and the industry. Jointly hosted by National Skill Development Council (NSDC), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the event focused on discussing man aspects of implementing apprenticeships in India

Mr Vasu Sharma, Analyst, Apprenticeship, NSDC, explained the reforms under the Apprenticeship Act that have incorporated most of the demands of the industry to make the apprenticeship regime industry-friendly and shared the new operational framework for Apprenticeship in India. He emphasised on the need of clarity with respect to the reforms which are now focusing on the service sector. NSDC promised to handhold the industry in designing their own courses and helping them avail the benefits of NAPS. With examples of the success in Apprenticeship witnessed by organisations like Airbus and Lemon Tree (Gurgaon), NSDC appealed the industries to hire Apprentices in their organisations. The reforms have made apprenticeship a self-regulated scheme, enabling scrutiny of the apprentice on the shop floor for training and recruitment purposes. To showcase the user-friendly interface, NSDC conducted a live tour of the Apprenticeship Training Portal.

Ms Anita Sharma, Senior Analyst, Indo-German Vocational Education and Training, GIZ India, explained the replicable elements of the Dual Vocational Education and Training model from Germany by giving examples of clusters in Aurangabad, Bengaluru and Bhiwadi. Stressing the role of private sector in skill development, she urged the participants to take up the opportunity of skilling the youth by hiring apprentices. The importance of creating awareness on skill development and training at school level was also highlighted.

The Indo-German Programme for Vocational Education and Training and the experiences made by the project in creating a systemic change by enabling industry associations to become ‘professional skill development service provider’ were shared in details. Elements of the German models of Dual VET which can be replicated in India, especially the larger focus on in-company training, training of the in-company trainers and the role of the chambers in implementing the vocational training was presented.

CII presented its 360-degree assistance in the Indian industrial ecosystem and offered to support the industries through handholding, providing a help desk and addressing both the demand and the supply side with respect to the Apprentices by systematic identification through Model Career Centre, which have been established to overcome the limitations of the Employment Exchange.

The participants were informed that through the five operating Model Career Centres, close to 60,000 unemployed youth have been provided employment in the last two years. CII also promised to hold webinars at the end of Skill Connect Road Show and organise job fairs and job drives to effect efficient implementation of the Apprenticeship Training.

By means of interactive session, the participants were invited to deliberate on the inputs provided by NSDC, CII and GIZ. The results of the group discussions were shared in plenary, which included the job roles which are required by the companies including the number of apprentices against each of these job roles; the support which is required for enabling the companies for effective participation in apprenticeship programme and the challenges they are currently facing were noted.

The workshop ended on a positive note with expectations of enhanced engagement by all the stakeholders in promoting Apprenticeship Programme. Several companies identified job roles and stepped forward/raised their hands towards engaging apprentices in their organizations.

The next workshop under the Skill Connect Road Show will take place on September 26 in Ahmedabad.