TSSC organises Telecom Manthan 2022 – Changing Skill Ecosystem and Role of Key Stakeholders

Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) organised “Telecom Manthan 2022 – Changing Skill Ecosystem and Role of Key Stakeholders” on 17th August 2022, at T-Hub Hyderabad. This year’s Telecom Manthan focussed on discussing offerings of new changes like the NEP 2020, National Credit Framework, PMKVY 4.0, etc., in charting a path for the youth of India in the telecom sector. The event was attended by representatives from the government, industry, academia, training partners, and others. 

The Chief Guest for the Telecom Manthan 2022 was Dr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Secretary of Information Technology (IT), Telangana. The keynote address was presented by Mr. Koduru Ajay Reddy, Chairman, Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC). 

TSSC signs MoU with TASK to skill youth in 5G and emerging technologies

One of the landmark events that took place during Telecom Manthan 2022 was the signing of an MoU between TSSC and TASK (Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge) for executing ESDM scheme 2 for unemployed youth in Telangana. TSSC will be responsible for assessments and certification. TSSC will also be opening a Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad to skill the workforce in 5G and emerging technologies.

The event began with an opening note from Mr. Arvind Bali, CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC), where he noted, “There is a gap between skills that youth possess and what the industry wants. At TSSC, we want to be a bridge and fill this skill gap. Once we identify the skills required by the industry, salary for the job role and the job location, we can show several opportunities to the youth and find the right candidates for the industry.”

While addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Dr. Jayesh Ranjan said, “To unleash the complete potential of digital technologies, digital infrastructure is very important. And the role of telecom sector as the backbone of any kind of digital intervention is undeniable.” Adding to this, he said, “with huge financial transactions taking place through digital technologies, a shift in the way classes are delivered using digital devices and digital interactions, digital health, e-commerce, etc., there are several opportunities not just in the cities but also in the small towns and rural areas. 

Dr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, also mentioned the role of TASK – Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge and initiatives taken by TASK in integrating skills with knowledge and in making skills an integral part of education. 

Sharing the developments and future plans in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Ajay Reddy mentioned, “Andhra Pradesh government through APSSDC have taken several initiatives to make youth job-ready and polish them to be employable in various industries. We are skill training youth right from the school level to the graduation/engineering level and are making them placement-ready. In the coming years, we will also be establishing skill hubs in every assembly constituency, skill colleges and a skill university in the state.”

Telecom Manthan 2022

The first panel discussion at Telecom Manthan 2022 focussed on “Demand-based training in the telecom sector”. The eminent panellists for the session were Mr. Shrikant Sinha, CEO, TASK; Mr. Hari Balachandran, CEO, ICT Academy, TN; Mr. Rudresh, Reg. Cluster Manager, Reliance Industries Limited; and Mr. Praveen Sirohi, Regional Head West, TSSC. The session was moderated by Mr. Arvind Bali, CEO, TSSC.

“There are several demands from the academia, like opportunities for industry visits, apprenticeships, internships, among others. These demands have to be taken into account to bridge the skill gaps. A collaborative effort from the industry and academia is needed to bring in the necessary changes like updating the curriculum as per industry needs”, pointed out, Mr. Hari Balachandran, CEO, ICT Academy, TN, during the panel discussion.

Mentioning two key points in skill development and training, Mr. Shrikant Sinha, CEO, TASK, put forward, “Industry experience and industry exposure of faculty is one of most critical aspects of skilling and in making youth industry-ready. We should create opportunities for faculty to go back to the industry, to know what are the recent changes and advancements, and only then they will be equipped to train the students for the industry. The other key element is curriculum development. It is important to keep updating the curriculum as per the industry demand and requirements.”

Also read: Skill2Jobs – Telecom Industry: Skills, Training and Careers – https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/skill2jobs-telecom-industry-skills-training-and-careers/

The second panel discussion at Telecom Manthan 2022 focussed on “Reshoring Skilling: How NEP 2020 will bridge the demand-supply gap”. The eminent panellists for this discussion were Mr. Ajay Reddy,  Chairman, APSSDC; Prof. L. Koteshwara Rao, Principal, KLU; S Ganesh, VP, ICT Academy, TN; Mr. Srinath Reddy, CEO, COIGN Consultancy and Wg. Cdr. Anish Anthony, CDO, T-Hub. The session was moderated by Mr. Gaurav Sharma, Head – Industry Engagement And Placements, TSSC. 

While referring to the NEP 2020, Mr. Ajay Reddy,  Chairman, APSSDC, shared, “Through schemes like Naipunya Vikasam, Nadu- Nedu from the Andhra Pradesh Government, we have taken up revamping of schools at a large scale. There is a lot of work from our side right from the school level to the graduation level. In the near future, we plan to establish a pyramid structure for skill training and skill development. This will include one skill hub in every assembly constituency, one skill college in every parliamentary constituency and one skill university for the state. All these will take into account the existing schemes and make the most of the opportunity.”

The event was successful in discussing inclusive skill development in the educational pedagogy, innovation and research in the telecom sector, bringing industry and academia closer, demand-based training for the telecom sector, skill training for 5G technology, and how NEP 2020 can bridge the demand-supply.