MoU signing between SkillEd India and NSDC to boost skill education in India using the Swedish KED methodology and between SkillEd India, Sony India and NSDC to strengthen employment linkages in the retail sector respectively.
In a boost to vocational education under the Skill India Mission, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SkillEd India (a joint venture between Kunskapsskolan Education Sweden AB and Manav Rachna Educational Institutions) for using Kunskapsskolan Education (KED) Methodology in schools and institutions through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) using CSR funds sourced from Indian businesses and corporates.
Another MoU was signed between electronics major Sony India, NSDC and SkillEd for a pilot project for imparting industry-specific skills and strengthening employment linkages in the retail sector. The training, by SkillEd India, will be provided by highly qualified trainers in high-tech classrooms using KED and will provide placement linkages to candidates receiving training from NSDC training partners under the fee-based model or the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY).
Sharing his perspective, Dr Prashant Bhalla, President, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions & Chairman- ASSOCHAM National Council on Education programs said, “SkillEd India is working along with NSDC to create a conduit of employment for trainees trained under NSDC ecosystem by upgrading their skills and making them ready for employment with leading corporates of the country. In one of our initiatives with Sony India, we are channelizing NSDC trained candidates for imparting on-the-job training(OJT) and employment with Sony. The salary structures are matching the Minimum Wages set by the Government and we hope to annually provide (pan-India) about 10,000 OJT and regular employment. We are also in-principle agreement with Oriflame and associates to train their 1 lac Direct Selling Agents annually via NSDC training partner ecosystem. We are also discussing with JCB to provide them about 2500 Operators in Indian, Middle East and African markets and finally with Daikin India to provide pan India 1 lac AC installers.”
The two MoUs were signed at the International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility in New Delhi organized jointly by NSDC, Swedish Chamber of Commerce India, ASSOCHAM India and SkillEd India. Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship chaired a special session on ‘Perspectives on Effectively Developing CSR Funds for Skill Development and Education programs at the conference, where he stressed upon the importance of integrating vocational education in schools and institutions and also emphasized on the critical role of public-private-partnerships (PPP) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in supporting skill development programs in order to make vocational training more effective and aspirational for the youth.
Urging corporates to contribute more towards skill development through CSR, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon’ble Minister, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said, “For boosting skilling and creating an impact in the ‘Skill India’ mission, I encourage corporates to come forward and contribute through their CSR funds to create a sustainable ecosystem. We are already witnessing positive developments and it is encouraging that gaps are getting filled with the increasing commitments of the private sector and with institutions like ManavRachna taking the lead.”
Mr Peje Emilsson, Founder and Executive Chairman – Kunskapsskolan Sweden AB, said, “Skilled manpower plays a critical role in the overall development of the country. With this tie-up, Sony is playing a critical role in providing better employment opportunities for the youth in India and enabling them to succeed in life by tapping into their skills and learning abilities.”
Talking about the collaborations, Dr Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, National Skill Development Corporation, said, “I believe that these partnerships with Sony India and SkillEd India will provide sustainable livelihoods linkages to our youth while developing their skills and competencies. We hope that this tie-up will benefit both candidates and the retail industry at large.”
The International Conference was also graced by Mr K C Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development; Ms. Sara Larsson, GM, Swedish Chamber of Commerce India; Mr. Frederic Widell, MD, Oriflame India; Mr. Sanjay Bhatnagar, National Head, CSR, Sony Indi; Mr. Rajiv Mathur, CEO of SkillEd India among other industry and CSR leaders.
In November 2017, NSDC and SkillEd India (a joint venture between Kunskapsskolan Education Sweden AB and Manav Rachna Educational Institutions) had initiated a pilot in 100 schools in Haryana using KED methodology. Furthering the pilot, SkillEd India and NSDC will roll out the initiative across other states, with more sectors included and digitizing the methodology in regional languages.
The partnership is aimed at three verticals — to support skill development in schools using KED methodology that will focus on providing employable skills to school drop-outs; varied skill development projects; and providing adequate training to teachers and setting up of a Global Institute of Skills (at the Manav Rachna Educational Institutions campus), focusing on global employability of Indian workforce.