International Foray – Background

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India and the National Qualifications Authority (NQA), Government of United Arab Emirates desiring to enhance cooperation in the area of skill development and mutual recognition of qualifications, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 29^th April 2016, aimed to enhance cooperation between the two countries on Skill Development and mutual recognition of qualifications to facilitate mobility of skilled workers from India to U.A.E.

SkillEd India committed to implement the spirit of MOU between UAE and India

SkillEd India in association with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under MOU signed on 19^th September 2019, is jointly committed to do skill development projects in the Middle East and Europe.

There are two initiatives that are being currently envisaged by SkillEd India in Middle East – the first one pertains to certifying Indian and other nationality blue-collared expat workers with

Indian Qualifications via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Program of NSDC and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the other is a mega-initiative to setup Global Institute of Skills in UAE for GCC. This institute will focus on imparting training on Future Skills such as Robotics, AI and Machine Learning, Big Data, Virtual & Augmented Reality, primarily to nationals from GCC countries.

1. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

1. 1. India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoy strong bonds of friendship based on age-old cultural, religious and economic ties between the two nations. UAE is home to Indian expatriate community of more than 3.3 million – the largest expatriate community in the UAE.
   2. Recognition of Indian qualifications for certifying this expat community would empower the UAE employers to access the prospective workers skills before-hand leading to their own enhanced productivity and also benefit the expat worker community in gaining better employment opportunities in the UAE.
   3. The RPL assessment will be a two-stage process spread over three/four days
   1. Stage 1, will be for two days in which all candidates will be mandatorily provided orientation training for 16 hours (8 hours per day) at a client site in UAE. This orientation will include 8 hours of domain-specific training, 5 hours of job role related soft skills training, and 3 hours on familiarization with the assessment processes and methods. Any knowledge gaps identified during the process are also addressed during the orientation delivery. This orientation training will be conducted by qualified and certified trainers, empanelled with SkillEd India.
   2. Stage 2, will be for one/two days, depending on the number of candidates, post orientation training. It will comprise of the assessment of the candidates, and will be conducted by a Sector Skill Council under NSDC via a certified assessor. During the assessment process, the candidate will be assessed on both Core* as well as Non-Core NOSs* of a Qualification Pack (QP). Core NOSs carry 70% weightage and Non-Core NOSs carry 30% weightage in the total assessment score of the candidate.

[*National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe best practices by bringing together performance criteria, knowledge and skills pertaining to a job role. A set of NOSs related to a specific job role is called Qualification Pack (QP). Qualification Pack for every Job Role is pegged at a NSQF Level.]

d. On 26th November 2019, Xtramix Group of Companies, NSDC, SkillEd India and Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC) – under NSDC, entered into MOU to implement RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) orientation training and assessment of its construction workers. The program comprises of a two-day Orientation Training by KEDMAN Skilling Private Limited Trainers, followed by the Assessment by Assessors of IESC. NSDC will provide policy- related, monitoring and evaluation and certification support.

Xtramix Group of Companies, is an ISO certified company, and is a market leader in UAE, producing ready mixed Concrete, precast concrete and cement block products, with its registered office at P.O Box: 32020 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

2. Proposed Global Institute of Skills for GCC Countries

Global Institute of Skills is proposed to be setup as a JV company in association with a prospective UAE Partner, Kunskapsskolan Sweden AB and Manav Rachna International University, India with implementation partners as SkillEd India and NSDC. The strategic blue-print of the proposed institute will be to offer short-duration programs on Rapid Technological Progresses. The proposed areas of coverage are:

1. 1. Robotics, Automation and Advanced Manufacturing
   2. Big Data and Advanced Analytics
   3. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
   4. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

In addition, the proposed Institute shall also focus on providing associated soft skills training on emerging socio-demographic shifts like:

1. 1. Diversity at work (inclusion – with machines appearing as co-workers in work places)
   2. Spirit of purpose
   3. Drive towards sustainability
      a. Climate Change
      b. Resource Scarcity
   4. Flexible Business Models and the sharing economy
   5. Globalization and economic shifts

For more details write to ceo@kedman.in