digitalLEARNING-Mar-2011-[34-35]-IndiaSkills Venturing into Vocational Training-Harish Menon

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IndiaSkills, a joint venture in vocational training formed between a leading training and education service provider in India (Manipal Education) and one of the world’s largest provider of workrelated qualifications, assessment and certification. City and Guilds has been specifically created to make an impact on India’s vocational training sector. Sheena Joseph, in conversation with Harish Menon, CEO of IndiaSkills, finds out more about the venture

IndiaSkills Venturing into Vocational Training Could you provide us with a background of why the venture was conceptualised?

IndiaSkills is a joint venture in vocational training formed between City and Guilds. It has been specifically created to make an impact on India’s vocational training scenario by upgrading the quality of vocational skills training and benefitting the future of both the individual and the industry. It seeks to bridge the employbality gap across various sectors.

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How have the training centres been distributed in India? Can the students avail distance learning facilities as well?

We have 50 vocational training centres in all four regions (North, South, East and West) providing skills training and are expanding our network to 500 centres over the next five years. On-hands traning is a key part in any high quality skilling course and we place a strong emphasis on our practical training sessions. We have

also worked with our distance education partners SMU DE to launch a Pro-Degree programme in distance mode which gives job ready graduation in terms of B Com degrees with skills courses built into the same in each semester. This is available in Financial Planning and Supply Chain streams.

Students taking our vocational courses at our centers are always better positioned to further their learning through signing up for distance learning programs once they start earning and working.

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How is the content for the curriculum developed? Are the certifications recognised by any professional body?

Developed with industry inputs, our courses are innovatively designed to suit the specific job requirements of the industry and our curriculum reflects the requirement of all connected stakeholders - industry, learners and government. All learner support material is developed by IndiaSkills’ Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) who have a high degree of industry exposure either in terms of training, consulting or actual employment. All stages of qualification and learning content development are monitored and approved using the principles and processes of City and Guilds and Manipal Education. This is supported by a robust quality system that ensures vocational training centres have the required infrastructure as well as certified trainers and robust processes resulting in high quality delivery of the qualifications. The best-in-class assessment methodology, perfected over 130 years by City and Guilds to achieve a comprehensive competency based system, certifies that the learner is job ready and productive.

How has IndiaSkills contributed towards skilling the Indian youth in Banking, Financial Services, Insurance (BFSI) sector?

We have developed a specific course for students and BFSI industry employees to enhance their skills and better their career options. It covers essential subjects like Financial Planning, Financial Market, and Depositories and Key Depository Services, Banking and Banking Products, Insurance and Insurance Products, Mutual Funds and Relationship Management. The unit on insurance gives the student in-depth knowledge on the insurance industry and products while the relationship management unit imparts key grooming, selling and customer service skills. The course module is delivered by experienced trainers through a combination of classroom lectures and practical training sessions that ensures the candidate is “ready-to-work” right on successful completion.

The student who successfully completes the course will have a sound knowledge of the financial system, products and services available in banking and insurance principles. The industry experienced trainers also gives practical training for students in relationship and marketing skills – a quality which every single company needs in their employees. The course also prepares the student for taking up various related certifications like NISM – Series V-A, Mutual Funds Distributors Certification as well as appearing for the licensing examination of Insurance Institute of India.

Why is it important to provide skills training in the retail sector?

India’s retail market is expected to be worth about US$ 410 billion, with 5 per cent of sales through organised retail.

According to a McKinsey and Company report organised retail in India is expected to increase from 5 per cent of the total market in 2008 to 14 - 18 per cent of the total world retail market and reach

Is certification by India Skills also supplemented by industry related training in the hospitality field?

All IndiaSkills courses are developed based on industry inputs and places due importance on practical sessions.

The Hospitality practical sessions are conducted in a simulated hotel environment created in our labs at the centre which match the best standards.

What are the future growth areas that you forsee in the Indian economy (which may have a parallel requirement for skilled manpower)?

A consumption driven economy, growing middle class and huge disposable incomes mean that - Retail, Hospitality and BFSI will be the fastest growth sectors on the service side, with about 20 million trained manpower need projected in the next five years by the National Skills Development Report 2009. The same report projects a demand of over 15 million skilled manpower in Construction. Specialised sectors such as Auto and Hair and Beauty are pro-

Developed with industry inputs, our courses are innovatively designed to suit the specific job requirements of the industry US$ 450 billion by 2015., meaning that the opportunity in India remains immense. The sector is expected to grow rapidly—up to US$ 535 billion in 2013, with 10 per cent coming from organised retail, according to the report released

by A T Kearney.

By the end of 2011, India is expected to have an addition of around 3,200 supermarkets, 280 hypermarkets, 400 department stores and around 20,000 exclusive brand outlets. This would generate another 10-15 million jobs in retail and support services by 2012.

The retail sector needs to recognize vocational education at the same level of a formal education, partner with skills training organisations to train their employees and ensure that a minimum percentage of entry level employees are skilled by mandating skills certification.

jected to need around 5 million skilled resources. With existing education streams not catering to this or being sub-optimal in terms of both quality and quantity, the biggest demand- supply mismatch will be seen here.

Any new collaborations that India Skills will be entering into in the near future, in terms of Public Private Partnerships?

We have not actively considered this space currently as a big possibility, but we do have specific projects where we have partnered government bodies or NGOs to drive a skills agenda. So while a typical Public-Private Partnership in the capital investment model is not on cards as of now, we are very involved in on-ground engagements and might look at the model in the future. \\ digitalLEARNING / march 2011

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