HAL plans to set up aerospace university

Will invest Rs 100 crore initially; HAL chief says aerospace sector lacks skills to meet its current and future demands

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is planning to start an aerospace university for an initial investment of Rs 100 crore, its Chairman R K Tyagi said today. Speaking at the Second Aerospace HR Round Table, he said, the aerospace sector lacked the much-needed skills to meet its current and future demands.

"What we need is around 10 lakh (1 million) skilled people, and we must get them as crores of investment would be made in India in next few years," Tyagi said. He added: "HAL on its part is planning to create an aerospace university with an initial investment of Rs 100 crore. This will ensure academia and industry linkage."

"Having a degree is not enough as we need people who are in tune with the industry," he added. The round table was held under the auspices of HAL and University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES). The theme of the conference that was attended by aerospace HR professionals was "Human Capital - A Source of Business and Competitive Advantage".

Ashwani Dutt, Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) in his keynote address said, "The issues related to human resources must be handled with utmost care, sensitivity and if required with firmness."

V M Chamola, Director, HR (HAL), in his address, stressed on the need to bring down man-hour rates in PSUs and concentrate on efficiency of the workforce. "Labour productivity must be enhanced with right planning," he said.