CII, Tata launch PPP initiative in vocational education

Ushering in a public private partnership (PPP) model in vocation education space in Uttar Pradesh, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Tata Motors have joined hands with the state vocational education department.

The collaboration also meant the lauch of a Faculty Development Programme for the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the state.

The initiative will acquaint the faculty with latest technologies and correct the skill sets as required by the industry so that they are passed on to learners.

"It is a winning proposition," said CII UP State Council vice chairman and Tata Motors plant head Alok Saxena.

"It would help all stakeholders, including the state, industry and trainees. The programme will upgrade the skills of ITI faculty and help them pass on the knowledge to students, while industry will get trained manpower."

The first batch, which starts tomorrow, will have 25 ITI instructors/faculties from mechanic motor vehicle trade trained at the Tata Motors plant here. The programme will focus on practical knowledge, personality development and communication skills.

There is acute shortage of ITIs in UP, which can be fathomed by considering that about 3,50,000 applicants had vied for ITI 50,000 seats recently. There is also huge shortage of ITI teachers that is currently pegged at 1,500 posts of instructors vacant of total 3,500 posts.

Additionally, ITI faculties lack proper refresher training facilities to keep them abreast of the latest technologies and emerge of new industries.

The state government has 750 pending proposals for private ITIs, 200 of which have reached the stage of final approval. This will add 40,000 seats to existing capacity.

Meanwhile, the Skills Core Group under CII plans similar programmes for other trades viz. electrician, AC/refrigerator mechanics, computer operator etc. The core group has also proposed a skill gap study of 15 UP districts to analyse the skill gap and map human resources needed.

National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) CMD Dilip Chenoy, on his Lucknow visit in July, had commented that UP could be a talent supplier.