Roundtable discussion at 7th Edition of Aspire SkillsWorld: Challenges faced by educators and employers

• Event focused on the importance of embedding skills training in the Indian Education System
• Participants  included leading educators from iCarnegie, Aspen Institute India and University of Cambridge ESOL

In keeping with its endeavour to encourage young talent and the spirit of educating India, Aspire Human Capital Management, one of the leading firms engaged in embedded employability education and skills development, today organized ‘Aspire SkillsWorld 2011’ – a roundtable discussion meet – at Manav Rachna International University.

Aspire SkillsWorld aims at highlighting the importance of embedded employability skills training in Indian education system. Its 7th edition, this year, focused on undertaking interactive sessions and panel discussions to address many questions pertaining to education. The theme included pertinent issues: ‘challenges faced by educators’ and ‘employers and the importance of embedding skills training in the Indian Education System.’

This exclusive roundtable discussion witnessed the participation of a distinctive and selected niche audience from globally recognized universities and institutions viz. iCarnegie, Aspen Institute India, and University of Cambridge ESOL. Mr. Amit Bhatia (Founder and CEO & Aspen India Fellow) along with  Mr. Gil Taran, (CEO, iCarnegie - Carnegie Mellon University subsidiary, USA), Mr. Amitabh Nagpal (Chairman & Managing Director, Macmillan) and Mr. TK Arunachalam (Regional Manager, South Asia, Cambridge University ESOL) participated in the two panel discussions on: “What Employers Want?” versus “What Educators Want?” and Can you embed “Employability” inside “Education”?

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Amit Bhatia, Founder and CEO-Aspire said, “The 7th Edition of Aspire SkillsWorld is organized to address the importance of embedded education and the role that we can play in increasing the employability of Indian students. We are actively involved in across 14 Indian states in Employability Education. We have successfully trained over 50,000 youth in the past 3 years.” 

Questions such as the following were discussed in detail: Is Education a means to an end or an End in itself? Are educators creating talent that Industry wants? Why are just 25% of Indian graduates employable? How can we increase employability of Indian students? What role should Vocational Education or Employers play? Does Education need the Employability training companies?

As per Gil Taran, CEO iCarnegie Inc., said, “We are very pleased to be part of today’s roundtable discussion. In today’s technology-enabled knowledge economy, educational institutes face a new challenge of not only providing students with adequate education in their field of study, but also to arm them with the skills and knowledge required to leverage technology effectively in the workplace. Through Aspire, we are helping students develop cutting edge technology skills through contemporary, industry-focused curriculum embedded in both higher education and schools levels.”

The need to bridge up the existing chasm between education and employability skills in our present education system was well addressed at the Aspire SkillsWorld. Each and every aspect along with the significance of Embedded Education in India was discussed in this meet. During the roundtable discussion the global perspective on employability as indicated by International Universities was accentuated by highly experienced educators.

Aspire along with iCarnegie brings ITProTM and RoboticProTM programs which are developed by faculty at Carnegie Mellon University and designed to help students become future-ready with global certification from iCarnegie on successful completion of this embedded course. These courses significantly enhance learning outcomes using world-class curriculum, leading technology and faculty training. The organization’s core purpose is to nurture human talent. In pursuit of this mission, Aspire recognizes the huge potential in India to reap the demographic dividend. Aspire SkillsWorld evaluates the critical developments and trends in Education, Employability & Skills Development in our country.