CICU feels poor education level in colleges and universities hampers growth of industry in Punjab

Ludhiana, July 31, 2013: Chamber of Industrial & Commercial Undertakings (CICU), Ludhiana is striving hard for Business Excellence in Industries, but there is a huge gap between the Level of Education being taught by Colleges/Universities & the Level of Skill; required by the Industries. Thus, the Industry is suffering. The Objective of CICU is to Build-up Made in Ludhiana and strengthen the Industry by World Class Practices.

Avtar Singh, General Secretary, mentioned that the Industry is passing through very crucial time. On the one side there is tough competition from China and many other countries as the Government has signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with neighbouring countries, and so, they are flowing their products in Indian market as they are more competitive and have better infrastructure & better education.

Upkar Singh Ahuja, Joint Secretary, narrated that the admissions have started and the colleges are giving lucrative advertisements to lure the students for admissions, whereas, Industries feel that there is a huge gap between the required skill in the Industries and the skill being developed in the Academies/Colleges/Universities. The students, who come out from the these Educational Institutions, are not competent enough to absorb as per the requirement of the Industries, and the Industries have to give them further training for one year or so to make them employable. The practical training given in the Educational Institutions is negligible. The students found to have been gone through theoretical education only and thus, observed to be lacking of self-confidence in practical work, exposure and even the communication skill is missing in the college out students.

The CICU leader said:

? CICU urges the State government to take appropriate measures to upgrade the level of education and skill in Educational Institutions. Colleges are taking huge fee from the students for their training semesters whereas nothing seems to have been taught to them by the colleges. CICU suggests that that Training Fee should be given to the Industries from where the students are getting trainings as the Industries pay huge cost to give them training.

? Colleges should tie-up with Industries for finishing school or similar activities. Students should be given proper exposure like visiting exhibitions, to participate in exhibition to have better communication skill, Industrial visits, and even visiting to domestic & international exhibitions.

? Training Workshops in colleges are not up to the mark. Colleges should have Excellent Workshops with latest modules and parameters to upgrade the level of students with new techniques like CNC and Robotics.

? Colleges should also tie-up with the Industries and make a mechanism to give better training to the students.

? Govt. should give Special Incentive to Industries for setting up Institutions as there are many successful examples like Thapar University & Birla Institute etc.

? Colleges/Universities to be made accountable. For example; if a college/university has 100 seats, but only 50 students are employed, number of seats should be reduced to 50 for thenext year. And also; if 40% of the students do not get employment because of poor level of education/skill, the concerned college/university, should provide those students free education along the expenses of their lodging and boarding; for one year; to improve their level of skill for employment.