NITTTR announces setting up of an International Skill Development Centre in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, February 18, 2016: A two-day International Conference on Sustainable Skill Development: Challenges and Future Perspectives was inaugurated today by the Chief Guest Shri Balramji Dass Tandon, Governor, Chhattisgarh State. Shri Tandon emphasized on imparting vocational skills to millions of youth with right vision and perspective. He took it as an example that a person with high qualifications like MBA, BTech/PhD may not get a job but a technician; say a Plumber or an Electrician has a lot of opportunity in the market. He advocated the Chhattisgarh Model where ‘Right to Skill Development’ has been given to each citizens of Chhattisgarh. It is high time to replicate such models in other states to upgrade the skills of unemployed youth. But he emphasized more on development of human values and right attitudes along with professional skills at the workplace.
Dr MP Poonia, Director, NITTTR, Chandigarh welcomed all the delegates of the Conference. He explained the working of NITTTR, Chandigarh in the field of technical teachers training and skill development. NITTTR, Chandigarh is going to establish an International Centre for Skill Development at Sector 38, Chandigarh. He further added that NITTTR, Chandigarh has taken Mission ‘Digital India’ in a big way a large number of e-learning materials and video films are prepared for the technical education system covering diploma and degree programmes in the country. NITTTR, Chandigarh is also imparting skills to the BTech/Diploma and Management students.
Dr BD Mundhra, Chairman and Managing Director, Simplex Infrastructure Limited, Kolkata shared his success stories of training supervisors, foremen and construction workers at different project sites. He also focused that he tried to provide hands-on practical training to construction workers at the site and tried to improve their hands and eyes coordination.
Mr. Tim Martin, Trade Commissioner, Australia Government gave the background of skill development programmes running under Australian Qualifications Framework. Australia has given more focus on competency based training to all the unemployed youth and women as well the working personnel in order to upgrade their skills and competencies. They have created more than 100 skill providers all over the Australia and they are the strategic partners for undertaking skill development programmes in India as well.
Mr. Christopher Gibbins, Consulate General, Canada, Chandigarh elaborated the working culture of Community Colleges in Canada. They have more than 150 Community Colleges in Canada working in different sectors like tourism, mining, agriculture, health, aviation etc. Canada is also providing support to Indian Govt in running various schemes related to skill development and Community Colleges.
Mr. David Lelliot, Deputy High Commissioner, UK gave the background of UK Govt and its initiatives in the field of skill development. UK Govt has taken initiatives under UKIERI Programme (United Kingdom and India Education and Research Initiative) for joint collaboration in the field of education and training. UK Govt has recently established a Skill Development Centre at Gurgaon in Haryana and Sanghol in Punjab. UK Govt is going to collaborate for establishing an Automotive Skill Training Centre at Pune. He also gave an example how the Dudley College, UK has started leadership training programme for the engineering colleges and polytechnics principals of India at two Centres namely NITTTR, Chandigarh and NITTTR, Chennai.
Prof JS Saini, Organising Secretary of the International Conference gave the background of the two-days international Conference and apprised the delegates that representatives of more than 18 countries have joined this programme. There are about 300 delegates in this programme and representatives of more than 25 states are present for two days’ deliberations. Presentations by Shri Basab Banerjee, Shri Ajay Mohan Goel, Shri Ashish Sharma and Ms. Jassi Dimple put the Indian perspectives on skill development. However, the foreign delegates from the 13 CPSC Member Countries [Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand] presented their status report on skill development.
This event has been sponsored by NABARD, HARTRON, State Bank of Patiala and Indian Bank,CPSC Manila, PEC, IKGPTU, LPU, DTE Haryana, Chitkara University and MNIT Jaipur.