India supplies skill trained, certified workforce to Middle East Market

Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs, felicitated the first batch of welders, certified at Level 2/3 of Australian Qualification Framework (AQF), who will be placed with Nasser Al Hajari Corporation, the largest contractor of skilled manpower in Middle East. This programme is part of his Ministry’s ongoing efforts to make India the skills capital of the world. This initiative is also an important step towards furthering the India – Australia Skills Partnership which was launched during the Prime Minister’s visit last year, with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) leading the way.

This is a joint initiative of IL&FS Skills, an NSDC Training Partner and OGM, Australia. Delivered over a period of 6 months, this training was delivered at IL&FS Institute of Skills – Ropar, mapped to Australian Qualifications and Standards. The training was imparted in simulated labs with a hybrid model which includes classroom training, practical welding works, project work and compulsory On-Job-Training at Leighton India. Each successful trainee has been offered a basic salary of USD 350 per month with additional perks such as over time, boarding & lodging, travel, health insurance etc. and paid vacation twice a year. The maximum earning can go up to double the basic pay with experience.

Kangan, TAFE from Victoria, Australia is the Assessment partner who has worked closely with the IL&FS team to structure the programme, especially on the quality aspects. The AQF provides for flexible, transparent and systematic learning pathways and is globally recognized. Automobile Sector Skill Council (ASDC) has also certified these trainees on Level 3 of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) making them ready for Indian job market.

Rudy highlighted the paradox of the current education system with graduates struggling to find jobs even though they may have full time technical qualifications. Programmes like these are a re-affirmation that ‘Hunar hai toh kadar hai’. “I am thrilled to see the beaming faces of these young men who are not only getting jobs in overseas markets, but also a globally recognized qualification that will take them places”, said Rudy.

“There is a demand of 5000 similar youth across the world and we should emphasize to meet this demand in the next one year. This partnership is of particular significance as it is a step ahead in cementing the India – Australia Skills Partnership,” he further added. He congratulated NSDC, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), IL&FS, Kangan, OGM and CBL for piloting this programme.

Dr. Amanda Day, Counsellor Education at Embassy of Australia shared that 22,000 students are studying in Australia to acquire VET qualifications. This pilot is an outcome of the commitment of both Indian and Australian Government towards creating a robust training system which addresses the skill gaps in India and manpower challenges of Australia.
 
This pilot was undertaken as an experiment towards delivering internationally benchmarked trainings in India. Both, OGM and IL&FS have worked closely to curate this partnership. Speaking on the occasion, she said, “This partnership has brought together several partners to deliver a world class training programme at an Indian institute. IL&FS Skills has invested heavily in setting the facility, content, global Training of Trainers (TOT), assessments etc. We have also supported the students in obtaining collateral free Loans through Milap, an NSDC company, so that they can pay the fee in installments. We are delighted that the first batch has cleared both AQF and ASDC certification and are now skilled, certified and placed with jobs.”

This programme is of immense significance especially for those youth who aspire to be part of the global workforce. It is also a model which can be replicated with several other countries and sectors with high demand for skilled manpower.

The felicitation ceremony was attended by stakeholders Dr. Amanda Day, Counsellor, Education, Embassy of Australia, along with Pawan Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Dilip Chenoy, MD & CEO, NSDC and RCM Reddy, MD & CEO, IL&FS Skills.