CII Event on tackling the challenge of youth mobilization in skill development

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized a session on Tackling the Challenge of Youth Mobilization in Skill Development on 25th May 2016 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The session focused on sharing experience and successful models of youth mobilization in skill development in the northern region of India. A panel of eminent speakers from the industry deliberated on the various challenges, opportunities and best practices to tackle the issues of youth mobilization in this region. Over 85 participants attended the session and they found it extremely useful. They urged CII to organise more such sessions on other areas in skill development for the benefit of all the stakeholders.

Mr Mukesh Gupta, vice-president, Maruti Suzuki Training Academy, MSIL and Co-Chairman Special Task Force on Skills and Education, CII Northern Region, spoke about how CII has been working very closely with the government over more than a decade to promote skill development in the country. He also discussed how Maruti Suzuki India Ltd is mobilizing ITI students for skill training and better employment opportunities as they have adopted 32 ITIs under PPP scheme of Government of India and 80 ITIs in auto sector under its CSR Initiatives.

Ms Daljeet Kaur, Associate Director, IPE Global Ltd updated the audience about a report on skill development prepared in collaboration with Special Task Force on Skill Development, CII Northern Region. This report aims to address the gap between the theoretical and practical knowledge of our skill landscape. The objective of this report is to inform the ongoing discourse about skill development and certification, especially in the Construction, Automobile, Hospitality and Healthcare sectors.

Mr Punit Kumar Singh, Head – Community Engagement, Industry Partnerships and Tracking, IL&FS Skills Development Corporation Ltd shared the best practices, methodologies and various tools to engage the youth in skills training. He discussed how IL&FS engages with community for youth mobilization by bringing workplace to the classroom for enhanced learning experience. He mentioned that IL&FS has tried to provide local employment opportunities, emphasize on counselling through community engagement. He stressed upon the need to train youth in soft skills, IT skills and life management skills to enhance their employability.

Mr Gangan Sharma, Vice President – Strategy, Government Relations & Industry Affairs said that the human capital is an important component of the skill ecosystem. The industry needs to play a key role in designing curriculum, training methodologies in addition to providing on-the-job training to mobilize the youth for skills development. He stressed upon the need to scale with quality trainings while developing a pool of quality trainers. He said that from an investment perspective, skill development would become $20 billion business by 2022.

Mr Shailendra Agarwal, Regional Director, NTTF shared some of the best practices for youth mobilization in an effective and efficient way. This included building local contacts, holding cluster meetings, linkages with local education institutions and employment exchange offices. He further said that other than counselling, local publicity, help desk facility the management role is also very important. He said that the NTTF Management has always been hugely committed in uplifting the status of rural youth in the industry employment space.

Mr Ajay Goel, Co-Founder and Principal Consultant Skills Management Group Pvt Ltd suggested that youth mobilization is a continuous process and an integral part of the skills training. The training organisations should provide opportunity to enhance youths’ skills and get them workplace-based industry experience as a part of their certification program. He also emphasized on the need for counselling, tracking system and how quality trainings could fulfil student aspirations.

Mr Pradeep Narayanan, Managing Director, Admizzionz Campuz stated that effective counselling is an important tool to mobilise student for skills training. He suggested using evaluation tools, counselling by experts and using technology to mobilise students for sustained commitment for vocational trainings and adopting career

Mr Ashish Kesharwani, General Manager, Model Career Centre presented the concept of Model Career Centre (MCC) and told us how they are linking youth with job and career opportunities through counselling and training. He further mentioned that training organisations shall deal with the challenge of the youth mobilization with passion and commitment to the society. The placement linked, industry aligned training programmes should be the focus of training organisations.

The session concluded with observations from Mr Mukesh Gupta, vice-president, Maruti Suzuki Training Academy, MSIL and Co Chairman Special Task Force on Skills and Education, CII Northern Region.