APSSDC to open up global employment opportunities

With an aim to provide skilled human resources for local as well as global industries, AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) is working on a plan to skill 2 crore people in the state in 10 years.

In the next one year, the APSSDC aims to train 2 lakh people and by 2018-19, the Corporation will train 15-16 lakh.

APSSDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ganta Subbarao informed Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu that the Corporation is planning to have 6 clusters for skill development in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Guntur, Nellore, Chittoor and Ananthapur districts.

'These clusters will cover all the 13 districts of the state,' Subbarao said, adding that each cluster will focus on 2-3 sectors to impart skills.

Each cluster will have 6 colleges where students will be trained in various skills, based on their interest. These 36 colleges (6 in each cluster) will eventually become Centres of Excellence (with best infrastructure, facilities for quality education and extra-curricular activities) where they could either become autonomous, apply for a deemed university status, etc.

Stating that AP Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy is the best in the country, Mr Subbarao said that what makes AP's policy unique is that skill training is imparted to people by assessing industry needs for workforce. It not only focuses on skill upgradation or training but also aims to create entrepreneurs who will be job creators.

'While Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan have skill development training programs, what they lack is the assessment of industry requirements,' he added.

This manpower assessment, the Chief Minister said, would benefit the global workforce. 'We could hire an international consultant who can analyse the human resources requirement in various sectors globally. Based on that report, we can impart skills and get students placed outside India in industries in other countries,' he added.

The APSSDC has also proposed setting up a Skill Development University in 300-500 acres which will house Centres of Excellence, Manufacturing and R&D set up, entrepreneurship and incubation facilities, driver training institute, an integrated school and a consortium of industry bodies.

The Chief Minister, replying to this proposal, suggested that the APSSDC or the Skill Development University could be linked to the six universities that will be set up in the state (Water, Marine, Energy, Sports, Logistics and Hospitality).

Subbarao added that the state currently has 17 mobile app and software training centres which will be scaled to 34 centres in this year.

Explaining that he wants to make Andhra Pradesh a Knowledge and education hub, the Chief Minister said that foundation stone has been laid for six institutes in the state.

The Chief Minister added that the government is also mulling establishing an Education City.

He suggested that the APSSDC to also explore designing courses based on the interest of the students.

'A cognitive analysis has to be done to understand how students are responding to training. This will help us understand their interests and motivate them,' he added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minster also suggested the APSSDC to explore options of upgrading skills through Open Universities.

'Semi-skilled and unskilled people can be assessed and the necessary training could be imparted to them. For those who are skilled, we can test their skills and give necessary certification or have course upgradation structure,' the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister instructed the Skill Development Corporation to work with consultancies and agencies which provide workforce.

He also asked the APSSDC officials to explore a proposal on whether the Directorate of Employment and Training (under the Ministry of Labour & Employment) could be brought under the purview of APSSDC.

Ministers Ghanta Srinivas, Achhan Naidu, APSSDC director Lakshminarayana, Principal Secretary to CM Satish Chandra, Secretaries P.V. Ramesh and Sumita Dawra and the members of the Advisory Council were present.