With a vision to emerge as one amongst the foremost institutions of quality in Skill Education recognised at National and International arena, our university focuses on fostering excellence in skill Education in an integrated and holistic manner, says Dr Lalit K Panwar, Vice Chancellor , Rajasthan ILD Skill University, in an interview with Elets News Network (ENN).
Please describe about the important measures being undertaken by Rajasthan ILD Skill University (RISU) for enhancing skilling and employability of youth?
RISU is an effective institutional intervention to implement National Skills Qualification Framework in the State. Being a Government University, RISU is the affiliating body for a large number of institutions operating in skill and vocational training. Twenty-two skill related institutions have been affiliated so far and more than 4000 students are pursuing skill based studies in these institutions. The affiliated institutions have commenced first session from July, 2018. The first Academic session of Rajasthan ILD Skills University (RISU) has commenced from July 2018 through 40 affiliated colleges/institutes offering over 150 Certificate/Diploma/Degree courses in more than 20 sectors of skill.
How is RISU making education accessible in remote areas of Rajasthan?
RISU would affiliate high-quality ITIs and Polytechnic colleges managed by Private sector/ State government and located in far rural areas of Rajasthan. How are collaborations helpful for RISU in implementing innovative ideas to deliver higher education at par with global standards? We would have the active collaboration with private/ government colleges to manage academic courses concurrently with skill development certificate and diploma courses as per UGC norms by ensuring pragmatic blending of academic learning along with the acquisition of employable skills simultaneously in a practical industry-driven hybrid-module.
What practices should be followed by the Indian institutes to nurture global citizens?
RISU is trying to collaborate with best skill development universities across the world like those in Singapore, Australia, Canada, Korea, Germany, English, and the US. Agencies of the Government of India like National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) are helping us in the efforts. How can the gap between industry relevant skill training and academia be bridged to nurture industry-ready professionals?
There is a huge gap between the students’ skillsets and industries’ requirement and we will make extra efforts to bridge the gap by forming academiaindustry matrix (AIM) as a dynamic-interactive permanent forum. It will ensure that the courses developed by RISU are as per the need of the industry and 60 percent of the syllabus should be focussed on the job and practical training.
Is Rajasthan ILD Skill University (RISU) joining hands with other global players to enhance Skill base/ technical knowledge of students? Please tell us about some recent endeavours in this regard.
Being a strong supporter of global academic collaboration, I always encourage the process of finalizing the modalities of collaboration with the best universities of Singapore, the US, and Australia. NSDC and the Ministry of Skill Development (MSDE) is actively helping and supporting us. In addition to the universities, we would join hands with global brands like Google, Microsoft, TCS, Infosys, HCL, and others to promote skill development courses which are in tune with latest technologies and best global practices.
Please give an overview of skill development centres.
RISU would be opening skill development centres (SDC) adopting the following options:
Institutional SDC, where centers would be located and developed ‘in-situ’ meaning on the campus of workshops/factories, etc. At Individual SDC, the master craftsman would be requested and motivated to adopt students in the old-age Indian tradition of “Guru Shishya Parampara”.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): The RPL tools and practices would be deployed to formally assess the master trainers and then co-opt them as members of ‘guest faculty’ of the Skills University and SDCs. RISU would also promote digital skill development centres/courses so that theory part of the syllabus could be taught online and practical/onthe- job training could be provided in the laboratories/ factories/workshops.
