Skilling will prepare our population for 21st century job markets: Dharmendra Pradhan

Education Minister launched two Centres of Excellence (CoE) in media and electronics sector at Skill Development Institute (SDI) in Bhubaneshwar, Mock Test Application 2.0 by NIMI and introduction of four new-age courses for ITI and NSTI candidates.

Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India Dharmendra Pradhan has announced several strategic partnerships to bring scale and speed to the country’s skill ecosystem.

The key announcements included strategic collaborations with the industry partners, academia and government departments, inauguration of two Centres of Excellence (CoE) in media and electronics sector at Skill Development Institute (SDI) in Bhubaneshwar, launch of Mock Test Application 2.0 by NIMI and introduction of four new-age courses for ITI and NSTI candidates.

The aim is to bridge the gap between industry requirements and skill development initiatives, ensuring that India’s young workforce remains competitive and are adaptable to emerging trends.

MSDE has signed 19 MoUs with its various departments – one led by the Directorate General of Training (DGT), 3 MoUs signed by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD), 5 under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), one under PM Vishwakarma and 9 MoUs through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). These collaborations with the private sector and fellow ministerial departments will play a pivotal role in transforming India into ‘Kushal Bharat. Viksit Bharat' where the youth will not only be equipped to meet the demands of both— domestic and international markets but also will lead and innovate on a global scale.

The government associations, industry players and academic institutions with whom the MoUs were signed are North-Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC), Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd, Gems & Jewelry Promotion Export Council,  Divya Yog Mandir Trust, North-East Regional Agricultural Marketing Co-operation (NERAMAC), iHub for IIT Mandi, North-East Centre for Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR), Takt Group, Meril Life Science Private Limited, IIT ISM Dhanbad, Sri Sri University, Coding Pro technologies, Shobhit University, Meerut, Sanskriti University, Mathura, Silver Oak University, Ahmedabad, Galgotias University, Greater Noida. Also, NEISBUD collaborated with the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE), The Department of Food & Public Distribution and the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts toward sustained development of entrepreneurial skills among various target groups aimed at enhancement of self-employment opportunities. In addition, DGT renewed its partnership with the Future Right Skills Network (FRSN), facilitated by Quest Alliance in collaboration with other partners Accenture, Cisco, JP Morgan, and SAP.

Dharmendra Pradhan said, “These skilling initiatives and partnerships will prepare our population for 21st century job markets, help them thrive as innovators and entrepreneurs and also contribute to driving economic growth. Meanwhile, the two COEs will equip youth with industry-ready skills, making them employable, enhance livelihoods and enable the enterprising ones into becoming entrepreneurs.”

Mock test 2.0

During the event, the minster also launched Mock Test 2.0 by NIMI in 12 languages and four New Age courses under the Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) in Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security which will prepare India’s youth for the technology-driven market.

The event witnessed the launch of two CoEs— Media and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) at the SDI in Bhubaneshwar to elevate the capabilities of India’s youth population in the fields of Media & Entertainment and Electronics. By leveraging the new-age technologies like Apple Studio Workstation, digital cameras, and latest HP workstations, the centres will deliver cutting-edge training programs in courses like Graphic Design, Social Media Manager, Digital Marketing Manager, Video Editing, and Digital Marketing Manager. These courses are meticulously crafted based on extensive research and market mapping of the Media and Entertainment industry to make the sector aspirational in Odisha.