India and Singapore Collaborate on Industrial Training and Skill Institutes

India and Singapore Collaborate on Industrial Training and Skill Institutes

VoM News Desk | October 20, 2023 | 09:15 AM IST | Breaking News, India, Singapore | Follow on Google News

India and Singapore Collaborate on Industrial Training and Skill Institutes

India and Singapore Collaborate on Industrial Training and Skill Institutes

India and Singapore are actively engaged in discussions to establish industrial training and skilling institutes in India. This initiative follows the elevation of skill development as a pivotal component of the strategic partnership between the two countries, a decision reached during a visit by India’s Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, to Singapore in May.

During the visit, Pradhan met with Singapore’s Finance Minister, Lawrence Wong, and both nations committed to creating opportunities for building a future-ready workforce. The Indian government affirmed its intent to collaborate in the pursuit of lifelong learning and to make knowledge and skill development a core element of their strategic partnership.

Leveraging Singapore’s Expertise in Skill Development

Singapore’s ITE Education Services (ITEES), operating under the country’s education ministry, has previously provided consultancy and training services to India. In 2022, ITEES partnered with the government of Assam to establish the North East Skill Centre (NESC) in the state. The NESC’s primary goal is to deliver high-quality skills training to a broad audience, with a focus on rural youth. The center offers training in various sectors, including retail, beauty and wellness, housekeeping, hospitality, and food and beverage services.

The World Class Skill Centre (WCSC) in Delhi also received technical assistance from Singapore, further showcasing Singapore’s expertise in this field. India is keen to bring more industrial and skilling institutes from Singapore to address its skilled workforce shortage, which is projected to reach 29 million by 2030, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Addressing the Skilled Workforce Shortage

India has been grappling with a shortage of highly skilled workers, which has become widespread. The quality of vocational education and higher education often falls short of employers’ expectations, leading to challenges in finding qualified personnel. In fact, a 2020 ILO report highlighted that nearly two-thirds of Indian firms with more than ten employees reported difficulty in finding skilled workers.

Integrating Skilling into Education

In addition to skill development, India has expressed interest in Singapore’s model of integrating skilling into education. This aspect was discussed during Minister Pradhan’s meeting with top Singaporean ministers in May. India’s National Education Policy (NEP) for 2020 emphasizes providing early exposure to vocational education in middle schools, aligning training with market demands, enhancing the capacity of institutions to deliver technical and vocational education, and establishing short-term and long-term training programs for skilling, reskilling, and upskilling.

This collaborative effort between India and Singapore not only aims to bridge the skilled workforce gap but also to foster a more versatile and future-ready workforce for both nations.

VoM News Desk

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