MUMBAI — With a vision to propel India to the forefront of skill development and job creation under the Skill India Mission and to provide an impetus to the Skill India programme through private sector participation, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey virtually launched the first batch of training at the Tata-Indian Institute of Skills (IIS), Mumbai.
The institute is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India and Tata-IIS. Last month, a formal agreement was signed between MSDE and Tata IIS for setting up the institute.
The first batch at Tata-IIS will commence training with two courses in factory automation, with a duration ranging from 1 to 4 weeks, depending upon the pre-qualification profile of the trainee. The institute will also offer scholarships to the first 100 students along with attractive fee options during this initial launch phase. An early-bird scholarship scheme of 75% has also been announced for the first 100 students/trainees.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said, “With an aim to provide high-quality technical and vocational learning across various sectors, the foundation for state-of-the-art infrastructure was laid last year and with the launch of its first set of courses at IIS Mumbai, I can proudly say that we are inching closer to achieve the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making India the ‘Skill Capital of the World'.”
He further said, “Following the footsteps of other prominent centres of education in the country, IIS Mumbai will be instrumental in imparting world-class training to help build a future-ready workforce. I extend my gratitude towards the Government of Maharashtra and Tata Group for extending support towards Skill India Mission and I am hopeful that this collaboration will transform the state's youth from job seekers to job creators.”
Nawab Malik, Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Maharashtra, also graced the occasion with his presence and expressed maximum support on behalf of the Maharashtra Government in making this initiative a grand success for the country.
The institute envisages partnerships with multiple private organisations who are leaders in their respective fields, two of which are currently in place, with FESTO, a global leader in industrial automation, and SMC Corporation, Japan, the world's largest manufacturer of pneumatic components, for training.
The two courses launched will focus on factory automation, envisaged to be the foundation for future courses and smart manufacturing (industry 4.0) technology and applications, to prepare youth for emerging job roles of the next five years and beyond.
The courses will be offered at Tata-IIS interim campus at the National Skills Training Institute (NSTI), Chembur.
The institute's permanent campus, currently under construction in the campus of National Skill Trainers' Institute (NSTI), Mumbai, is likely to be operational by 2022 and will have a capacity of over 5,000 training per year.
Expressing his thoughts on providing job skills to the youth, Girish Krishnamurthy, Director, Tata-IIS, said, “This is a key development in India's journey to provide skilling and job-readiness to its youth. The institute aspires to become a beacon to other institutions of its kind in the years to come.”
The primary goal behind setting up the institute is to create an industry-ready workforce as per the evolving demands of the national and global markets. It aspires to be one of the most premier training institutions in the country and will be equipped with world-class vocational training facilities.
The institute plans to provide training in highly-specialised areas like defence, oil and gas, aerospace, and other emerging businesses to meet industry demands.
