GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

Progress Harmony Development (PHD) Chamber organized a Conference on “Skilling India for Global Competitiveness” on 17th April 2015 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Prof. TPN Singh, Advisor, Research & Development (R&D), Dronacharya Group of Institutions, Greater Noida attended the conference.

Following dignitaries participated:

1. Shri Gopal Jiwarajka, Vice President, PHD Chamber

2. Ms. Gouri Gupta, Head, MIS and Monitoring, NSDC

3. Ms. Gayathri B. Kalla, COO (Skills), Ministry of Rural Development, GOI

4. Mr. Kamlesh Vyas, Director, Advisory Services, Ernst & Young

5. Dr. (Ms) Jyoti S A Bhat, Scientist G, DSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology, GOI

6. Mr. M V V Prasada Rao, Director (Vocational), CBSE

7. Mr. Atul P. Anand, Co-Chairman, Skill Development Committee, PHD Chamber

The theme of the conference was to reinforce Skill Development and identify it as a major key thrust area. The conference provided a platform for discussion and deliberation for making India a Skill Capital of the World. The objective of the conference was:

1. Understanding the System of Vocational Education in Schools and Higher Education and the feasibility of applying the same in labour market.

2. Role played by Skill Providers from Industry in promoting Vocational Education.

3. Deliberations on policy frame work for streamlining skill development and education in light of global best practices.

4. Leveraging experience of industry and VTPs towards making skill development as a national priority.

5. Addressing issue of quality of training, trainers, standardization of training process and effective assessments.

The audience in the conference consisted of HR fraternity, Deans and Directors from Higher Education Institutes, Skill Knowledge providers and Industry representatives. Honorable Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India was the Chief Guest of the valedictory session.

The morning session was devoted to evolving a policy frame work leading to opportunity, feasibility, regulatory and inclusive growth of skill development. The speakers were Ms. Gouri Gupta, Ms. Gayathri B. Kalia and others. Skills acquired through hands enter one’s heart and increase the chances of sustained employability. Einstein and Newton made greater discoveries and inventions while integrating their brains and hands together. Mahatma Gandhi had called upon youth of India to practice and profess deeds with own hands to empower them with skills for sustained livelihood.

Post lunch session was on creating skill linkages in school and higher education. The discussions centered on innovative approaches and providing services and solutions for creating the linkages. The key note speaker was Dr. Meenakshi Nayar, President ETASHA Society. Skill development would be critical for achieving faster, sustainable and inclusive growth on one hand and for providing decent employment opportunities to the growing young population on the other. Skill building will also remain a potent tool to empower the individual and improve his social acceptance or value.

Other speakers were Mr. H. K. Mittal, Advisor, NSTEDB, Mr. Amit Gupta, Director & Secretary, Global Knowledge Network Society and Dr. Dinesh Singh, VC, Delhi University.

The Chief Guest of the valedictory session, Honorable Vice President of India, Shri Hamid Ansari delivered the key note address. The theme was, “Mainstreaming Education of Children with Special Needs”. Knowledge and skills would increasingly become the primary determinants of economic growth and development. Countries with higher and better levels of skills will adjust more effectively to the challenges and opportunities of growth in a globalized world. The gaps in skill development should be identified so as to achieve the objectives in terms of quantity, quality, outreach and mobility. The availability of both physical infrastructure and human resources to impart skill-based training should be addressed in an effective manner. The Vice President thanked the organizers for inviting him.

Vote of thanks was rendered by Mr. Gopal Jiwarajka, Vice President, PHD Chamber. The conference ended at 5:00 PM.