28 Nov 2013|Noida | Amity Innovation Incubator, Sec-125, Noida
Amity Universities join hands with TAFE South Australia and Heraud Education Trust, Melbourne to promote vocational programmes
In view of the growing significance and relevance of vocational education in India, Amity Universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TAFE (Tertiary and Further Education), South Australia and Heraud Education Trust, Melbourne.
The MoU was signed by Dr Gurinder Singh- Additional Vice Chancellor, Amity Group.; Dr Baljeet Bhela, Educational Manager, TAFE South Australia and Mr. Shruti Kant, COO, Heraud Education & Training India in the presence of Mr. Aseem Chauhan- Chancellor, Amity University, Rajasthan, Mr. Amit Tikoo, CEO, Heraud Education and Mr. Sunil Chaturvedi- Chairman, Automotive Skill Development Council.
The MoU aims at the introduction and delivery of skill development courses in India and across the global in areas such as Automobile, Retail, Building & Construction, Banking & Accounting and Healthcare.
Addressing the gathering during the historic occasion, Mr. Aseem Chauhan- Chancellor, Amity University, Rajasthan said that Amity gives great importance to Vocational training and skills enhancement which is aptly reflected through its association with TAFE South Australia and Heraud Education Trust, Melbourne. He stressed that vocational skills are very much in the minds of everyone in the country including Indian Government keeping in view the growing un -employability amongst the graduating youth. Government of India intends to vocationally train 50 million youth in a short period of time but there are very few quality educational Institutes that are offering vocational training in India. He expressed hope that Amity, together with TAFE South Australia and Heraud Education Trust, would create a revolution in the area of vocation education and skill enhancement in India by designing and developing innovative and different models of instruction and delivery of vocational education.
Dr. Baljit Bhela, Educational Manager, TAFE, South Australia remarked that India has a long way to go in the area of vocation education and skills enhancement. She narrated how 10- 20 years ago, vocational education was considered a poor cousin of mainstream education in Australia but with Government’s and Industry’s intervention, slowly and gradually, it acquired respectable status in Australian society. She appraised the gathering that TAFE South Australia provides a vibrant learning experience where students learn the skills that employers need, gain practical experience and receive recognized qualifications which give them the best chance of achieving their life goals and aspirations.
Mr. Amit Tikoo –CEO, Heraud Education Trust, Melbourne highlighted the dearth of readily employable graduates in India who can start contributing right from the first day and in such a scenario, Industry has to take whatever is available. He stated that Heraud Education Trust was looking for best partners in India to bridge the skill gap in the Indian industry with high quality and effectively designed training material and expressed his joy on signing an MoU with Amity Universities. He stressed that this collaboration is an initiative to train skilled workforce and accelerate their career with latest teaching technology.
Mr. Shruti Kant, COO, Heraud Education & Training India opined that skill development is an extension of education but with different methodology and outcomes. He stressed that Vocational Training enhances the employability of the students and shared that Heraud Education & Training will commence the pilot project from February 2014 in the area of Automobile and Retail
Prof (Dr) Gurinder Singh echoed Amity’s determination to bridge the huge demand supply gap in the area of vocational training since over 90% of the employment opportunities in India require these skills. He added that research shows that companies end up spending major amount of their money trying to retain employees who come out of a formal education and hence it is Amity’s vision to add ‘Saraswati’ with ‘Vishwakarma’.
The MoU ceremony was preceded with a brainstorming session wherein the senior Directors, Head of the Institutions and Faculty members discussed various collaborative options and Pilot programmes with TAFE (Tertiary and Further Education), South Australia and Heraud Education Trust, Melbourne in areas such as Retail, Automobile, Healthcare, Travel and Tourism.