Skill Universities may be future of our Nation

Skilling is not a new concept; it has been popular since ancient times. Our Yog guru has prepared us very tough for life skills for coping tough time and there were time when people take one skill at a time and become master in that profession. At present, youth are confused with their own aspiration and their parents’ aspirations.

Why youth confused? They are looking others at media or some other platform that the visible skill is lucrative and then they pursue it and when they think it is difficult for them, they left it and chase another skill and so on. In that way they never master in any profession and become jobless till they become master in any skill.

I met one parents, they have scheduled their 9 years child in multiple skills, 5-6pm for scatting, 6:30-7:30 swimming, 8-9 pm singing. I have separately met the child and asked him that he feels anything different for being a tight scheduled child? He said sir, I never want all three at time, but parents have several aspirations. Therefore I am joining all. Now what should I do? I asked him how long you are doing it, he said 4 months, but never master in all. I discussed their parents and recommended that they should send their child for one skill at a time and then see the performance of your child. I personally ask him which activity he likes most. He said swimming is good. I told his parent to make your child focus on swimming. They did as per my recommendation, the child hugs me and told you are very good uncle.

If youth go for one skill at a time, they never become jobless, for example, if they become master in swimming, they become coach, if they master in plumbing, they become contractor. If they master in software development, they develops websites and applications. If they master in carpenter, they make homes more organized and modular. If they master in electrician, they get maintenance works in society. If they become cook, they will get cooking jobs. If they master in accounting, they handle accounts of various companies. In that way thousands of occupations are there in which youth can do mastery. But mastery means mastery not certificates.

In skilling government context is different from people context. Government counts certifications and think that they are skilled, but people assess the right candidate who is actually skilled. For example, one retail shop can hire only skilled salesman. But government counts only certificate holder salesman whether he is expert or not. Government certification is on the basis of basic education or skill but in actual scenario demands high skill with high quality.

All developed countries are developed not only developing infrastructure but people development. In India we also have to develop people development besides infrastructural development. How people develop they must skill in domain skills and soft skills both. The formal education having both the skills will be provided by Skill Universities at present.

About Skill Universities:

When ITIs and Polytechnics are there, why skill universities? How skill Universities are different from Normal Universities? Skill Universities are providing industry standard practical skills as per NSQF level, this skill makes the students can go to join industries easily and can go abroad for jobs or become entrepreneur and practice all standard Industry norms required for running industries or factories in local.

Skill Universities not only develop blue collar workers but also white collar manpower.

Government should provide major responsibilities to skill universities to develop manpower having industrial skills and handing of automation of processes which is required in industries.

Skill Universities should do Research on Employment required in future

Skill Universities should also be given responsibilities in the field of research on employment and Jobs which jobs are required more in future of our nations. What are the trends of jobs? They must prepare the analytics and future projections for employment so that the requirement must be fulfilled.

40 Crore people in various sectors need to be skilled in our nation, this is very challenging, but we can do if planning is good. If skill universities are given a chance to develop “Skill community colleges” at block level and these skill community colleges are linked with the local industries, these can promote local employment.

Perhaps this concept can solve many issues of unemployment. 

 Why unemployment even after skilling

Suppose a rural training center has developed a batch of 30 candidates in retail sales. In this batch 20 candidates are female, they join programme for knowledge, skill and employment. They got knowledge and skill but not employment because employment is not available in local and they are not ready to mobilize to any urban areas. What is the use of such skill? The purpose of government is not fulfilled and government fund is waste.

Skill universities and skill community colleges

Good e-governance of skill universities can bring excellent quality of skill training in skill community colleges.

Skill Community college concept is very powerful for linking itself to local, national and international Industries and major focus on local employment. If employment performance is good, community colleges will serve as skill manpower development system, there may be competition between ITIs and polytechnics vs. Skill Community Colleges.

“Skill Community colleges” should promote one skill at a time and make the people employable. Suppose one programme, Skill Certificate or Diploma in swimming coach means he can get employment in various academies for teaching swimming. Skill Certificate or diploma in Boutique after this certification any candidate can run own or other’s boutique. Diploma in Shopkeeping skills means, one can run a shop having sound knowledge of taxable items and GST. Diploma in cab driving skills, one can join as a car driver in various schools, colleges and companies and corporates. The skilled car drivers are well groomed, punctual and disciplined and liked by all customers. Diploma in Gardening and Floriculture skills, one can join any nursery and sell various plants in urban areas.

Skill Universities can develop not only people but also develop societies for future.

Government must financially support to skill universities to promote skill training and employment in “Skill Community colleges”

Ajay Bhatt

Writer working as a head of the department in a Delhi Based Assessing Body