event report
Strengthening Skills through Open and Distance Education The aim of Prime Minister’s National Council of Skill Development is to have 500 million skilled workers (i.e. one-fourth of the technical workforce of the world) by the year 2020; to increase the skilled workforce from 5% to about 50%; to achieve the targeted growth in economy; to train and certify the surplus 47 million working age people (that would be by year 2020) as technicians; to increase the percentage of literacy and limited literacy of the workforce of 397 million, in which almost 67% is either illiterate or suffers from limited literacy level; to ensure that the workforce remains on the cutting edge of the technology revolution; to obliterate the gender and rural-urban divides in acquiring skill development; to utilise the available resources such as educational institutions with public and private sector participation for skill development. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through its Schools of Studies, Regional Centres and Study Centres is offering skill development programmes all over the country. School of Engineering and Technology has initiated pioneer effort by launching Vertically Integrated Engineering Programmes known as IGNOU-VIEP. The scheme provides an opportunity for upward mobility to learners from Certificate to Ph.D. programmes in engineering. By enhancing and augmenting the capacity and level of operations, IGNOU wishes to contribute in the skill up-gradation and capacity building to strengthen PM’s National Skill Development Mission through IGNOU’s Vertically Integrated Programmes. Inaugural Session To begin with, the dignitaries were welcomed with flowers and lighting of lamp. The dias was taken over by Prof. V N Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU; Dr. Ajit Kumar, Director, School of Engineering and Technology, IGNOU; and Prof. N S Ramaswamy, Founder, IIM, Banglore. Prof. V N Rajasekharan
Left to Right: Prof. NS Ramaswamy, Dr. Ajit Kumar and Prof.V.N.Rajasekharan Pillai
Pillai gave a welcome speech in which he mentioned that we know the problems and the solutions, but we do not lay emphasis on implementation. There is a requirement for furnishing a draft plan that can be used for aiding government and involve all the stakeholders to draw action of the documents, that can be implemented immediately. 2010-20 is the decade of innovation with sustainable and developing education. It is a need with us to explore all sorts of skills, keeping in mind the challenges we face, such as 89% drop-out rate. Multiple-models of delivery have to be sought, that suit different situations of different states with dimension of inclusive education. In India, 2,50,000 educational institutions can easily convert themselves into skill development institutions without moving away from the mainstream courses they presently offer. The models to be implemented have to be contextualised and IGNOU with country wide network is capable of doing the same in collaboration
with other credible institutions. Scaling up is not easy, especially with ensured quality and standards. There is a need to include more streams in field of skill development. There is also a need to re-structure the present models of learning and link with small and medium level industries. The idea is to inculcate basic skill, for instance, in a fashion similar to community colleges. Additionally, assessment and certification of prior learning should also be arranged for to enhance the national productivity. For instance, the coal mine workers can be assessed and given additional knowledge and skills and make them undergo examination, certify them and give them an opportunity to rise through coordinated activities with civil societies and corporates. Session I & II The first session was chaired by Prof. PL Dhar from IIT Delhi and co-chaired by Prof. NR Shetty, President, Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE). The other digital LEARNING
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panelists for the session included Dr. Ajit Kumar, IGNOU; Dr Manoj Kulsreshtha, IGNOU; and KP Murthy, Strategic Consultant at MICO Bosch, Bangalore. The issues that were discussed under this session included skill development & certification for inclusive growth; bottlenecks in channelising the skill development initiatives; and VIEP – a gateway for skilled workforce. Session II was chaired by Prof. N S Ramaswamy and co-chaired Prof. R R Gaur. The other panelists included Prof. KR Srivathsan, Pro-Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, Prof. MK Salooja, Director, School of Agriculture; Prof. Subhasis Maji, School of Engineering and Technology; Prof. SB Arora, Center for Paramedical Sciences; and Prof. CG Naidu, Director, School of Vocational Education and Training. The issues discussed in this session included combining Vocational/ Skill Based Education with Higher Technical Education; and Regulatory Framework and Quality Issues in technical education. Important Issues and Concerns During the deliberations, the issues and concerns that were noted included unavailability of skilled and certified work force; quality training and education; training to handle power tools and new machines to enhance production and quality of the product; scaling up the training facilities; under utilisation of infrastructure facilities; opportunity for vertical mobility; policy decision for recognition of skill development programme for vertical mobility; training and education of school dropouts; and enhancing gross enrollment in skill development programmes with vertical mobility options. Recommendations In order to achieve the same, it is necessary that a centralised body is created within IGNOU. In the present setup of IGNOU, to achieve the aforementioned targets in skill development, the activities fall on various spheres viz., School of Engineering and Technology, School of Vocational Education and Training, Academic Council, Board of Management, Students Registration Division, Student Evaluation Division etc. and these schools/divisions fall under the administrative control of different higher authorities viz., PVC’s and VC. Therefore, proper coordination is a Herculean task. 26
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As a solution to the issues raised in the meeting, following are the main recommendations : • Development of linkage programme in the form of Diploma Preparatory Programme (DPP) of six months duration for nonmatriculate candidates having skill certificate for the purpose of admission to Diploma Programmes in engineering. • Coordination and networking of the institutes, organisation and agencies involved in skill training and certification programme. • Development of quality course material (print and non-print) for skill development programmes • Utilization of training centers of industry and corporate houses • To establish a minimum of 5,000 centres to initiate skill development programme in phased manner. • To increase the disciplines of skill development in phased manner
Moreover, the programme also needs to be supported from all concerned agencies of the Union of India and the respective departments of the State Governments. It is, therefore, proposed that an autonomous unit chaired by the ViceChancellor be created and academicians and officials from all related schools and divisions of IGNOU be made the members apart from members from outside. It is only in similar circumstances in order to have the necessary coordination; the PM’s office has also created PM’s National Council on Skill Development. The said autonomous body may be called as “IGNOU’s Skill Development Mission”. IGNOU’S SKILL DEVELOPMENT MISSION The constitution of the apex body of IGNOU’s Skill Development Mission may be as follows : Chair Person: Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU Members : 1. One person from PM’s Council on National Skill Development. 2. One person from National Skill Development Corporation. 3. One person from Directorate General
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18.
of Employment and Training Ministry of Labor and Employment. One Person from each State from the Labor Department. One Person from MHRD. One Person from SOET, IGNOU. One Person from SOVET, IGNOU. One person from SED, IGNOU. One Person from Academic Council, IGNOU. One Person from Board of Management, IGNOU. One Person from Finance/Accounts Department, IGNOU. Registrar, IGNOU. One Person from Legal Profession. Experts in the field of Skill Development. (15)Eminent Personalities from Industries related to skill Development. Eminent Economists. Eminent Academicians. Persons of High repute and esteemed honour.
There should also be a member secretary amongst the above. All decisions taken in afore mentioned body should be implemented by all the concerned schools/divisions of IGNOU. Valedictory Session During the valedictory session Guest of Honour Prof. NS Ramaswamy summarised the points of discussion. The summation included that optimum utilisation of resources are to be emphasised upon; there is a need for proper training and utilisation of infrastructure; provision of quality education should be made into a mandate; vertical mobility provided opportunity for all in skills development; policy decisions form an important part of the skill development; collaborations and Memorandums of Understanding opened more spaces for skill development; ‘Training of Trainers’ is an important component of the whole process; there is a requirement to lay down proper standards, tools and procedures for issues related to skill development and vocational training; Open Distance Learning is an important mechanism for achievement of said goals; restoring the teachers back to centre-stage is to be emphsised upon; and there is a need to introduce self regulatory system, making assessment open to discretion of the respective universities. With the closure of this session, the event ended on an optimistic note. \\