Bhubaneswar, Dec. 2: The state government is planning to set up a university for skill development.
Speaking at the Make In Odisha Conclave here today, technical education minister Sanjay Dasburma today called upon industries to come forward and help in setting up a skill university.
"Industries should strongly consider taking up the initiative in setting up a skill university in Odisha. The state government will extend all possible help in this regard," he said.
This university is expected to provide a momentum to the current skill development programmes running in various institutes. Besides imparting the skills, it would also provide the students with a degree that will be recognised across all sectors.
However, the proposal is still in its infancy and efforts are on to work out how to go about it, the minister said.
A special session titled "Skilled in Odisha" was organised as part of the conclave. Industry experts, employers and trainers from across the nation who attended the session spoke on the issue.
"Eight advanced skill training institutes will be set up in the state with funding from the Asian Development Fund to support 30 government ITIs. As many as two lakh youth will be imparted high-end finishing skill trainings on 12 priority sectors over a period of five years through these institutes," secretary, technical education, Sanjay Kumar Singh.
Each advanced skill training institutes will target 3,000 to 4,000 youth per year. These would include ITI graduates who are not employed, unemployed engineers, graduates and polytechnic graduates. These institutes will also provide customised skill upgrade of the existing workforce.
Similarly, 74 skill development centres are being set up across the state with a capital investment of Rs 60 crore.
A good number of institutes for training are also in the offing. While the state has already set up the Biju Patnaik Institute for Training of Trainers at Talcher in Angul district, another such institute is also coming up in Bhubaneswar. Five more institutes are also in the pipeline, said the Singh.
Odisha has more than 800 institutions offering undergraduate and technical education. The state produces more than 1.5 lakh technical and non-technical graduates every year. Around four million skilled manpower is required by 2026 across different sectors in the state.
On the occasion, a MoU was signed between the commerce and transport department and OLA cabs for training skilled drivers at the government driving institute at Chhatia.
Utkal University vice-chancellor A.K. Das launched an innovative programme called "Teach in Odisha". It will be executed with the partnership of the state government, universities and NGO. Inspired by the "Teach for America" programme, it aims to engage willing and dynamic individuals to work with skill development institutes for 12 months to facilitate the students and enhance the quality of education.
