CEMCA initiative to Upgrade TVSD courses to NSQF
CEMCA initiative to Upgrade TVSD courses to NSQF
Guwahati; 06/12/2014: Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) New Delhi in collaboration with Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU), Guwahati, Assam organized a workshop on “Upgradation of the Vocational Courses of KKHSOU to National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)” from 02-04 December, 2014 at Hotel Rajdhani Regency, Guwahati. The workshop was graced by a number of experts including officials from the University. Thirty participants from different Industrial Training Institutes, Polytechnics and other government as well as private institutes of the state of Assam participated in the said workshop.
The Minister of Education, Industry & Commerce, Power and Public Enterprises of Assam, Shri Pradyut Bordoloi formally inaugurated the workshop on 04 December, 2014. He emphasized the fact that Assam Government have been relentlessly pursuing for the development of skill-based education in the state. In fact, plans are afoot to set up 12 model degree colleges, which are currently under construction. He also stressed on the need to have ‘community colleges’ in line with the western countries whereby the learners would be exposed to different skill-based courses to take on the challenges of the job market in the long way. The Minister further said that KKHSOU can pool-in different resources and provide the much-needed platform to the learners/students of these model colleges.
Vice Chancellor of Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, Professor Srinath Baruah underlined that the University would implement more skill-based programmes for the learners in order to strengthen their ability to adapt to the changing market scenario. He specifically mentioned the fact that the University had made it mandatory for the learners to pursue three programmes– Spoken English, Computer Application and Office Management at the degree level.
Shri N.K. Mohapatra, CEO, Electronics Sector Skill Council of India, New Delhi sketched the fact that the Government has laid importance on implementing the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) in the country by 2018. Although he spoke about the challenges that might be encountered in the implementation of the aforementioned framework, yet the active cooperation from different sectors would make the initiative a success. Dr. Ankuran Dutta, Programme Officer (Livelihood and Health), CEMCA outlined the importance of the workshop by saying that different vocational and skill based programmes must be upgraded as per NSQF. He deliberated on the issues pertaining to the contributions made by CEMCA in the field of skill development.
The inputs of the participants on the present curriculum of the University have been taken by Shri Mohapatra to align the existing courses of electronics to the NSQF. He acted as the key resource person in the workshop. Dr Dutta of CEMCA facilitated the workshop to develop 200 hrs short term skill development courses aligning with NSQF and the participants finalized eight curricula in electronics, IT, automotive and beauty and wellness sector.
