Think Success, Think Vocational!

Vocational Training Programs seem to gain steam in the last few years. Now, even schools and colleges are partnering with training companies in India to provide their students with vocational education. This is great news for a country, which is on its way to make a sizeable presence in the global working population in the coming decades.

Now with the introduction of National Vocational Education Qualification Framework (NVEQF), skill based training programs will be offered right at the school level, which means demand for vocational education programs is going to soar across all levels!

Be it teacher training programs, or spoken English programs, or selling & communication programs, vocational training programs, if utilized properly, can change the very face of this economy. What is need the most now is the co-operation by industries. As of now, skilled manpower doesn’t get their due recognition from the industry players. They need to change their whole approach towards skilled manpower and give them what they rightfully deserve.

Even youngsters need to look at vocational education from a fresh angle. Only when they would start looking at vocational courses as a mainstream career option, a big change would come, for a large number of youth who are still unemployable and for the Indian economy that wants to emerge as a the next big thing in the global arena.

Vocational Space – its challenges and solutions

Vocational skills training providers may consider working backwards, taking cues from the industry, and accordingly develop a pool of skilled talent that can be readily absorbed by the industry players. The industry also needs to work on its existing frame of mind towards skilled workforce; for example, it can contribute by differential pay and reward the skilled workforce; this single step will create a world of difference in the field of vocational education & training.

The good thing is that India is finally waking up to the need for skilled workforce; tremendous focus is now being shifted towards generating awareness about the skills development and vocational training field, and making the field attractive and aspirational for the young so that they look at it as a preferred option. The need of the hour, therefore, is to make vocational training mainstream.

Some companies, like Centum Learning, are doing a phenomenal job in this field; their vocational training programme assist participants find job opportunities in sectors like Auto and Auto Components, Building and Construction Materials, Building and Construction, Real Estate Services, Electronics and IT Hardware, Education and Skill Development Services, Food Processing, Gems and Jewellery, Healthcare, Textiles, Leather and Leather Goods, Organised Retail, and Tourism and Hospitality.

Only if we can provide vocational education to more and more people, India – as a country – can take on the world in the next one or two decades. But for that we really need to fasten our efforts.