Polytechnics and ITIs in other states are following the trend of offering diploma courses that will help them find jobs in Industry 4.0.
enhance technical competency
The upgradation will enhance technical competencies, says Hanif Noorani, additional chief secretary, skill, employment and entrepreneurship department of the Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM).
“The CoE tag will provide easy access to continuous competency or capacity building. Training in key technical areas and collaborations with several regional industry players, with a special focus on emerging technologies. We will update the syllabus and syllabus as per the changing market demand, says Noorani.
A COE campus has an industrial laboratory and advanced equipment leading to the development of Industry 4.0 appropriate core technical skills among the students. Hrishikesh Mohanty, Principal, ITI Cuttack, who is tagged with COE, says, “Our students are now being trained to handle, fix and repair car engine problems with the latest technology in an industrial laboratory set up under the industry collaboration of COE. Earlier, in the absence of an industrial laboratory, training was done using old BS4 engines. So far 27 companies have set up their industrial laboratories in the campus to mobilize skilled manpower.
Prioritizing Vocational Education
For the skill development of the students at large, Polytechnics and ITIs play a vital role as more than 90% of the teaching takes place through practical training. Mohanty says, “Training in a particular skill is the basis of vocational education and the acquisition of such skills requires industrial exposure to be offered through industrial laboratories operating in polytechnics and ITIs. There is a need to stay updated with industry trends and train students through industry collaboration.
V Karthikeyan, Principal, Thyagaraj Polytechnic College at Salem, which has 11 CoEs, caters to the demands of local industries. It helps the students to bridge the skill gap in the Industrial Automation sector. “Polytechnic education has huge job scope as it produces a large number of skilled workforce in the Indian and global market. Prioritizing the same, our efforts are directed towards providing additional, short-term training to the students under the guidance of technical experts from Festo India. To enhance the importance and legitimacy of vocational education, it has to offer similar value-added courses or in-demand trades to the students,” says Karthikeyan.
Advantages of CoE Connect
Mohanty says that CoE can be availed only when the senior management team of ITI bridges the training-talent gap. “Soon bus-truck maker BharatBenz will set up an industrial laboratory at the ITI Cuttack campus,” he says. Under the recently concluded MoU, new age equipment worth about Rs 12 crore will be installed. In addition, three Mini Tool Rooms were commissioned at ITI, Cuttack in collaboration with Central Tool-Training Center (CTTC), Bhubaneswar.
The CoE tag helps in getting financial and technical assistance from the State/Central Governments. Karthikeyan says, “Despite playing a vital role in skill development, much remains to be done for funding these students to enter entrepreneurship. Due to the COE mandate many ITIs run by the government now have courses, staff- Along with being updated in terms of workshop equipments.