The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), the first Sector Skill Council of India, held the ASDC Partner’s Forum 2019 today in New Delhi. The objective of the meet was to discuss, share knowledge and understand the opportunity to provide quality training programs for India Auto Inc with credible assessments and certification.

The day-long event saw industry experts give an overview of the current scenario in the skilling industry, prevailing best practices, challenges and relevant suggestions. The speakers highlighted the recently inked partnership between ASDC and TCS iON, which is aiming to address the challenges through digital transformation.

Digitisation is currently underway in key areas like end-to-end ASDC skilling ecosystem, skilling and upskilling of workforce in the automotive system, and enabled through TCS iON digital learning, digitised automotive skill assessment process, digitised driving assessments with TCS iON Cert-n-Edge and an online job-listing portal.

The digitisation process will enable skilling of potential candidates even from remote areas and is expected to enhance employment opportunities with listed job portals, and upskill the workforce through online trainings. Importantly, the digital transformation will ensure secure and transparent assessments and certifications, industry certified skills, total elimination of manipulations in Part B (Practical) assessments, standardised course content and provide holistic view of training partners and their infrastructure.

In one of the sessions, E&Y, one of the largest professional services firms, shared its insight on the automotive skill gap in the country. 

Attending the forum were ASDC training partners including automobile OEMs, automotive component manufacturers, and individual training partners. The event concluded with a panel discussion where industry partners shared their expectations from ASDC-certified candidates.

Concluding the event, Nikunj Sanghi, chairman, ASDC, said, “I thank each and every partner for being a part of this forum today and discussing various aspects of skilling in the automobile industry. It is imperative for us to keep pace with the dynamic shifts in the landscape of the Indian automotive Industry, where skilling plays a very important role. We need to focus on imparting skills which are at par with the industry standards. But it will only be possible when the entire process is well refined and is led by successful mentors. This, if possible, will make young professionals ready for the challenges and demands of the industry.’’

ASDC targets skilling as a mission 
ASDC's collaboration with TCS IoN is expected to bring value propositions for ASDC such as standardisation of processes, digital affiliation and audit trails for better control and integration.

ASDC has embarked on this skilling mission with the active support from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), and the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA). ASDC supports the Government’s Skill India program and schemes like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY) that seek to enhance the skills of young aspirants to make them more relevant and qualified for employment in the automotive industry.

ASDC envisions making India self-sufficient in the availability of skilled personnel for sustaining growth and increasing competitiveness of the domestic automobile industry. ASDC has over 240 training partners, 800 certified assessors, 14 expert groups with 295 industry experts and over 2000 training centres. 

Also read: Interview with Nikunj Sanghi: 'Skilling people is not about giving jobs. It is about keeping them employable for tomorrow.'

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