India and Germany join hands on skill agenda

India and Germany are deepening their collaboration in the area of skill development. An implementation agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and German International Cooperation (GIZ) to initiate a new project focused on adapting elements of the German dual system in select industrial clusters in India. 

This new project will run for three years starting August 2016 with a budget of Rs 22.6 crores – made available by the German government. It aims to foster conditions which will help create and improve cooperative workplace-based vocational training in India’s industrial clusters. The project will be implemented in three selected clusters, which include the automobile cluster in Maharashtra and electronics cluster in Bangalore. 

German technical assistance will be used to enhance industry institute partnerships between Indian and German organisations, build capacity of local training institutions and foster industry linkages which will help adapt elements of the German dual system, into the Indian context. This new project will also play an important role in supporting MSDE’s existing programmes to scale up apprenticeship training. 

The project will be implemented under the umbrella of the ‘Joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of Skill Development and Vocational Education and Training (VET)’, signed during the Indo- German intergovernmental consultations on October 5, 2015 in New Delhi. 

The Joint Working Group, under the MoU held its first meeting on 26 July 2016, in New Delhi. At the meeting, the two countries agreed to deepen their collaboration in a number of specific areas including: curriculum development, research and sharing of best practices, training of trainers, and establishing cooperative workplace based skill training programmes in three industrial clusters. 

Skills training to be closely aligned with industry needs

Commenting on the Indo-German partnership in the area of skill development, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, said, “We in India recognise the fact that Germany’s dual system is widely acclaimed as one of the best in the world, noted for its close linkages between industry and training institutions. This provides a competitive edge to German industry and businesses. We need to adapt elements of the German VET system to the Indian context to ensure that skill training in India is closely aligned with the requirements of industry.” 

“Germany has been one of the countries which is on top of the manufacturing and innovation pyramid and continues to develop most high-end products. It has some of the best working models in sustainable workforce development which is the reason for the country’s economic progress. This partnership with Germany will help strengthen our skill development initiatives. The recent budget allocations that have been made for promoting apprenticeship programs in the country will help our plans see daylight” said Rohit Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. 

“Germany is known for its excellent vocational education system that relies on the strong participation and engagement of the private sector. Having a longstanding partnership with India, Germany is pleased to support the ‘Skill India’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives with a new bilateral programme on vocational education and training. Herein, the engagement of private enterprises, including German firms, as carriers for skill development will be crucial for the success,” said German Ambassador to India, Dr Martin Ney, during an official signing ceremony for the launch of a new bilateral partner programme at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

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