A skills and talent partnership with India

It would involve collaboration between trainers in India and Australia, with students receiving training in India that gives them qualifications and experience sought in Australian workplaces.

India's Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) would develop a platform to enable the training of Indian youth and build the capacity of vocational education and training in India.

VETASSESS and the MSDE are currently discussing a pilot project.

VETASSESS Executive Director Rob Thomason says VETASSESS could assist with developing the platform to map training to Australian requirements.

“VETASSESS could also assure the quality of training by providing independent skills assessments of participants trained by Indian training organisations to ensure they meet Australian employment standards,” he said.

Mr Thomason says the program could possibly provide graduates of the Indian International Skills Centres with work experience and a pathway to residency in Australia while helping meet Australian employers’ demand for qualified workers.

“Many Australian employers, in both rural areas and cities, are desperate for more workers,” he said.

“Australian training and the quality of assessment are recognised by the technical and vocational education and training sector internationally. This partnership will assist India to develop a workforce with skills that are in demand globally. Many of these workers will eventually return home, bringing new skills to benefit the Indian economy.”

The Indian Government is establishing a network of International Skills Centres to provide training benchmarked to international standards, to equip Indian youth planning to work abroad.

Earlier this year, India’s Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, led a delegation to Australia to investigate the national technical and further education (TAFE) system and discuss collaboration with VETASSESS and its parent company Bendigo Kangan Institute, which provides TAFE across Victoria.

This led to further discussions in India in September and a roundtable discussion with the Joint Secretary for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Mr Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, the CEO of the National Skills Development Corporation, Mr Ved Mani Tiwari, the CEOs of six Skills Councils and representatives of the Australian High Commission.

The roundtable discussed Indian and Australian dual training and certification, training of Indian trainers and assessors, curriculum, bridging courses for students and apprenticeship opportunities in Australia for Indian students.

The venture would involve Australian Government agencies, Australian TAFE institutes, and Indian training providers, industry associations and skills sector councils.

For media inquiries, contact our communications team at communications@VETASSESS.com.au