NSDC and ILO forge partnership to enhance Skill Development and Lifelong Learning
Advancing the Skill Mission, the
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of the Ministry
of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the International Labour
Organization (ILO) today announced a strategic partnership to advance skill
development and lifelong learning in India and globally. This collaboration
aims to empower individuals across the globe, by equipping them with essential
competencies and qualifications, thereby enhancing employability and
sustainable economic growth. Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, and other
officials of the Ministry were present in the event.
The MoU was signed by Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC and MD,
NSDC International, and Mr. Sangheon Lee, Director, Employment Policy, Job
Creation and Livelihoods Department, ILO, reaffirming both organizations'
commitment to leveraging their strengths and expertise in talent development.
This partnership is dedicated to developing effective policies, governance and
financing structures which will enhance skill development, both nationally and
internationally. A key aspect of the partnership is the implementation of the
Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH). This digital transformation will streamline
skill development initiatives, enhancing their efficiency, accessibility, and
global impact.
Lauding the
partnership Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, said, that one of the key
aspects of the partnership is the adoption of the Skill India Digital Hub
(SIDH) and Governments, workers’ and employers' organizations in ILO’s member
countries will be able to use SIDH to digitize systems, processes, skills
delivery, and job matching, based on a cost-effective model. He also said that
this digital transformation will enhance the efficiency of skill development
initiatives, making them more accessible and impactful globally. He emphasised
MSDE’s commitment to creating policies and platforms that support lifelong
learning and continuous skill development for the talent to succeed nationally
and globally. SIDH exemplifies this commitment, and this partnership reflects
the shared mission to empower individuals through skill development avenues,
across borders, he added.
Tiwari also said that by combining ILO's expertise with
MSDE’s commitment to skilling, reskilling, and upskilling, the aim is to
empower individuals to navigate disruptions and create a sustainable future. He
also said that MSDE will enhance skillsets and boost employability, driving
impactful change in the evolving job market.
The partnership aims to facilitate public-private
partnerships and knowledge exchange to enhance Sector Skill Councils (SSCs),
develop micro-credentials, and promote Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) through
a global knowledge-sharing platform. By strengthening the comparability of
skills and qualifications, digital tools will be developed and deployed to
assess and compare the skills and qualifications of Indian workers with those
required in potential destination countries, improving mobility and global
employability prospects for Indian workers.
Speaking on the partnership, Ved Mani Tiwari said that
the MoU between ILO and NSDC is a significant milestone for the Skills
Ecosystem in India. This partnership will help build a pool of Indian youth for
global opportunities as the partnership aims to align and benchmark Indian
qualifications with global skills standards, he added. Shri Tiwari also said
that India is becoming a preferred destination for GCCs, opening opportunities
for Indian youth to participate in remotely delivered knowledge work for the
whole world. The government’s focus on skilled migration opens opportunities
for those who want to emigrate to join the international workforce, he also
mentioned. He also expressed excitement to work with ILO to develop regional
qualification frameworks such as the South Asian Qualification Framework which
will help youth from the neighbouring countries also. NSDC’s partnership will
also help offer NSDC Digital’s services and offerings to member countries of
ILO, he said.
Speaking about the strategic partnership, Sangheon Lee
said that combining NSDC technological capacity and ILO standard-setting
functions, tripartism and global reach has the potential to significantly
improve training access and quality globally. He also said that the partnership
with NSDC will create a synergistic effect, amplifying the collective ability
to lead the transformation of skills development, for greater social justice,
not only in India but globally.
Promoting quality apprenticeships, work-based learning
for employability and productivity, and the development of sustainable
enterprises will be a cornerstone of this collaboration. By collaborating on
data-driven approaches, ILO and NSDC aim to align skill development initiatives
with the evolving demands of various industries.
In addition to policy development and data analysis, the
partnership will prioritize the development and support of innovative learning
programs. These programs will be designed to be flexible and inclusive,
fostering adaptability among learners while ensuring that skills development
remains relevant and accessible to all segments of society.