APSSDC implemented Stanford’s University Innovation Fellows (UIF) program to boost high quality skills of young engineers in Andhra

University Innovation Fellows (UIF) programme of Stanford University, now being implemented in India and lapped up by students of engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh, has come as a shot in the arm for the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC).

The APSSDC was formed to impart high quality skilled manpower as part of the A.P. Government’s Knowledge and Skills Mission to chase the dream of double-digit growth.

Launched amid fanfare by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who dubbed it as one of the most important government steps to enhance employability skills of the local student community, the Skill Development Corporation took up a series of training programmes, collaborating with the industry giants and imparting training to students of colleges who enrolled with it. The massive target of students it intended to reach out seemed intimidating. A few colleges said the APSSDC’s online lessons will cut no ice with the local students who are used to classroom teaching. The Corporation went ahead finding out innovative modes of training and so far has trained 6,000 students drawn from around 55 colleges.

57 students became Fellow

The UIF programme of Standford University, in partnership with Google, was brought to the higher educational institutions in India. The APSSDC, in collaboration with Google, is conducting internship for those selected as UIFs. The UIF programme trains students from around the world to become leaders of change in higher education. It provides them training, mentorship and access to a global network of innovative students and faculty, thought leaders in Google and other Silicon Valley companies and educators at Standford.

A total of 57 students from third year of engineering (BTech/BE) from Computer Science and Electronics & Communications streams have been so far selected as UIFs in two batches.

The selected students take part in a six-week online training to learn from Stanford mentors and leaders in academia and industry. After they successfully complete training, they become University Innovation Fellows.

The most exciting part of the fellowship for the local selected students is the week-long Silicon Valley Meetup that brings together newly trained Fellows and a small group of UIF faculty mentors for immersive learning activities. It takes place at Stanford University’s d.school, with visits to Google, Microsoft and other Silicon Valley locations. Attendees engage with leaders in academia and industry and they collaborate and share knowledge with their peers. “A Google Mountain View team headed by Jocelyn Becker, imparted training to 100-odd faculty members at the Vasireddy Venkatadri Institute of Technology (VVIT) in Guntur district where a Siemen’s Centre of Excellence has been set up. We want this programme to be the game-changer,” says T. Lakshmi, Head of the Engineering Programmes, APSSDC.

Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.