Pune : Skill development is an important driver for industrial and economic growth of India. To catalyze Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Skill India and Make in India vision, a large pool of skilled workforce has to be created quickly. India is the youngest country in the world and in order to reap the advantages of demographic dividend, we must provide our youth with skills and encourage them to enter the world of work. It has been observed that students hesitate to join vocational education because of lack of vertical mobility and social acceptability.
To address these issues, Symbiosis Open Education Society announced the establishment of 15 acres spread state of art campus based Maharashtra’s first open Skill Development University called the Symbiosis Skills and Open University at Kiwale, Pune adjoining the Pune- Mumbai expressway. The University was enacted through a bill passed by State Legislation on 3rd May 2017. Dr. Swati Mujumdar, Principal Director, Symbiosis Open Education Society and her team have been doing research for several years and have come up with this unique model of Skills University which is suitable to our country.
Under the guidance of the President and Founder of Symbiosis, Dr S.B Mujumdar & the leadership of Principal Director, Dr. Swati Mujumdar, Symbiosis has established this innovative and unique University at Pune. The University model has many different characteristic features as compared to a Conventional University such as multi entry exit, credit banking and transfer, entry for 10th passed students, more than 70% focus on practical training, tie-ups with industry for curricula development and skill training etc.
The University will focus on offering courses at all levels from certificate to post graduate degree in high growth sectors such as Automobile, Mechatronics, Construction, Retail, Ports & Terminal Management, Beauty & Wellness etc, providing students with an opportunity for vertical mobility. The open and distance learning programs will complement the skill based courses. These ODL programs are aimed at “Reaching the Unreached” and providing educational opportunities to students from all strata of society and to those located in remote corners.
“The University will also have vocational guidance and employment cell which will interact with industry on a continuous basis to identify job requirements and provide skilled manpower in line with their needs. The University has infrastructure such as Centres of Excellence with specialized skill training equipment, workshops with industrial machinery, mock store for retail sector and skill training simulators imported from Germany, in order to provide a real life experiential learning to students”, she said.
The industry has been involved from the very beginning in developing the curricula, designing of skill training labs and identification of machinery & softwares for the University.Our industry partners are also setting up training academies and centers of excellence on the University campus to provide skill training. The industry will also be closely involved in conducting skill assessments, on the job training and joint research projects for the University, she added.
The University will start offering courses from Academic Year 2017 under its various Schools which are in line with industry sectors such as School of Automobile & Mechatronics Engineering, School of Construction Engineering & Infrastructure Management, School of Retail Management, School of Architecture, Urban Development & Planning, School of Ports, Terminals & Warehouse Management School of Beauty & Wellness, School of Health Sciences& Management, School of Public Policy & Administration, School of Open, Distance Learning and Continuing Education& School of Interdisciplinary Sciences.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
