PUNE: The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will train as many as one lakh workers in the organized and unorganized sectors related to tourism.

From guides to taxi drivers, life guards to rickshaw drivers and restaurant staff to mechanics, the MTDC would work on chiselling their behavioural skills and providing a formal technical know-how of their profession. Training workforce in these sectors will go a long way in appeasing the tourists coming to the state.

The skill upgradation is a part of the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) in Maharashtra and is aimed at helping tourists coming to the state.

MTDC general manager Kishori Gadre said, “The tourism industry is growing at an unprecedented rate and many in the sector are not formally trained. Workforce in the lower rung of the organised sector and those in the unorganised sector do not receive any training in their vocation. Our focus will be on training lifeguards and guides. Since MTDC is not a training body, it will facilitate the process.”

Gadre said that well-trained and well-behaved guides, taxi drivers and others (who deal with tourists directly) will cultivate a positive attitude among tourists. “The Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), Goa, has been roped in to take this initiative forward. Besides, trainers from other institutes will be deployed,” said Gadre, adding that the budget for the initiative will be huge. However, he could not give a figure on the same.

MTDC managing director Jagdish Patil said, “Private and government institutes will be engaged to impart training. Modules spanning two to four weeks have been planned. A part of the unemployed section will also be trained using modules of longer duration.”

Patil said that as part of the skill upgradation initiative, as many as 45 lakh people will be trained in 10 different departments in the state, of which tourism is one. “Before choosing the trainees, we need to select the sectors in tourism from which they will be shortlisted. For instance, hospitality, food and beverage, housekeeping, tour operators and the like,” said Patil.

Article source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Maharashtra-Tourism-Development-Corporation-to-impart-training-to-1L-people-in-tourism-sector/articleshow/13325261.cms

The Federal Government is to train one million youths annually in various technical and vocational skills under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme as part of its Industrial Revolution.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Agaga, disclosed this in Abuja,   during the Presentation of the National Industrial Skills Development Project to stakeholders.

He said, “The NISDP was a collaborative initiative between the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority of Nigeria Industrial Training Fund and the organised private sector, the scheme would help to reduce youth unemployment across the country.

“Skills development is one of the major pillars of my ministry’s Industrial Revolution Plan, the Ministry of Trade and Investment would partner the OPS and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation to significantly increase the pool of skills required to increase the productive capacity of local industries to enable them create jobs, generate wealth and transform Nigeria’s economy.

“The new initiative would widen the scope of entrepreneurial opportunities for skilled youths, the Industrial Revolution which we have embarked upon is based on three major pillars which are industry, innovation and skills development. We want to focus on industries where we have comparative and competitive advantage, and with high potentials for job creation and wealth generation.

“As part of its skills development strategy, the Ministry of Trade and Investment had already embarked on policy reform programmes aimed at removing bottlenecks along the value chain in order to link skills development and innovation to industry needs.

“One of the major causes of unemployment is the shortage of technical and vocational skills. But what differentiates the NISDP from previous efforts at training and capacity building is that it is sector-driven. It has been conceptualized to transform our numerical advantage into productive advantage in the sense that training for each sector will be need-based. This will go a long in addressing the specific skills requirements and priorities of our local industrial and ultimately create jobs for our youths,” he stressed.

Speaking, the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said the development of vocational and technical skills was critical to the Nigeria’s Industrial Revolution.

Article source: http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/47103-one-million-youths-for-vocational-training.html

MANILA, Philippines – Under the leadership of Secretary Joel Villanueva, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is revving up its pro-poor thrust, taking its mobile bus training and assessment facility in Marikina City on Saturday for 141 trainees.

Villanueva, TESDA director general, and other agency officials introduced their Mobile Training and Assessment Plus (MTAP) Park and Train Bus in Barangay Tumana for the benefit of residents who need an opportunity to learn vocational courses and land a job.

It is part of the agency’s innovation to reach out to more people and help in the campaign against poverty.

“We innovate to educate especially our disadvantaged youth through this mobile learning centers. In the coming months, we hope that this bus journeys through more communities bringing with it the promise of alternative technical vocational school,” said Villanueva.

For its Barangay Tumana stop, it will be parked for over a month or so, that is until the trainees completed their courses, such as on Computer Hardware Servicing (CHS); Motorcycle Servicing/Small Engine Servicing; Driving; Haircut leading to Hairdressing; Wellness Massage; and Community Disaster Management Program.

MTAP’s first stop was in Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon City in February, where it stayed for a month and half, providing training to 132 trainees.

Director Mitzi Tangonan, TESDA-National Capital Region, told the Manila Bulletin Sunday the Barangay Bagong Silangan stop of MTAP gave certificate of training to all the participants, 97 percent of them passing the assessment for a National Certificate (NC).

She said only the course on disaster management did not require an assessment.

“To ensure the trainees land a job, they were all given tool kits and were also given training on entrepreneurship, for self-employment. Some of them also landed a job. About 90 percent have a job,” said Tangonan.

TESDA gave the MTAP trainees the opportunity to learn and earn, she said, adding the agency has a monitoring scheme to check whether they are using the training they had.

On the other hand, Director Marta M. Hernandez, in a separate interview, said the mobile training is one way for TESDA to reach the difficult-to-reach barangays in the NCR.

She said TESDA offices across the country are also into providing vocational education training in their areas.

“It is a way to help the poor learn new things and give them opportunity to get a job,” said Hernandez.

She confirmed that the bus being used for the MTAP was a donation of Genesys Group of Companies intended as a shuttle service for TESDA employees.

“Then, we in TESDA decided to convert the bus into a mobile training facility and make it more useful,” said Hernandez.

It could be recalled the government agency introduced the MTAP in February this year, sort of “If Muhammad cannot come to the mountain, then the mountain will come to Muhammad.”

Thus, the training and assessment bus rolls into and give priorities to areas that are “remote and hard to reach by public services, regularly stricken by natural calamities, and areas with less fortunate beneficiaries who cannot afford transportation expenses.”

Villanueva cited the mobile training program as a showcase of what he described as “the strong public-private partnership” that TESDA has struck with private donors.

Article source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/360003/tesda-training-in-marikina-city

Pretoria — The eThekwini Municipality, in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, will host a Mathematics, Science and Technology Indaba in an effort to attract learners to careers in these fields.

The three-day indaba, to be held at JL Dube Stadium in Inanda, will focus on primary and secondary schools in the Inanda, Ntuzuma and Kwa Mashu (INK) area.

Head of Skills Development in the municipality, Gugu Mji, said South Africa faced a huge shortage of skills in these critical fields.

“The shortage severely affects both private and public sectors and the economic growth of the country. Over several years, the municipality’s Skills Development Unit and INK have partnered with the Department of Education in support of maths, science and technical programmes for Grades 10 to 12.

“These have included teacher curriculum support workshops and learner excellence programmes that have yielded positive results in the schools around the INK area,” said Mji.

Mji added that with this indaba, the partnership was extending its support to Grades 5 – 9 as a short term intervention, with medium to long term plans to establish a Mathematics and Science Centre.

The indaba will hold a competition among participating schools to showcase their knowledge of the sciences and various institutions, while FET colleges and municipal technical departments will exhibit educational programmes and career opportunities.

“We want to raise general interest in the benefits of Science and Technology. The Indaba is part of our vision for creating home grown scientists who will use their skills for the benefit of their own communities,” said Mji.

The indaba comes ahead of the National Maths and Science Indaba to be held in June.

On Wednesday, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that the department would convene an indaba in June with key education stakeholders involved in the teaching of these subjects.

Motshekga also raised concern at the poor quality of passes in Maths and Science, adding that the focus would now fall on these subjects as well as technology.

“To improve both the quality and quantity of passes in Maths and Science, we are implementing a new national strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. It reinforces the Dinaledi Schools programme, which has received a conditional grant of R99.7 million for 2012/13,” Motshekga said.

Article source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201205190349.html

19 May 2012
Last updated at 08:43 ET

Fifteen young South African entrepreneurs are visiting Cambridge to develop their business skills.

Anglia Ruskin University’s enterprise development centre was chosen by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to host the group at the end of the month.

The visit is part of a project to promote business in South African townships and trade with the UK.

A university spokesman said without suitable role models, barriers to start-up businesses were considerable.

‘Central to everything’

Professor Lester Lloyd-Reason, director of the university’s Centre for Enterprise Development and Research (CEDAR), said the fact it had been chosen was “testament to the innovative work we are doing here”.

“We don’t just teach people about theories and academic research. Enterprise and entrepreneurship is central to everything we do,” he said.

During the visit the South Africans will take part in sessions on business idea creation, growth, pitching and funding.

Their three-day visit was arranged by the South African Micro Enterprise Development Organisation (MEDO) and Enternships.com, an organisation that introduces students and graduates to start-up businesses.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-18114808

Pretoria — Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize says while the department has policies in place, there is a need to put more emphasis on skills development and the creation of academic and work opportunities for young people.

Speaking at the signing of the Joint Declaration on Education and Training Sectoral Policy Dialogue Forum between South Africa and the European Commission, Mkhize said the department had a mandate to ensure that there was a planned skills development programme in the country. She said the department had policies and plans in place.

“We are ensuring through the National Skills Development Strategy 111 that there is sufficient funding for skills development and the research capacity of our institutions is strengthened through research funding allocations and collaboration with bodies such as the National Research Foundation,” Mkhize said.

However, she said they would need international partnerships to ensure that the department’s policies on skills development were resourced and effectively implemented.

Commenting on Statistics South Africa’s Quarter 1, 2012 Labour Force Survey, which showed that the current unemployment rate stands at 25, 2 percent with 4.5 million South Africans being unemployed, Mkhize said that the situation required them to ensure that South Africans, especially the youth, were equipped with the relevant skills for the economy.

“We have similarly also taken note of anecdotal reports that indicate that with the fiscal challenges that have lately afflicted some European Union Member States, rising unemployment amongst young people has been a global trend.”

She said that benefits of the dialogue forum allowed them equal footing, not in the context of traditional official development assistance where there is a benefactor and a beneficiary, but rather as partners seeking redemption and thus use a single vehicle to amass the intellectual capital on the basis of which policy approaches could be considered and tested.

“The Dialogue Forum, through its many pursuits, is therefore the right avenue to assist us as policy makers, in not only building greater people-to-people camaraderie between South Africa and the European Commission, amongst others, but also to find concrete solutions for the youth unemployability that has afflicted us.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the “African Higher Education Harmonisation: Tuning and Shaping Responsive and Quality Postgraduate Education” Conference taking place at the University of the Western Cape.

Article source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201205190079.html

A LEADING engineering firm in Caithness believes modern apprentices can help shape the future of the industry in Scotland.

T3UK, the training division of JGC Engineering and Technical Services, is backing Skills Development Scotland’s Scottish Apprenticeship Week which runs from May 21 to 25.

Helen Mackay, who manages the firm’s modern apprenticeship programme, explained: “JGC has always been very keen to invest in young people – they are, after all, the workforce of the future.

“It is important to build up skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the engineering, nuclear, oil and gas, utilities and renewable energy industries as they continue to expand and develop in Scotland.”

She added: “We also encourage staff who wish to enhance their academic skills through HNC and HND courses.”

Currently, T3UK is working with 16 fabrication and welding and three electrical modern apprentices, supported by Skills Development Scotland, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board and the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust, with a further six mechanical apprentices expected to start in the autumn.

They join a wider staff of around 115 based at the company’s workshops in Harpsdale and Halkirk and its trials, training and testing facility near Thurso. They also get the chance to work at various sites around the country.

One of the young modern apprentices was named runner-up supply chain apprentice of the year at the UK Nuclear Skills Awards in March.

Michael Macaskill (21), who lives in Strathy, travelled to Manchester for a ceremony organised by the National Skills Academy for Nuclear.

“It was a great weekend, and I was really pleased to have made it to the final three,” he said. “I attended a day-release course in welding at school, and I think that’s when I realised it was what I wanted to do.

“The modern apprenticeship is a great introduction to the industry and I like the mix of theory work at college and hands-on training with the company. I am now working towards an HND in mechanical engineering and the support I have had from everyone here has been really helpful.”

John McClelland, chair of Skills Development Scotland, said: “It has never been more important for businesses across Scotland to grow and develop a skilled workforce.

“Employers can find out how they can access support to help them to employ apprentices by calling our helpline on 0800 783 6000 or going onto our website, www.sds.co.uk/modernapprenticeships.”

Article source: http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/News/Local-firm-invests-in-young-people-7909599.htm

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 18 May 2012
Title: More emphasis on skills development needed
——————–

Pretoria – Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize says while the department has policies in place, there is a need to put more emphasis on skills development and the creation of academic and work opportunities for young people.

Speaking at the signing of the Joint Declaration on Education and Training Sectoral Policy Dialogue Forum between South Africa and the European Commission, Mkhize said the department had a mandate to ensure that there was a planned skills development programme in the country. She said the department had policies and plans in place.

“We are ensuring through the National Skills Development Strategy 111 that there is sufficient funding for skills development and the research capacity of our institutions is strengthened through research funding allocations and collaboration with bodies such as the National Research Foundation,” Mkhize said.

However, she said they would need international partnerships to ensure that the department’s policies on skills development were resourced and effectively implemented.

Commenting on Statistics South Africa’s Quarter 1, 2012 Labour Force Survey, which showed that the current unemployment rate stands at 25, 2 percent with 4.5 million South Africans being unemployed, Mkhize said that the situation required them to ensure that South Africans, especially the youth, were equipped with the relevant skills for the economy.

“We have similarly also taken note of anecdotal reports that indicate that with the fiscal challenges that have lately afflicted some European Union Member States, rising unemployment amongst young people has been a global trend.”

She said that benefits of the dialogue forum allowed them equal footing, not in the context of traditional official development assistance where there is a benefactor and a beneficiary, but rather as partners seeking redemption and thus use a single vehicle to amass the intellectual capital on the basis of which policy approaches could be considered and tested.

“The Dialogue Forum, through its many pursuits, is therefore the right avenue to assist us as policy makers, in not only building greater people-to-people camaraderie between South Africa and the European Commission, amongst others, but also to find concrete solutions for the youth unemployability that has afflicted us.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the “African Higher Education Harmonisation: Tuning and Shaping Responsive and Quality Postgraduate Education” Conference taking place at the University of the Western Cape.

Reported by: South African Government News Service

Published on: 2012-05-18

Tweet

Social Bookmarking
RETWEET This! | Digg this! | Post to del.icio.us | Post to Furl | Add to Netscape | Add to Yahoo! | Rojo

There are currently 0 comments to display.

Article source: http://7thspace.com/headlines/412852/south_africa_more_emphasis_on_skills_development_needed.html

The Federal Government is targeting to train at least one million youths annually in various occupations through its new initiative, the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

The Minister of Trade and Investment Olusegun Aganga stated this yesterday in Abuja at the presentation of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme that is being spear headed by the Industrial Training Fund and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.

He said that government is embarking on a complete turnaround of Nigeria’s industrial fortunes through the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) which will be launched very shortly.

According to him the proposed industrial revolution plan is predicated upon the introduction and proper implementation of the NISDP that is being spear headed by Industrial Training Fund.

“Indeed, the NISDP is the most critical driver of the NIRP as it will provide the basis for a complete shift in the conceptualization and delivery of human capacity development in Nigeria,” he said.

The minister lamented that despite strong recent growth, industry contribution to the nation’s GDP has actually declined from 30 percent in the 1970s to around 4 percent over the past decade.

He said that Brazil transformed from a low-income economy to a World-class economy through a structural change from low productivity agricultural economy to a higher productivity industry and services economy with coordination offered by National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship (SENA).

‘SENA which is a body similar to Nigeria’s ITF, runs over 700 industrial skills centres and centres for advance skill training across Brazil. These centres produce over 500,000 skilled artisans annually. Countries such as Malaysia, Sigapore, India etc have adopted a similar process of developing requisite human capital for industrial development,” he said.

Speaking, the Director General of Industrial Training Fund, Prof.Longmas Wapmuk said that for several years, despite the nation’s wealth and huge investments in infrastructural and economic development, inadequate skilled manpower has remained a perennial problem in many sectors.

He explained that in order to address the problems, ITF identified the SENA of Brazil, Institute of Technical Education Services (ITEE) of Singapore, Crown Agents of UK,Galilee International Management Institute of Israel as well as their Norwegian and Canadian counterparts.

“These collaborations, I dare to

Article source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201205180600.html

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on industrial skills development and trainings in Nigeria.

Speaking during the signing of the agreement Wednesday in Abuja, the Director General of ITF Prof.Longmas Wapmuk said that the MoU is a milestone that will open way for ITF to benefit from the expertise of UNIDO.

He said: “UNIDO is a very important arm of the United Nations family and have been operating in the country for a very long time where they have executed so many project but we do not benefit on all the assistance and that’s why we went and solicited that we should be taking along and happily the signing of this MoU.

“UNIDO told us that they are not a funding organization but we believe they have all the contacts and the connections to get money for the ITF to execute its programme in Nigeria.”

Speaking, UNIDO Representative in Nigeria Patrick Kormawa said that the cooperation with ITF is aimed at unlocking the benefits of linking industry, education and innovation.

“We believe that through this partnership between UNIDO and ITF, we will introduce world-class skills and competence standards in the industrial trades and service sector. It will also help in achieving higher standards in the skills and vocational training in the country,” he said.

He said that if Nigeria is to increase the contribution of the industrial sector from 4 percent to 10 percent in the next four years, it needs investments in industrial infrastructure and people to attain the needed skills and innovation.

He said: “It is projected that Nigeria need to provide 25 million jobs in the next decade. Such jobs will be come largely from the Small and Medium Enterprises. It is thus our aim to work closely with ITF and SMEDAN to identify those skills required in the SMEs to grow jobs and the economy.

“In this respect, we need to focus not only on the traditional skills in trade and craft skills but innovative vocational skills essential to significantly contribute to job and wealth creation for the teeming youth population and for the economic and social well being of all Nigerians.”

Article source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201205180567.html