BSDU focuses on Skill Development of Bihar’s Youth

Bhartiya Skill Development University (BSDU) today organized a conference in Patna to discuss the lack of employability in Bihar and how skill-based education can be a viable solution to this issue. At the conference, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Dr. (Brig.) Surjit Singh Pabla spoke about how skill-based courses can help youth in getting trained in various skills and find suitable career options. The purpose of this conference was to address the persistent challenges faced by Bihar on employment and skilling issues, Bhartiya Skill Development University (BSDU), Jaipur initiated a discussion on how educating and training youth in appropriate skill sets can help deal with it. Bihar boasts of the large talent pool that needs direction in terms of career orientation and skilling that would consistently improvise the rising challenge of unemployment in the state and improve the job scenario.

Dr. (Brig) Surjit Singh Pabla, Vice Chancellor, BSDU said at the conference, “Trained staff is the desire of each and every organisation. Today’s world is revolving around some professional career options which are functional in nature than relevant, like Management, Administrative, Accounting, Technical etc. In such functional areas, practical training is never predefined. We at BSDU have created training modules that enable the students to go through all machine learning and function learning. Skill degrees like B.Voc and M.Voc are the degrees of the future since these will lead to every graduate having strong skill knowledge and experience in the skill areas chosen by them in addition to general education content. Their employability will be much wider leading to much lower unemployment rate in the Country”.

(Brig.) Dr. Pabla further said, “We would like to help the state government by providing the best advisory and support with our ‘Swiss-dual-education-system’ to eradicate skill gap prevailing today. BSDU has unique semester system that facilitates machine learning skills through the state-of-the-art facilities in the University and internship at partnering placement companies. We have recently extended support to the Government of Jharkhand and Government of Rajasthan too.”

According to Census 2011, Bihar is the third largest state by population in India, with a population of 10.41 crore. The literacy rate in the country is 63.82%, and out of the total population, 61% falls under the working age group of 15-59 years. According to the report, only around 33% of the state’s total population is working; out of the total male population around 46% is employed, whereas only 19% of females are employed in Bihar. Whereas the employability in India according to India Skills Report 2019 is 47.38%. Almost half of Bihar’s youth depends on farming for a living, and almost 53% of workers are agricultural laborers. Compared to the sizeable working age population in the state, a very short percentage of people are employed. Due to this, the livelihood of people gets affected as it deprives them of necessities and a good standard of living. This can lead to social instability and it doesn’t only affect unemployed people, but also the people who depend on them.

The Indian government has been working on tackling multiple employment issues over the years. The biggest issue of these is the lack of job opportunities and the government has hence launched several schemes to increase employability. One such scheme is Skill India, under which youth are encouraged to take up skilled jobs. The government of Bihar has also created 15 departments which are working towards the skill development of youth of the state. These departments implement new schemes for the welfare of various target groups in the state. Some of these schemes are Skill Development Initiatives Scheme, Apprenticeship Training Scheme and Craftsman Training Scheme.

Advocating the government’s scheme, country’s first and the only skill-based institution that provides training on Swiss dual-education system, Bhartiya Skill Development University (BSDU), has trained over 5000 students since its inception in the country. Established in 2016, the University’s vision is to create global excellence in skill development sector by creating opportunities, space and scope for the development of talents of Indian youth and by making them globally fit. BSDU is not only providing academic, but also industrial support to the government’s schemes.

The University offers very innovative bachelor’s degree program with multiple exit with Skill Certificate after six months, Skill Diploma after one year, Advanced Diploma after two years and Bachelor’s Degree B.Voc after three years. The students go for industrial apprenticeship every alternate semester. This gives them industrial experience of 18 months during the three year B.Voc program. Thus the students are industry ready at every exit level. The industries pay stipend ranging from Rs. 7000 to Rs. 15000/- per month during the internship leading to a system of “Earn while you Learn”. Also, many students are offered regular employment by the companies where they go for internship. They take advantage of the multiple exit system to get absorbed in the industry at a very early age. They can come back to the University later on to complete their degree when they are due for promotion to higher levels in the industry. The University also offers Master’s Program M.Voc and Ph.D in many skill related areas.

Rajasthan state government has organized a skill Olympiad wherein BSDU’s students are also participating. Dr. Pabla suggested that other governments should also initiate such opportunities for students. Moreover, schools should also add skill as a subject in school curriculum, so that students can learn about skill-based career opportunities they can choose from after graduating. Other than subjects such as science, arts, social sciences, students can learn about skill work and that it is also a viable career option.

BSDU will be Spread over 50 acres consisting 73 buildings, 55 state-of-the-art laboratories including 16 Computer Laboratories, many research projects, a fully equipped campus with Wi-Fi facilities and over 20 International Collaborations. BSDU already has many industry collaborations and has been associated with these organizations which offer industry exposure to its students. The new campus will surely be one of the best in the nation. Some of the Industry leaders where student avails the training are DAIKIN, MAHINDRA, APEX HOSPITALS, CADD CENTRE, ARDEN, SABAL BHARAT, RIGEL, ICICI,IDBI BANK, LUPIN, ITC, PEPSICO, LG, L&T, NESTLE, PFIZER.

BSDU has signed over 50 MoUs in skills sector with companies and educational institutions. A MoU has been signed with Govt of Rajasthan for Establishing a Skill Development University based on the Swiss Dual Model of Skills Education.  Likewise, it has signed a MoU with Govt of Rajasthan & Photonic International Pte. Ltd, Singapore for Collaboration and Support for Establishing Photonics Training and Research Centre. The University has entered into collaboration with Institute of Sustainable Communities, USA in Skill Development, Training, Placement, R&D and Related Services, with Rajasthan Technical University, Kota, The Employers’ Association of Rajasthan and Bhardwaj Foundation, Jaipur for Skill Development; outcome based training, placement, R&D and related Services.