A deep dive on vocational training in India

In today’s quick-changing economic landscape, it is essential to provide the next generation with specialized skills needed for a given trade or career. Vocational training equips youngsters with practical, hands-on experience with a concentrated approach and covers a wide spectrum of industries. Vocational education in India is provided in various sectors such as: Security, Healthcare, IT-ITeS, Media and Entertainment, Tourism, Beauty and Wellness, Apparel, Electronic Hardware, Telecom, Agriculture and Sports among others.

What is Vocational training?

Vocational training aims to give exposure to possible career paths and is delivered through a mix of theory sessions, practical exposure and industry visits. This kind of skill-based education pushes youngsters and students to equip themselves with skills that could lead to impactful career opportunities. Vocational education provides a route for people to acquire the skills and knowledge required to succeed in industrial or commercial occupations, whether they want to become an expert electrician, a talented chef, or an automobile specialist.

What are the benefits of Vocational training?

The benefits of vocational education can be numerous. Some of the advantages of vocational training can be a pathway to a successful career, business opportunity or self-employed and greater job satisfaction amongst many others.

1. Pathway to success

Being exposed to vocational education early on allows students and youngsters to choose a skill that leads to a clear occupational path. This results in students learning trade skills and applying them in their profession, which eventually builds a pathway to success.

2. High in-demand skills

Vocational training equips youngsters with skills that are usually high in demand. Thus, even if the economy gets impacted, these skills continue to remain in demand.

3. Greater satisfaction

Students often choose their vocation based on their interests. Students who have a strong enthusiasm for their chosen field of work are more likely to be content in their careers and have a sense of purpose and belonging.

4. Self-employment

Vocational training benefits youngsters by giving them the trade skills to help them set up their own business and become self-employed. This flexibility allows you to determine your own scope of work and scale of business.

5. High impact

Vocational training programmes, in contrast to standard degree programmes, are short term courses, efficient and have a high impact on individuals. This enables youngsters to finish their training quickly. Compared to those pursuing traditional degrees, those undertaking vocational education, can begin their professions, enter the job, and start making a livelihood earlier.

What is the importance of Vocational training?

The importance of vocational education is multi-fold. From bridging the gap in the skill sector to becoming a viable alternative for youngsters today, vocational training can prove beneficial to several people from different segments of society.

1. Addressing skill shortage

Vocational training programmes fill the gap when industries evolve and the need for a specific skillset arises. This gap created due to technology advancement or other reasons, is filled by training people in particular trades or skills. Thus, vocational training is crucial in addressing skill shortage and helping bridge the gap.

2. Fulfilling Industry requirement

As demand for a particular skill arises, vocational training programmes help in meeting this requirement by training youngsters with a practical, concentrated and a hands-on approach. This experience also allows students to easily transition to the workforce.

3. Access to quality education

Vocational training is a cost-effective choice for people who wish to acquire useful skills without taking on a large debt for higher studies. Unlike a 3 or 4-year traditional degree, training centres imparting vocational training charge significantly lesser fees and courses for a shorter duration.

4. Hybrid

The move to online mode of learning has benefited students in more ways than one. Now, to acquire skills, one doesn’t necessarily need to leave the country or their hometown. Thanks to online programmes and affordability, vocational skills can be learnt anytime, anywhere.

5. Backed by the government

The Indian’s government’s Skill India mission has played a major role in upskilling the Indian youth. The government’s goal has been to make India’s youth financially stable and independent. Over the last few years, several workshops have been held to equip the youth with skills and making them industry-ready. This ensures national progress.

6. Tied with industry demand

A strong connection with potential employers enables quick placement, upon completing the training. Skills that are updated and in keeping with global trends are more likely to be valuable and in-demand.

Why is Vocational training important?

Vocational training is crucial to ensure that India’s young population is productive and contributes positively to the country’s economic growth. The vocational skills acquired by these youths will help the nation to progress steadily by bridging the skill gap and continuously meeting industry demands. Therefore, as industry demands evolve, vocational training becomes important to meet these demands and provide the relevant skilled workforce.

What are the types of Vocational training?

1. Trade schools

One of the most popular ways to learn new skills is to join a trade school and get practical experience in fields such as plumbing, car repair or construction among others. These courses provide hands-on experience and help you to gain practical knowledge.

2. Apprenticeship

This type of vocational training is beneficial to students who want to gain practical experience along with the benefit of classroom guidance. This comprehensive learning experience is imparted via skilled professionals who guide apprentices on various occupations such as automotive, carpentry and in the beauty industry. They have a structured plan, defined learning goals as well as evaluation methods. This combination of theory and practical has proven to be a successful mode of vocational learning.

3. On-the-job training

As the name says, this type of vocational training is provided on the job. Students or youngsters have the benefit of learning in their chosen field. These industries can range from information technology to healthcare. You can start learning tricks of the trade from day one alongside experienced professionals. People can get instruction and support from seasoned mentors during their on-the-job training. Through the use of real-world scenarios, they can hone their abilities, get feedback, and ask questions. This practical experience is ideal for youngsters who want to kick-start their professional journey early.

Vocational Training at Ampersand Group

At Ampersand Group, we are preferred partners to the government to support students' skill development programmes in an effort to increase youth employability. We at Ampersand Group provide technology support in running Mega Vocational Training Labs at multiple state-owned schools across the country, in recognition of the important role that vocational education plays in making India’s youth skilled and employable.

Another such successful programme is the DDU-GKY project (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana), set up by the Government of India in 2014. This scheme aims to enable skill development and employability amongst young adults. These short-term skill training courses act as a bridge between skilled labour and industry vacancies and cover every step of the enrolment journey: training - internship - placement.

Ampersand Group is a proud Implementation Partner with the GOI for several DDU-GKY projects across India.

For example, in Bihar, we had a total of 2162 candidates, of which 1483 women and 679 men candidates were trained in the healthcare sector as General Duty Assistants and home health aide trainees. Here, these candidates receive training in the basics of healthcare like CPR, First Aid, Pathology, Bio-Waste Disposal and Management, along with practical exposure about how to check a patient's blood pressure, heartbeat, pulse, etc. This project has been carried out in various states such as Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh. It has seen an impressive placement rate of 81% for various trades such as healthcare, hospitality and retail.

Conclusion

In summation, vocational training not only helps youngsters and students to become job-ready but also positively impacts industries and economies. It helps in meeting industry requirements by providing a continuous demand of skilled workforce. Trade schools, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training also enable youngsters to contribute positively to the economy.

To know more about vocational training, visit Ampersand Group.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What impact does vocational training make in empowering lives?

Vocational training programmes help a candidate to start learning skills as early as they turn 18. This provides a pathway to a possible career and eventually to an in-demand industry job or a business venture which empowers them to start earning early.

2. Why is vocational training crucial to enter the job market?

With the industrial eco-system changing due to technology, vocational training is crucial to gain skills and get practical exposure to be job-ready.

3. How does technology aid vocational learning?

With a major shift to online mode of learning, technology plays a massive role in vocational skill development. From making training interactive to using new-age tech like AI or virtual reality, these advancements have revolutionised the learning experience.