Taking cue from the burgeoning thust being given for vocational education in India, Amity Universities had signed an agreement with Tertirary and Further Education of South Australia and Hearaud Education Trust of Melbourne.
Dr Gurinder Singh, Additional Vice Chancellor of the Amity Group, Dr Baljeet Bhela, Educational Manager of TAFE South Australia and Shruti Kant, COO of Heraud Education and Training India signed the memorandum of understanding. Aseem Chauhan, Chancellor of Amity University, Rajasthan; Amit Tikoo, CEO of Hearaud Education and Sunil Chagurvedi, Chairman of the Automotive Skill Development Council were present on the occasion.
The alliance is meant to introduction and delivery of skill development courses in the country and across the world in vocations like Automotive, Retail, Building and Construction, Banking and Accounting and Healthcare, according to ANI report.
While speaking on the occasion, Chauhan said: “Amity Universities give importance to vocational training and skills enhancement. Forging alliance with both these Australian varsities is a proof of our efforts. Vocational skills are very much in the minds of everyone in India including the Union Government keeping in view the burgeoning unemployment amongst graduating youth. What is more, the Government is aiming at give vocational training to 50 million youth in a the near future. Unfortunately, finding quality educational institutes offering vocational training in the country is between far and few. Therefore, let us hope that Amity Universities, along with FATE South Australia and Heraud Education Trust are able to create a revolution in the space of vocational education and skill enhancement in India by desigining and developing innovative and new methodology of instruction and delivery of vocational education”.
Bhela pointed out: “Our country has a long way to go as far as the vocational education and skill enhancement are concerned. About two decades ago, vocational education was considered as a poor cousin of mainstream education in Australia. But after persistant intervention from the Australian Government as well as industry players, eventually, vocational education gained acceptance in the society today”. She also added that TAFE South Australia oferred a vibrant learning experience, where students could learn the skills that the employers were looking for, besides gaining practical knowledge and receiving recognised qualificiations that gave them the best chance of achieving their life goals and further meeting their aspirations.
Tikoo added: “Let me emphasise the paucity of readily employable graduates in India, who can start contributing from day one. In such an enviroment, the India industry is forced to absorb whatever is available. Heraud Education Trust is looking for best partners in India in order to bridge the skill gap in the Indian industry with high quality and effectively designed training material. Therefore let me express my happiness in signing the MoU with Amity Universities. This alliance is an initiative to train skilled workforce and further accelerate their career with the cutting edge teaching technology”.
Kant concurred: “Skill development is an extension of education, but with different methodology and outcomes. Vocational training also increases the chances of employablity of the students. Heraud Education and Training will start the pilot project from February next year in the automotive and retail arenas”.
Echoing Amity’s determination to bridge the humungous demand suppy gulf in the area of vocational training, Singh said that over 90 percent of the employment opportunities in India required these skills. “Research showed that firms end up spending fat amount of their money trying to retain employees, who come out of a formal education and hence it is Amity’s vision to add Saraswai with Vishwakarma”, he added.
Following the MoU signing ceremony, a brainstorming session, wherein the senior Directors, Head of the Institutions and Faculty members discussed various collaborative options and Pilot programmes with TAFE (Tertiary and Further Education), South Australia and Heraud Education Trust, Melbourne in areas such as retail, automobile, healthcare, travel and tourism.

Special services offered by VU include changing courses, visa extensions, scholarship Opportunities and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). All these services help in improving job prospects of the students.