Bhubaneswar: In a significant event at the World Skill Center (WSC) here, Skill Development and Technical Education (SDTE) Minister Sampad Chandra Swain inaugurated a series of skill development initiatives under the Nua Odisha scheme, Wednesday. The inauguration ceremony was attended by SDTE Principal Secretary Usha Padhee, Higher Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Aravind Agrawal, and other senior officials from the concerned departments. The initiatives, in collaboration with the Higher Education department, are aimed at equipping youth with advanced skills required to meet the employability demands of an ever-evolving global job market.
A key highlight of the initiatives is the collaboration between SDTE and Coursera, which aims to provide access to 6,000 world-class courses to youth across all 30 districts of the state. The digital skilling initiative is set to bridge geographical gaps and enhance access to high-quality education. A total of 100,000 Coursera licenses will be distributed to learners from diverse academic backgrounds, including those enrolled in higher educational institutions, ITIs, and polytechnics across the state. Customised learning tracks have been developed for BTech, Polytechnic and ITI students. The initiative will enable students to engage with personalised and industry-relevant curricula offered by leading institutions such as Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Amazon.
In another significant development, SDTE has partnered with IIT-Delhi to launch an upskilling programme, focused on future technologies. The collaboration will provide training and certification to 4,000 youths in areas, including Blockchain Development, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). The programme will be launched in Kalahandi, Bhawanipatna, and Cuttack.
To date, 1,670 candidates from over 130 institutions have registered for these cutting-edge courses. Further broadening the scope of opportunities, SDTE has forged a strategic partnership with AISATS, GMR and Bird Group to offer certifications in aviation, under the Nua Odisha scheme. Currently, 40 trainees are undergoing aviation training in Hyderabad, preparing for certification in ground handling and airport operations.