India is now counted among the countries with the minimal proportion of trained youth. While employers in the country complain about the unskilled work force, often, they neglect the root cause of it, i.e., the lack of investment of time, effort and especially vocational education and workforce development. This calls for the need of proper training with specialized proposals that cater various sectors. Envisioned to help the development of sustainable centres that provide vocational and technical skills training, especially for early school dropouts and migrant youth and children in alliance with various NGOs, is Centre of Vocational Education & Workforce Development (CVE & WD).

The centre provides workshops, job opportunity surveys, skills-needs assessments, migration mapping studies, curriculum development, and teacher training programmes on vocational skills for workers in unorganized sector, and management system evaluation and programmes of educational institution. Comprehending the skills or training required, the centre prepares training modules that specifically address the objective of increasing the workforce. “We don’t believe that every glove fits everyone. It has to be made to order. Hence, we focus on specifically preparing the modules to fit the exact needs of the clients,” exclaims Prof. Adrian J Almeida, Managing Director, CVE & WD, a unit of the John Marie Educational Trust). Prof. Adrian was India Director for the USAID project on Vocational and Technical Education (1992-1997) and a Visiting Scholar to several colleges in the US. He has received several awards globally for his work in vocational training and workforce development.

We focus on specifically preparing the modules to fit the exact needs of the clients

The Making of Modules

CVE & WD first studies the client requirements followed by a brief discussion and site visit. Based on this, the team submits a proposal for initial screening and post client’s input, a more detailed report is sent for approval. Upon agreeing, the centre prepares training modules and also recruits appropriate trainers. “Every module is customized and approved by client before the training begins. Periodic reviews are done to inculcate changes in the system or standards as need be, which helps smoothen our operations,” says Prof. Almeida. The centre implements a stringent process where management personnel visits each centre, be it any place, and runs a periodic review system at both the centre as well as the client’s team. This aids the smooth running of its operations.

It also has a trained research team extensively experienced in assessing and understanding the needs and problems, apart from having wide knowledge and access to employers, contract agents and suppliers of interstate migrants in Tamil Nadu. The trained research team has extensive experience in assessing and understanding the needs & problems and has successfully catered to the leading companies like Ford, Saint Gobain, Nokia and various others, providing CVE & WD training opportunities across newer vertical.

Upskilling of the Unskilled

The centre assists many NGOs, corporates, and other organizations to strengthen their administrative capability and building their capacity to deliver quality short-term training. Till date, CVE & WD has mobilized around 5000 migrant workers from Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, North East states, and Andhra Pradesh for skill mapping, counseling, basic skills training (including employability) and provides placements to them. Currently, CVE & WD is offering training (fork lift operation, warehouse, glass handling and others) for a glass manufacturing firm in Chennai, Gujarat & Rajasthan.
Started off in 1991 as a Recruitment & Training firm, the centre then slowly moved away toworkforce development in terms of recruitment and training. CVE & WD intends to restart the vocational education aspect to support accessible quality educational programmes and services.