SHILLONG, June 30: In a bid to strengthen industry participation in technical and vocational education and make Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) more responsive to evolving workforce demands, an Industry Outreach Programme under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) was launched on Tuesday.
Organised by the Directorate of Employment and Craftsmen Training (DECT) under the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, the programme brought together government agencies, industry leaders, training partners, entrepreneurs, start-ups, MSMEs, public sector undertakings and industry associations from within and outside the state.
The initiative focused on fostering partnerships between the government and industry to improve curriculum relevance, expand apprenticeship opportunities and enhance the employability of skilled youth graduating from ITIs.
Addressing the gathering, Principal Secretary of the Department of Labour, Employment and Skill Development, Frederick R Kharkongor, underscored the need for closer collaboration between industry and government to bridge the gap between industrial requirements and the skills possessed by ITI graduates. He said greater industry involvement in curriculum development, apprenticeship programmes, on-the-job training and employment generation would be crucial in preparing a workforce capable of meeting changing economic and industrial demands.
Director of Employment and Craftsmen Training Richa Kulkarni described the outreach programme as the beginning of a sustained effort to establish a robust industry partnership ecosystem under PM-SETU.
She said continuous engagement with industries would play a key role in transforming government ITIs into modern, industry-led centres of excellence capable of producing skilled, employable and future-ready youth.The programme featured presentations on Meghalaya’s existing ITI ecosystem, the PM-SETU framework, opportunities for industry participation and the proposed governance model through Anchor Industry Partners.
Industry representatives also shared recommendations on strengthening apprenticeship programmes, improving curriculum relevance and enhancing workforce development to better align technical education with industry needs.
The outreach programme concluded with a collective commitment from stakeholders to collaborate in implementing PM-SETU across Meghalaya, with the objective of modernising technical education, expanding apprenticeship opportunities, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and equipping the state’s youth with industry-relevant skills.
