Skill Ministry and Tata Launch Short-term Courses in Factory Automation, First 100 Students to Get Scholarships

Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, launched the first batch of the Tata Indian Institute of Skills, which is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India and Tata Indian Institute of Skills. A formal agreement for setting up the institute has been signed between the Skill Ministry and TATA IIS on 11 November 2020. The first batch at Tata Indian Institute of Skills will commence training with two courses in Factory Automation, with a duration ranging from 1 to 4 weeks, depending upon the prequalification profile of the trainee.

The institute will also offer scholarships to the first 100 students along with attractive fee options during the initial launch phase. An early bird scholarship scheme of 75% has also been announced for the first 100 students or trainees. The two courses will focus on Factory Automation, envisaged to be the foundation for future courses and Smart Manufacturing (Industry 4.0) technology and applications. The courses will be offered at Tata IIS interim campus at the National Skills Training Institute (NSTI), Chembur. The institute’s permanent campus, currently under construction in the campus of National Skill Trainers’ Institute (NSTI), Mumbai and is likely to be operational by 2022; and will have a capacity of over 5,000 trainings per year.

Speaking at the launch event, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey said: “With an aim to provide high-quality technical and vocational learning across various sectors, the foundation for state-of-the-art infrastructure was laid last year and today with the launch of its first set of courses at IIS Mumbai, I can proudly say that we are inching closer to achieve the vision of our Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi of making India the ‘Skill Capital of the World’. Following the footsteps of other prominent centers of education in the country, IIS Mumbai will be instrumental in imparting world-class training to help build a future ready workforce. I extend my gratitude towards the Government of Maharashtra and Tata Group for extending support towards Skill India Mission and I am hopeful that this collaboration will transform the state’s youth from job seekers to job creators.”

The institute envisages partnerships with multiple private organizations who are leaders in their respective fields, two of which are currently in place, with FESTO, a global leader in industrial automation and SMC Corporation, Japan, world’s largest manufacturer of pneumatic components, for trainings.

The institute plans to provide trainings in highly specialized areas such as defense, oil and gas, aerospace, and other emerging businesses to meet industry demands. Training and learning at Tata-IIS Mumbai will be driven through strong industry connect in both public and private sectors. Equipped with modern training methodologies leveraging digital and augmented learning platforms, the institute will also focus on apprenticeship-embedded courses and offering higher order qualifications in conjunction with other universities.