Anand Group has signed an MoU with Shri Vishwakarma Skill University (SVSU), Haryana, to allow its operating engineers to pursue B Tech in Mechanical and Smart Manufacturing to support their careers within the industry and beyond.
A press release from the company noted that the programme will help the group’s working professionals continue higher education through application-based learning under the ‘Earn-while-Learn Dual Education’ model.
The three-year course is an All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) approved programme and supported by the Government of Haryana. The initiative is titled HOPE or Higher Education for Operating Engineers.
Overall, the programme will expand from the Anand NCR hub to its western hub in Pune and in the first year, nearly 100 operating engineers (OEs) could be enrolled for the course. Both AICTE and Anand officials say this scheme could expand to include more OEs and new hubs and extend beyond Anand.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Anand Mohan Sharan, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Directorate of Technical Education, and Department of Industries and Commerce, Haryana, who called the new programme “a trend-setting pilot for academia-industry-Government collaboration” to help India’s workforce meet the future growth of the country’s expanding manufacturing sector.
Dr Raj Nehru, Vice Chancellor, SVSU, noted that India must expand its skilling initiatives and strengthen its knowledge base to be rightly perceived as a developed nation.
Prof Rajive Kumar, Member Secretary, AICTE, stated that it is expected that SVSU will start more such programmes in the future. “Other universities should cross-learn and look to Anand Group for upskilling their workforces,” he added.
Pankaj Sharma, Senior Vice President and Head - Group Human Resource, Anand Group, said, “This initiative is a further step towards strengthening our workforce capability. HOPE will not only enhance the OEs’ skill levels but also improve their employability and create more opportunities in their future.”