Polishing up skills  to face job market

KOCHI: At a time when skilled labour is much in demand in a growing city like Kochi, the Skill Development Institute at Angamaly, is setting an example by providing state-of-art vocational training to its students. And, so technically skilled are the pass-outs from the institute that they are being absorbed by many companies, including the oil companies. The  Skill Development Institute is situated at INKEL campus at Angamaly. 

The four courses, each six months long, are conducted by the Skill Development Society, promoted by public sector oil companies. In Kochi, it is BPCL which promotes the course. 
According to principal Arun S, the institute conducts six months fully residential course, which includes training with latest technical equipment.

"What we provide is standard technology. The equipment we use here is imported like the Festo Training kit, which cost over 30 lakh. We also have welding simulators and latest technology like Tig and Mig welding materials. The aim of the course itself is making these students competent to handle world-class technology. This enables our students to confidently work anywhere in India and abroad," he adds. 
At present, the institute conducts two courses - Industrial Electrician and Industrial Welder - which has 45 seats each. 

"There is a plan to start two more courses, namely Industrial  Fitter and Process Instrumentation. We have acquired a property at Ettumanoor where we plan to start an extension, which would enable us to train over 1000 students per year," says Arun. The course is designed for students who pass out of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) in Kerala. Students who are below 25 can apply for the course. 
The students are provided free lodging and food. "All the institute charge is Rs 5,000 for a year. This includes lab suit, books, safety shoes and study material," says the principal. The society spends an average of over one lakh for a student. 

Soft skill development
The highlight of the course is the focus given to the students' over all development. With a view to providing personality development, the course offers lessons in English, yoga, sports and basic computer lessons. There is also counselling facilities to improve mental health and overcome disabilities. 
The applications for the courses will be invited soon and the entry will be through written test, conducted at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Thalassery. The courses are conducted under the Prime Minister's Skill India project promoted by the  Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.