IIT Madras SkillScape 2024 SWAYAM Plus Workshop

IIT Madras has launched six new, skill-based courses, all developed by institute experts, on SWAYAM Plus in partnership with IITM Pravartak Technologies. The industry has expressed interest in recruiting students from these programmes.

The new courses launched include 'Advanced Electronic Manufacturing', an NCrF 4.5-level course; 'CNC Machining' fundamentals with practical exposure; 'Comprehensive Electronics and Embedded Systems', an NCrF 4.5-level course; 'Digital Manufacturing Practice', an NCrF 4.5-level course; and 'Smart Manufacturing' Fundamentals.

SWAYAM Plus Programme

SWAYAM Plus is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and IIT Madras. It was launched per the National Education Policies (NEP 2020), which focuses on promoting and encouraging employability-focused skilling courses. It aims to build employable skills among graduates across chosen sectors critical to India's growth.

SWAYAM Plus currently has over one lakh registered learners and 55 industry partners. It offers more than 300 industry-focused courses and 60 NCrF-aligned courses. It also provides more than 11,000 internship opportunities across industries ranging from manufacturing, energy, and BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) to digital and emerging technologies.

Mr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Education, emphasised that the NEP is more than just a government plan; it's a vision for the country's educational future. Under NEP, students can complete their degrees at their own pace, and institutions can offer courses online, reflecting a shift towards a learner-centred approach.

Over 1 lakh students are already registered, benefiting from practical, credit-bearing internships and apprenticeships in their programs. This approach aims to ensure students are well-prepared for the workforce upon graduation.

Mr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal added, "I also congratulate IIT Madras for taking up the 'Vidya Shakti' to make students from rural India ready for 'STEM' in Higher Education. It has become successful in remote areas and the Ministry wants to scale it up

across India."

The Theme of Skillscape 2024 includes:

1. Need for skilling in institutes of higher learning

2. Role of technology in skilling

3. Industry-academia partnerships for skilling in HEIs

4. Reaching tier II & III cities/towns

Professor V Kamakoti from IIT Madras praised the NEP for enabling students to reach their goals faster and highlighted collaborative efforts with UGC, AICTE, and the IIT Council to implement supportive regulations. He noted that 30-40% of academic credits can now be earned online through platforms like SWAYAM/NPTEL, which have seen over one million registrations this semester. Despite online learning, exams are proctored in person across India, maintaining rigorous standards.

The SWAYAM Plus initiative, which focuses on employability, skills, and industry partnerships, was launched by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, on 27 February 2024. It will revolutionise higher education and employability by introducing a ground-breaking credit recognition system for industry-relevant courses.

Professor R Sarathi from IIT Madras discussed how SWAYAM Plus, with its industry-provided courses, will enhance skills and advance the education system. The program now features a hybrid teaching mode, combining online and offline methods. The inaugural session included P Palanivel from EPSI, Dr. Sekar Vishwanathan of VIT, and Ravi Bhatkal of McDermid Alpha.

A panel on 'Getting Job-Ready on Day 0', moderated by Mr Narayanan Ramaswamy of KPMG India, Mr Sunil Kumar Barnwal, Dr T Sasiprabha, Dr Mahalakshmi Rangarajan, Mr Ravi Bhatkal, and Dr MJ Shankar Raman, explored industry needs, university challenges, and student skilling solution.