The major activities under the professional and Skills strand is to promote partnerships
between UK and Indian Further Education Centres of
Excellence to develop collaborative projects, exchanges and work placements. The two major focus areas are Financial
Skills sectors including banking, insurance, securities and actuarial services; and Creative
Industry sectors including fashion, textiles and film/television and animation. Other such areas may be identified in collaboration with corporate
partners.
The Professional and Technical Skills strand involves:
- development of high-value skills training and education partnerships in the field of professional
and technical skills;
- development of specialist provision, for example
short courses in new and emerging sectors of the
selected industries or to tackle high priority skills
shortages;
- participation of businesses and other stakeholders
and opportunity for them in the capacity of employers
to influence the development of standards and programmes
to ensure that their needs are met effectively;
- opportunities for partner educational institutions
to gain benefits from shared curriculum, innovative
approaches to delivery and staff exchanges and development;
- opportunities for students to undertake industrial
placements.
KPMG, The Keystone Partner in the Financial Services Skills Exchange:
A number of businesses and institutions in UK and India have expressed interest in supporting activities. KPMG has already committed to act as “Keystone Partner of the Financial Services Skills Exchange” within the Initiative offering cash & in-kind support over three years.
Winner partnerships for Year 2:
The following three partnerships have been selected after the rigorous evaluation process:
- Pearl Academy of Fashion & Adam Smith College
- Whistling Woods Academy & Bradford College
- National Insurance Academy & Park Lane College
Winner partnerships for Year 1:
The first round of bidding was completed in October
2006, with the following three partnerships being selected
after the rigorous evaluation process:
- Indian Institute of Foreign Trade & City College, Norwich
- Pearl Academy of Fashion & Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication
- South Delhi Polytechnic for Women & Blackburn College
Outcomes from the projects under the PTS, by 2011 will include:
- 8 new partnerships in Financial Services and Creative
Industries sectors.
- Involvement of up to 3 institutions each from India
and UK in every partnership.
- 100 faculty members to benefit through staff exchanges,
developmental seminars and research work;
- 500 students benefiting through new courses, student
exchanges and work placements.