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 1:
The first round of bidding was completed in October 2006, with the following three partnerships being selected after the rigorous evaluation process:

1. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade & City College, Norwich
2. Pearl Academy of Fashion & Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication
3. 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