NSDC and Manipal City & Guilds (MCG) sign an agreement to skill 1,40,000 people in India

A British Council and National Skill Development Agency “English Skills for Employability (ESfE) Think Tank” Initiative

NSDC Board approves MCG as a training partner to skill 63,000 and up skill 77,000 people during a ten-year period in the construction, retail and hospitality sector

January 16, 2014: NSDA and British Council jointly convene a series of Think Tank meetings periodically during which India and UK stakeholders discuss and identify key priorities which are then followed up through projects and/ or further discussed during smaller specialist and focussed round table meetings, for similar outcomes. The second meeting of the English Skills for Employability (ESfE) Think Tank Series was held at the British Council.

National Skill Development Corporation and Manipal City & Guilds (MCG) today entered into an agreement to skill and up-skill a total of 1,40,000 over a ten-year period people in India, as part of their joint training initiative.

Mr. Atul Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and John Yates, CEO, Manipal City & Guilds (MCG) signed the agreement in the presence of the Mr. Mathew Hancock, the Hon’ble UK Minister for Skills and Enterprise. The event was hosted by British Council.

NSDC & Manipal City & Guilds, a 4-year-old joint venture between City & Guilds and Manipal Global Education, has just been approved as an NSDC training partner. It is the first UK India training initiative approved by NSDC’s Board. City & Guilds is the first British organization through its Indian JV company to be included alongside the growing number of approved Indian companies.

MCG has committed to train over 63,000 people during a ten-year period in the areas of construction, hospitality, and retail. MCG has further indicated that it would expect to train an additional 77,000 people across a range of other sectors, bringing an expected total of over 140,000 trained workers. In addition MCG has committed to adhere to NSDC’s stringent monitoring and evaluation criteria, which include the stipulation that at least 70% of those trained are successfully placed into employment.

Talking about the partnership, Mr. Atul Bhatnagar said, “NSDC is pleased to partner two iconic names in education in UK and India, City and Guilds and Manipal Group. The partnership will go a long way to address the need of youth across the country in the VET sector and employers. The underlying quality and branding that the courses will carry will help change the perception of vocational pathways as a career option of choice among youth in India.”

“Manipal City & Guilds is delighted to become the first UK-India Joint Venture NSDC Training Partner. NSDC has developed an extensive network of partners and expertise in skill development across India. We know that in working together we can crack the massive opportunity across India of skilling its youth and getting them into work,” said John Yates, CEO, Manipal City & Guilds

“We’re delighted to be partnering with the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) on the English Skills for Employability Think Tank initiative which aims to provide opportunities for the UK and India to collaborate on innovative research initiatives and projects across India,” said Alison Barrett, Director, English for Education Systems, South Asia at the British Council

About National Skill Development Corporation:

National Skill Development Corporation is one of its kind public-private partnerships with 51 per cent equity held by private sector and the balance 49 per cent by the Ministry of Finance. Formed in 2010, NSDC is a professionally run not-for-profit company that includes 28 Sector Skill Councils and 114 training partners with over 2500+ training centres spread across 352 districts in the country. NSDC is mandated to skill 150 million Indians by 2022.

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For Further information please contact:Garima Misra / Saurabh Bahl 9910106993/ 8800154625Garima.misra@ogilvy.com, Saurabh.bahl@ogilvy.com