UK Delegation in Odisha to Explore Collaborations in Skill Development

A UK Skills and Chartered Bodies Mission delegation is visiting Odisha to explore partnerships in vocational education and skill development. The discussions focused on enhancing industry-led skilling initiatives, integrating UK-style apprenticeships, and improving training in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, digital skills, and sustainable infrastructure. Odisha’s Skill Development and Technical Education Minister, Sampad Chandra Swain, and British Deputy High Commissioner to East and North-East India, Andrew Fleming, emphasized the potential for deeper collaboration to create a skilled and globally competitive workforce.

Key Highlights of the Visit

Delegation Composition

• Four chartered bodies from the UK.
• Three award-winning organizations in skill development.

Objectives of the Collaboration

• Strengthening vocational education in Odisha.
• Introducing UK-style apprenticeships in key sectors.
• Enhancing industry-led skill development programs.
• Supporting workforce training in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, digital skills, and sustainable infrastructure.

Government Representatives Involved

• Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister of Skill Development and Technical Education, Odisha.
• Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner to East and North-East India.

Statements from Key Officials

• Sampad Chandra Swain: Odisha has become a leader in skill development, forming global partnerships and creating world-class skill centers to provide meaningful employment opportunities.
• Andrew Fleming: Impressed by Odisha’s commitment to skill development, highlighting that UK expertise can help equip Odisha’s workforce with internationally recognized skills, improving employability and economic growth.

Additional Initiatives

• Workshop on ‘Net-Zero Vision for Bhubaneswar’ organized by the UK Government, Energy Department, and GRIDCO, focusing on sustainability and clean energy solutions.

Workshop on ‘Net-Zero Vision for Bhubaneswar’

Objective

• Foster knowledge exchange and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
• Develop a strategic roadmap for Bhubaneswar’s clean energy transition.
• Align with India’s net-zero target by 2070 and Odisha’s goal of 10.9 GW renewable energy capacity by 2029-30.

Key Highlights

• British Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Fleming discussed UK’s experience in urban sustainability.
• Emphasized Odisha’s potential as a leader in EV innovation.
• Suggested sending Odisha’s top talents to the UK to learn best practices.

MoU Signed Between

• Vibha Dhawan, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
• Debi Dutta Tripathy, Additional Secretary, Odisha Energy Department.

GRIDCO’s Commitment

• Trilochan Panda, Managing Director of GRIDCO, reiterated the state’s clean energy transition plans.