World Skill Centre inaugurated in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the World Skill Centre (WSC) at Mancheswar here.

Set up at an investment of Rs 1342.2 crore under the Odisha Skill Development Project, the WSC will impart skill training to ITI students and carry out capacity building programmes for teachers. 

World Skill Centre has been modelled around leading TVET Institute, ITE (Institute of Technical Education), Singapore and seeks inspiration from World Skills, Russia and GIFTS (Global Institute for Transferring Skills), South Korea. The WSC has been assisted by the Asian Development Bank with ITE Education Services (ITEES), Singapore as knowledge partner.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “Odisha has made rapid strides in Skill Development in the last five years. We have created new avenues for our youth to compete with their counterparts anywhere. Our aim is to meet their aspirations, to make them globally employable”.

The WSC would run long-term manufacturing and services programmes as a Finishing School for the best among the ITI and Polytechnic students as well as serve as a centre for capacity building for ITI and Polytechnic teachers. It is ready to roll out the first set of courses in areas like Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Mechanical & Electrical Services, Vertical Transportation, Precision Engineering, Mechatronics, and Electrical Technology along with a few other courses in the services sectors like Hair Fashion & Design and Beauty & Wellness.

The WSC will be the nodal agency for preparing Odisha’s youth for the World Skills Competition. The other key role for WSC will be to act as Centre for Industry Partnership and landing point for industries in Odisha for their employment needs.