Experts and policymakers agree: a powerful collaboration between industry and academia is essential to close India’s skill gap, particularly within high-precision industries.
As India sets its sights on achieving trillion-dollar aspirations in critical sectors like aerospace, defense, semiconductors, and renewable energy, it’s clear that traditional classrooms alone won’t suffice. Instead, these integrated partnerships are vital for cultivating a workforce that is truly ready for the demands of the modern job market.
The significance of these collaborations was a central theme at the G.R.O.W.T.H. Dialogue, recently hosted in Mumbai by Phillips Education and Arthan. The event emphasized the immense value of bringing together educational institutions and industrial players.
To directly address the skilling shortage in high-precision fields, Phillips Education has teamed up with IIT-Bombay to establish a groundbreaking R&D lab. This facility specializes in hybrid technologies, merging Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining with advanced 3D printing, specifically for aerospace applications.
Phillips Education highlights that this model offers students immersive exposure to cutting-edge technologies, ensuring their relevance to the industry from day one. The outcome is a win-win: employers gain access to talent that can be immediately deployed, while students embark on careers armed with future-proofed skills.
Saurabh Bahuguna, Uttarakhand Minister for Skill Development and Employment, emphasized, “India’s demographic dividend is our greatest asset, but its full potential can only be realized by channeling it through effective skilling pathways.” He further noted that this partnership model is also being leveraged to foster greater inclusivity in skill development.
Programs are being designed for women and marginalized communities, aiming to ensure that India’s industrial growth is both broad-based and socially responsible. By providing foundational technology training, these initiatives seek to transform demographic potential into active and measurable workforce participation.
Rakshit Kejriwal, Global President of Phillips Education, affirmed, “This is precisely the kind of practical skilling ecosystem India urgently needs.” He added during the event, “If infrastructure builds nations, skills build civilizations. And these vital skills are best nurtured when industry and academia unite, rather than operating in isolation.”
Global examples underscore the importance of such cooperation. Germany’s dual vocational system, for instance, is widely regarded as a benchmark for seamlessly integrating academic learning with industrial responsibilities. India is now developing its own version of this system, in collaboration with institutions like IIT-Bombay, tailored to its dynamic and rapidly expanding industries.
These initiatives and collaborations are poised for rapid expansion as India strives to become a global leader in areas like semiconductor manufacturing, defense production, and renewable energy, experts suggest.
Ultimately, the success of India’s industrial future will hinge less on grand plans and more on the speed and effectiveness with which industry and academia come together to build the skilled workforce capable of bringing those plans to life.