Skills experts from the UK are passing on their expert knowledge to former members of the Indian armed forces to help them train the next generation of engineers in their country.
An 11-strong delegation from Mumbai has been on an intensive six-day Train the Trainer course, organised and run by the Semta group, to learn how best to deliver training to help support the next generation of apprentices, graduates and employees entering or already working in engineering careers.
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The programme, co-funded by the Indian government and the British High Commission, was delivered at Semta’s Watford HQ by trainers Jas Sall, Paul Gannon and Terry Coles from Semta’s specialist industry awarding organisation EAL, all of whom have backgrounds in industry.
Once the delegates have passed the course, they will be issued with EAL certificates, qualifying them to Train the Trainers in colleges and workplaces across India.
As part of their learning, the delegation visited an EAL Centre, North Hertfordshire College, which includes an Engineering and Construction Campus in Stevenage – a purpose-built unit which emulates an industrial environment, also run by tutors with industry experience.
Managing director of EAL, Julia Chippendale commented: “We are delighted to be playing our part in helping India upskill its trainers and therefore its workforce through this programme.
“EAL is the specialist skills partner and awarding organisation for industry, while our parent company Semta is not-for-profit and led by employers in the UK to transform the skills and productivity of the people who power our vital engineering and advanced manufacturing technologies.
“Increasingly, there is a demand for the skills and qualifications we can provide beyond these shores as demonstrated by this initiative with our friends from Mumbai. Semta and EAL’s key focus remains supporting employers and learners in the UK but it makes perfect sense for us to sell our gold standard of skills provision to customers overseas.”
Over the next four years Semta will be working with the Indian trainers to ensure Continuous Professional Development, delivering additional training and reviews.
The Semta group is also working with other organisations in India, Oman and China with its skills expertise in high demand.
Chippendale added: “As a group we are able to offer consultancy, help develop National Occupational Standards, deliver training, qualifications and certification.
“The Indian project is one of many we plan to undertake over the coming months.”
