Punjab Government and UK on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote “internationally valid” skill development among the youth of Punjab.
“Punjab Government is setting up international skill training centres in the State for providing quality skill training to Punjabi youth for overseas employment,” said the State Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
He said that British Deputy High Commission, at Chandigarh, has assured a facilitative role in building linkages between the Department, Punjab Skill Development Mission and the UK skill providers.
The MoU was signed by British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh, Andrew Ayre on behalf of UK Government, and Technical Education and Industrial Training Additional Chief Secretary G Vajralingam on behalf of Punjab Government signed the MoU in the presence of Channi and Punjab Skill Development Mission adviser Dr Sandeep Singh Kaura.
Channi said that Punjab Government has been working on a plan to establish Technical Education and Skill Development College in UK where Punjabi students would be educated and trained by the well-qualified UK trainers and teachers.
He said that initial talks are going on with the UK Embassy in this regard and Punjab Technical Education Department has received positive response from UK representatives.
“Technical Education Department has been signing MoU with foreign universities and colleges to stop the exploitation of our youth in the hands of private agents,” he said, adding that Punjab Technical Education Department has been setting up tie-ups with foreign institutes which will further give our students a chance to study abroad.
“Students of four-year courses would study two years in Punjab and two years abroad,” he added.
British envoy Andrew Ayre said that this was the first of its kind MoU signed with the Punjab Government in the field of skill development.
“This is a first step towards building a stronger partnership with the newly formed Government, reflecting the importance of Punjab and the strength of the British offer to India,” he added.
