World Youth Skill Day

Youth at the Crossroads: A Generation with Untapped PotentialThere are more youth on the planet than ever before. These young people are poised with all of the potential and energy to be our next generation of leaders, workers and parents. 

That's why the United Nations has decided to celebrate youth through the first ever World Youth Skills Day on July 15, 2015. Fostering the acquisition of skills by youth will enhance their ability to make informed choices with regard to life and work and empower them to gain access to changing labour markets and viable employment opportunities.
While many of today’s youth inhabit a world of unlimited opportunity and possibility, millions more are being left out.

Youth represent 25 per cent of the total working age population but make up 40 per cent of the unemployed (ILO, FAO, 2015).
An estimated 400 million youth worldwide – or about one third of all youth aged 15 to 24 – suffer from a deficit of decent work opportunities (ILO, FAO, 2015).
Almost 74 million young people (aged 15 to 24) were looking for work in 2015 (MDG Report, 2015).
Youth, especially young women, continue to be disproportionately affected by limited employment opportunities and unemployment (MDG Report, 2015).
Globally, the youth unemployment rate is almost three times higher than the rate for adults (MDG Report, 2015).
Sixty-three million youth were out of school in 2012 (EFA, 2015).These youth are stuck – left at crossroads with little opportunity to reach their full potential due to a lack of employment opportunities and a lack of education and basic skills. Unfortunately, with few choices, many youth are vulnerable to a life of poverty or violence.
To solve this crisis, we must first acknowledge we have a problem. It starts with awareness. Join us – learn more and share.

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Back to your Alma mater; to witness Surprises

He was not reluctant to walk to the memories in oblivion. While taking a trip down the memory lane, he reached at the alma mater where his dreams and aspirations nurtured and fostered. It was impossible to simply pass his friends ! The jubilant days spent with his comrades and the exuberant lush and dusty mud trials in the hinterlands ashore the backwater indulged him to make it repeat once again.


He is not a student; but an Indian Administrative Service officer. After emerging out from the Civil Service Examination with flying colors, he was decided to organize a get together with his old folk of thirteen at the higher secondary school in Alappuzha district. Being a first batch student of Kerala Higher Secondary department, widely known as Plus Two, he was the only passed-out from that school.


"It was difficult to trace my friends. After strenuous efforts, I manged to contact eleven of my of friends, only nine of them agreed to meet. However, every one had certain excuses, being have multiple engagements. To a surprise, one of my friends informed his inability to come, as he cannot think about moving out of his office, where a quiet good number of people work. Another friend was apprehended that if I spend one hour for this program, I may lose five thousand rupees. A good majority were in the same page; and at last, when the day came, only four turned-up". Said Dr. Reju IAS, CEO, Additional Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP), Government of Kerala. 

Success is relative. It's all about realizing the potential within and unleash it in the right direction. While heading ASAP and facing numerous challenges, he has this to say to those who seek achievement. ASAP paves way to success and those who are dare to dream can step in to this. Though things are not favorable to us, SUCCESS IS OURS, if we can utilize the available opportunities efficiently. ASAP has a bouquet offers around hundred skill courses in different sectors.

When people show aversion to skilled labours and love to embrace white collar jobs, ignoring their potential by blindly following the glamorous career, realities are different. Mr. Tom Jose, a business executive turned entrepreneur says "people look after white collar jobs and show dislike to job roles require specialized skills, considering their status in the society. Industries are forced to depend on females and labour from other states to fill this lacuna. Being people search for jobs offers leisure; they land in a dreamy world despite worries. It is a kind of egoistic attitude. He observed.

We cannot expect favorable whether always, and never wait for calm tides to kick off your journey. Only a rough sea can make good sailor and a smooth water never makes a good rower. This is the time to burn your boats ! Forget the past and aim for a bright future. Tomorrow is yours !

Enticed by ASAP; Philanthropist donated 1 acre land

Ms. Veronica hailing from Mala is enticed by the mission of ASAP. She is a philanthropist involved in admirable number of humanitarian missions, who has spent her early span of life in Germany doing research in medicine. She runs a charitable trust which is involved in the rehabilitation of a commendable number of orphans and hosts a day care centre for senior citizens, where they gather and spend an entire day together once in a week.

She was enlightened by the ASAP mission and decided to be a part of the same by whole heartedly donating an acre of her land free of cost, from the 2 acre plot where lot of other similar activities are also being planned by her with the support for setting up a community skill park. She commented that ASAP is the only mission which is likely to impact a positive socio economic change in the state ultimately contributing to the prosperity and well being of the nation.

"Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala is home to an umpteen number of philanthropists, patrons and humanitarians. An orientation of our mission to these people would prove to be very much beneficial to the programme. This would improve awareness among the people about our mission and would uphold the goodwill and reputation of the programme" says Mr. Nasser, ASAP Head - Thrissur.

An Analysis on Engagement of Youth Population in Kerala

An Analysis on Engagement of Youth Population in Kerala

Skilling of youth has a decisive role in the development of nations. When India is fast becoming a global super power and blessed with demographic dividend, imparting necessary skill sets to the youth population emerges as an immediate area of concern for policy makers and development scientists. The case is not different in the case of Kerala, around one third of the population falls in this category. 

Despite these facts, the employment rate, as per National Sample Survey of India, is 12.6%. The registrants in the Kerala employment exchange are 43 lakhs. Also, when countries like Korea and Mexico have achieved levels of 96% and 78% respectively in skilling, our people have simply below 20. This most disturbing fact needs to be mull over to expedite the existing pace of skill development in Kerala.

Youth Populace of Kerala

Census 2011 estimated the population of Kerala 33.3 million. Being the objective was to look in to the engagement of youth (15-29) in Kerala, an analysis of the targeted population was vital. Moli, (2007) (Kerala Youth, A demographic Analysis) reported that 27.6% of the population falls in the category of youth (15-29). The detailed analysis inferred that 32%, 10%, and 58% are in the sub-categories Adolescent (15-19), early-adulthood (20-24), and Adulthood (25-29) respectively. Based on this categorisation, a revised analysis based on the 2011 Census has been done and presented in the (Table. 1). It is imperative to note that the skilling category of ASAP,Adolescents (15-19) is 3006443.

Table 1: Status of Youth Population in Kerala*

Sl. No.	Category	Strength	Percentage
1	Youth (15-29)	9395136	100
2	Adolescents (15-19)	3006443	32
3	Early- Adulthood (20-24)	939513	10
4	Adulthood (25-29)	5449179	58

*Approximate

Learning Avenues

Even though the task of skilling 93.9 lakh youth population is challenging, government has come up with myriad initiatives to reap benefit from this dividend. Among these, skill infrastructure of Kerala needs to be explained.
It is significant to note that around 4.8 lakhs people pass secondary school ever year, whereas higher secondary has an enrolment capacity of 3.5 lakhs. Also, the strength of degree colleges in Kerala is around 2 lakhs. When different technical institutions (ITI and Poly Technique) produce 45, 000 students every year, Vocational education arm of higher secondary of Kerala enrol around 30,000 every year. 

It is estimated that the number students in graduate engineering 40,000, engineering diploma holders 12,000, ITI certificate holders 47, 000 and skill certified candidates through vocational Training providers 5,000 and other sectors account for 1,50,000 (SSDP). Also, the skill infrastructure of Kerala consists of 73 Government ITIs, ™47 SC/ST Development ITIs, ™454 Private ITIs, ™68 VTPs (Vocational Training Providers), 5 Centres of Excellence ITIs under domestic funding, 7 under World Bank aided scheme, and 21 under PPP schemes, 21 ITIs & 2 SCDD ITIs apart from skill development Initiative scheme based on Modular Employable Skills (MES) ™and apprenticeship training is imparted under National Apprenticeship Act (DETK).

A detailed view on the education and skilling infrastructure of Kerala is given below (table 2).

Table 2: Education Infrastructure Kerala

Sl. No.	Trade	Seats*	Sl. No.	Trade	Seats*
1	Engineering	39744	10	Polytechnic	11185
2	Vocational Higher Secondary*	27000	11	Food	1610
3	Higher Secondary*	350000	12	ITI	47000
4	VTP Skill Project	5000	13	Law	400
5	Management	3928	14	Communication	800
6	Nursing	13435	15	Agriculture and Veterinary	480
7	Paramedical	7069	16	BCA	2850
8	Teachers Training*	7870	17	Others (Unorganized)	150000
9	Medical	6153	18	Degree*	200000
				TOTAL	874524

*Approximate

Based on the estimate, total seats available for different courses for adolescent group are 874524. It is evident that a lion – portion of people engaged in education, considering the statistics and literacy rate of Kerala. It is also very heartening to see that a major chunk of courses are skill-based like engineering, paramedical, ITI and polytechnique, and especially different technical courses in skill sectors. However, the poor employability of youth is often a brewing concern.

(Source: SSDP, 2012, EduCare and Career Directory, The Mathrubhumi Publication, 2015, VHSE, KASE, ASAP, DHSE Websites)


Paul V Mathew
Program Manager
ASAP, Govt. of Kerala

Negative perception on vocational education

Changing the negative perception associated with vocational education and focusing on mobilization of candidates on the same: A major challenge in the skills arena is the mobilization of candidates, partly because of the socio-cultural attitude towards bluecollared jobs. It is also evident that lack of awareness is a major reason for the relatively poor response to skill development opportunities. The skills policy envisages awareness generation and information dissemination on the part of all the implementing agencies be it the Central Government, state government or the private agencies. A major initiative would be made in creating and raising awareness among the target groups about the benefit of skill development, employment and learning opportunities and also about support schemes that enable them to participate in training.

ASAP - Charting new trends in Skilling

Differing from the conventional method of stating all achievements and milestones chronologically, I would like to take this opportunity to share the journey of ASAP so far and its attempt to intervene in the hitherto neglected areas of helping students to get skilled while they are at School or College. As you know ASAP course runs parallel to the regular plus two or first two years of graduation whereby even though the total duration of ASAP course is on an average 450 hours, it took around than 20 months utilising two summer vacations other than the period in between.


ASAP Approach

ASAP is a joint venture of Higher Education and General Education departments of the Government of Kerala officially launched by the honorable Chief Minister on 6thNovember, 2012. Keeping the mission of taking leverage out of the demographic dividend of Kerala and to equip people with the necessary skill sets to meet the challenging demands of industry, ASAP put forth a multipronged strategy to skill youth of the state. ASAP courses have three components. The well designed foundation module to learn communicative English, basic IT and soft skills makes students to adapt to the swiftly changing local and global business environment. The practical oriented and industry driven skill courses vetted by experts from industry and academia and approved by the National Skill Development Council and Sector Skill Councils is capable to enrich students with professional working knowledge. Thirdly, the internship programs transforms students job-ready.


ASAP Delivery

The foundation module is for 180 hours and it is transacted during weekdays, for one hour before or after the regular academic time. The 150 hours of skill module is transacted during weekend days and other holidays, by bringing students from the neighbouring institutions to a Skill Development Centre. After the foundation module, the students are assessed by the APTIS test of the British Council and after the skill module, the students are assessed by third party independent agencies. The course also has a mandatory internship component of 150 hrs. The successful students are jointly certified by the Government of Kerala and Sector Skill Councils or Industry. The courses are aligned to the National Skills Qualifications Framework.
ASAP has deployed 1659 soft skill trainers designated as Skill Development Executives. They were recruited and trained by ASAP from the open market as well as through campus recruitment drives. The Skill courses are being offered and transacted by experienced skill trainers through Training Service Providers. Currently ASAP has 185 professionally qualified program managers for the project implementation especially to managing Skill Development Centres (SDC).


ASAP Progress

So far two batches of ASAP courses 2012-13 which completed in 2014 and 2013-14 which completed in 2015 are over. We could also complete the Summer Skill Skool for those students who completed their regular courses during the period 2013-14. The third years of ASAP i.e. 2014-15 which is currently in progress will be completed by May 2016 and around 26000 students will be completing their skill courses by then. Our fourth batch 2015-16 would be starting in this month.


We had a target of skilling 15000 students in 2013-14. We could start foundation classes in 102 institutions out of which 76Higher secondary schools and 26 are Colleges. 13 courses from 9 industry sectors were offered to train these students using the facilities of 19 Skill development Centres. Skill development centres are refurbished government higher secondary schools and colleges with 5-7 class rooms and a networked computer lab of 30 computers.


When stepping into its fourth year, ASAP has broadened its spectrum to 51571 students in 957 institutions through 91 skill courses from 22 industry sectors and 104 Skill Development Centres. Currently, ASAP partners with 60 TSPs, 899 partnering schools and 117 colleges. The industry sectors include Accounting, Auto Mobile, Electronics, Logistics and ports, IT and ITES, Financial Services, Beauty and Wellness, Plumbing, Rubber, Retail, Security, Apparel, Life Science, Telecommunication, Hospitality, Agriculture, Health Care, Media and Entertainment, Printing, Construction etc.


Special Initiatives

Summer Skill Skool: Summer Skill Skool is massive skilling exercise to train around ten thousand students during summer vacation. Broadly, it comprises of three schemes.


DESIGN, OPERATE, ASSESS AND PLACE (DOAP) scheme invites Training Service Providers to design and offer industry relevant programmes approved under National Occupation Standards. 7233 were trained during 2015 under this scheme.
DEMAND, OPERATE AND TRAIN (DOT) is scheme for schools and colleges to take up skill development programme from ASAP Skill bouquet and offer to students. Through DOT 2095 students were skilled in this year.
Through DOAP and DOT a total of 9328 students were offered with 47 courses through 22 TSPS.
DESIGN, ALIGN AND TRAIN (DAT) scheme is a capacity building exercise of ASAP for engineering and polytechnic colleges to design to transform them as a quality Skill Training Providers approved by Sector Skill Council concerned. ASAP envisages and encourages them to offer industry-relevant skill development programme for Kerala society. So far 54 institutions were joined with ASAP as part of DAT Scheme.


The Training Partner Scheme (TPS): A 21 days finishing school mode residential camp for final year graduate and post graduate students was envisaged atdeveloping qualified professionals especially for empanelling as Skill Development Executives (SDE) of ASAP. ‘Thousand Splendid Stars’ a campaign as part of TPS partnering with IHRD in 2013 at selected Govt and Aided Arts & Science Colleges trained 3410 students from 83 institutions in 120 batches. In the year 2014, the scheme continued and we have trained 1269 students from 193 Arts & Science Colleges in 40 batches. Current year, we plan to train 2000 students in the 21 day residential training camps to get minimum 750 SDEs for next year.


Personnel Training: ASAP provides opportunities for all its stake holders to excel in their personnel and professional life. All the program managers are routinely provided with orientation, training on SDC management, IT and MIS, CASH Software etc along with a rejuvenation camps. In order to improve competency of program managers ASAP offers developmental programs for its employees at IIM Kozhikode. Moodle, an online learning platform for ASAP members consist of diverse modules for life-long learning. Also, 1847 of ASAP SDEs are trained on various competency areas. Spoken Tutorial, an IT training program for SDEs in association with IIT Mumbai helps them to upgrade their skills, throughout their lives to cope up with the demands of modern life, for the constantly evolved job functions. As a part of IGNITE, 535 ASAP coordinators who steer ASAP activities at institutional level were trained in 18 batches.
Industry Academic Robustness
ASAP has great faith in industry leadership and it always keeps industry at the driving seat to determine courses, curriculum and course of action. The Business Advisory Committees (BAC) being constituted in all skill sectors enable ASAP to designing guiding principles. The Business Advisory Committee is really a platform for the industries to demand and support ASAP to develop a young skilled workforce ideal for them to engage. As of today, ASAP has constituted 15 BACs including BFSI, Rubber, Construction, Agriculture, Telecom, Logistics and Port, Hospitality, IT, Electronics, Food Processing, Retail, Plumbing, the Gems and Jewellery, and Media and Entertainment (Film) and (Animation).


ASAP organized many successful events to engage industry like Skill Enterprise Engagement for Empowering Kerala (SEEK), S-Spark, E-Futura, Glue, and Jagriti, which were warmly welcomed by business houses with vibrant participation. ASAP has alliance with various international and national agencies including Australian Ministry of Education, NSDC and SSCs to bring in international experience and expertise into this process. As of now, ASAP has signed MoUs with ESSCI, Agriculture Sector Skill Council of India, Telecom Sector Skill Council, Security Sector Skill Development Council, Bosch Research India Ltd., Beauty and Sector Skill Council, Retailers Association Skill Council, Apparel, Madeups and Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council, NSDC, Logistics Sector Skill Council, Life Science Sector Skill Council, Telecom Sector Skill Council, and Indian Plumbing Skill Council.


Almost all the prominent brand names in the training industry in the country are working with us. Apart from that, we also work directly with Industry Associations, National Agencies and Public Sector Undertakings like
Public Sector Undertakings: BSNL, Poly technique under DTE/IHRD
National Agencies: Indian Dental Association, National Stock Exchange (NSE), NASSCOM
Industry bodies and trade Associations: IAPMO India, ICAI, Kerala Master Printers Association
Educational Enterprises: Australian Retail College (India) Pvt. Ltd, Thoughts Academy, The Rubber Skill Development Centre, ICT Academy of Kerala, BSE Training Institute, NEST Institute, NTTF, Premier Centre for Competency Training,
Private Sector Enterprises: Shriram New Horizon Ltd., Shriram New Horizon, Angels International Foundation, Sahasra Sambhavan Skill Development Pvt. Ltd, Labor Net Services Pvt. Ltd., ICFE Skills Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Krera Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Thredz Information Technology Pvt. Ltd., Manipal City and Guilds, CAP Workforce Development Pvt. Ltd., Ants Consulting and Services Pvt. Ltd, Team Lease Service Pvt. Ltd., ICA Infotech Pvt. Ltd., Safe Educate Learning Pvt. Ltd., IL&FS Skills Development Corporation Ltd, ASMACS Skill Development Ltd., Empower Pragati, Edujobs Academy Pvt. Ltd., RVS Education Trust, Visamyamax Animation, STEP, Orion Edutech Pvt. Ltd., Institute of Palliative Medicine, i star, , , IKYA Human Capital Solutions Ltd., AELIS Enterprise Learning and Implementation Solutions Pvt. Ltd., HelPos & Matheson IT Ltd., Orion Edutech Pvt. Ltd, , Leadership Training Institute, UTL Technologies, Wayline Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Labornet Services India Pvt. Ltd., Rooman Technologies, , Funfirst Global Skillers,


Also, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode is the principal knowledge partner of ASAP in project implementation.


ASAP QualityQuality is the cornerstone of ASAP programs. The well defined and professionally designed templates for Participant Handbook, Trainers Manual, Assessors Manual, Lab Manual, Quality Framework and Syllabus for the standardisation of content and delivery makes ASAP a unique venture.


In order to assure the quality of delivery, ASAP deploys full time Quality assessors to monitor the content transaction at institutions and developed a mechanism for video Camera/Mobile based quality monitoring system along with a centralized quality control lab. The full- fledged Research and Documentation division at ASAP ensures information at finger tips and effective management and tracking of courses through a comprehensive Management Information System (MIS). CASH Software offers accurate fund transactions.


We always strive to provide best infrastructure facilities to impart training. ASAP has an own data centre connected to all centres in Kerala through State Wide Area Network (KSWAN). High Speed Wi-Fi internet enabled centres, centralized control digital signage, cloud enablement – server and desktop virtualization, biometric attendance management system with Adhar integration, 24X7 uninterrupted power supply, SMART class rooms equipped with interactive boards and projectors, and sate of the art computer labs with all in one desk tops, tabs and movable chairs offer best learning environment to students.


Placements
Though placement is not a mandate to ASAP, we put all efforts to provide employment opportunities to prospective and interested candidates. Despite social stigma to enrol in vocational job roles prevails in the Kerala society, ASAP offered170 placements so far in organizations like Xerox, Tata, SBI, Samsung, Idea, Vodafone, Micromax, Pixel, UAE Exchange, Alliance Cornhill, Le Posche, Fevicol-Pedilite, Cafe Coffe Day, Sobha Projects, Kerala Automobiles Ltd; M P G Hotels and Infrastructure Ventures Pvt. Ltd, Uday Samudra Hotels & Resorts, Janmabhoomi, Mahamudra, Manappuram Gold loan, Orange Press, PLS solutions, NIT, Poabs Tea Company, Tektide, , Samsung, CERA, Medirina Super Speciality Hospital, Mulamootil Enterprises, AGEIS, Vertex India Pvt.Ltd. etc.


ASAP for Inclusive Skilling:Inclusive approach is an index of ASAP. ASAP devises an incentive-based fee scheme and provides full subsidy to socially and economically backward students like BPL, SC/ST and other backward communities. 53 % of ASAP students fall in the BPL category. ASAP conducts course in 9 Model Residential Schools under the SC/ST department across Kerala. Also, we extend support to the Social Justice department by offering courses in various juvenile homes.


Life Long Strategy at ASAPASAP has designed a scientific tool to measure suitability of a student for any skill sectors. The aptitude test customized for Kerala captures interest, aptitude and personality thereby enable student to choose the suitable course. The foundation module designed and published by ASAP has received with overwhelming response. Also, ASAP wants to develop its Foundation Module as Certificate Course for Soft Skill and Basic IT Training. ASAP prepares the QP to submit before the NSQC of NSDA to align to the suitable NSQF.
ASAP was started as skilling facilitating agency with a hope that there would be qualified and reliable private training providers, whom will render training services across the state. But the fact is, other than a few, most of the other training providers still struggle when they are asked to scale up with quality. It indirectly led ASAP to take up more roles like content generation, training of trainers, deployment of quality assurers, and standardization of assessment and certification protocols. Amidst this environment in the skill eco system of Kerala, ASAP endeavoured into develop an incubation platform for public sector institutions, private agencies and institutions through summits like CONNECT, SEEK, DAT etc. in association with NSDC, SSCs and KASE.
Career guidance camps: ASAP ideates a concept of SMILE Campaign for 10th standard students across the state to inculcate confidence, communication or technical and vocational skills and knowledge of opportunities to earn a living. As a career orientation program, it emphasis on gaining experiences through the innovative sessions on practical skill educational and skills training from the most relevant industry partners, as well as to opportunities for getting meaningful confidence in facing the society. On a pilot basis, this year, ASAP in association with higher secondary department implements career orientation program for higher secondary students in various sectors.


Community Skill Parks : As a lifelong learning strategy, ASAP has conceived the idea of Community Skill Parks (CSPc) having state-of-the-art training facilities to impart various skill training programmes 24X7, based on the demand from the industry. Each community skill park will be having approximately 20000 sqft training space. The CSPs will be operated in PPP mode. The first lot of 7 CSPs will be commissioned by mid-2016. In the first phase CSPs in following 15 locations are being designed.

Sl. No.	SITE	DISTRICT
1	VENNIYOOR	MALAPPURAM
2	PAMPADI	KOTTAYAM
3	PERUMBAVOOR	ERNAKULAM
4	AMARAVILA	TRIVANDRUM
5	VIGYAN NAGAR	THRISSUR
6	CHATHANNUR	PALAKKAD
7	MANANTHAVADY	WAYANAD
8	KASARAGODE	KASARAGODE
9	KATTAPPANA	IDUKKI
10	KULAKKADA	KOLLAM
11	EDAMATTOM	KOTTAYAM
12	KALAMASSERY	ERNAKULAM
13	KUNNANTHANAM	PATHANAMTHITTA
14	PANDIKKADU	MALAPPURAM
15	LAKKIDI	PALAKKAD

Concluding Note
After three years of its inception, it has still a lot to fulfil. Hence moves ahead its pursuit with the energy imbibed from its learnings and industry engagement, to build a suitable skill ecosystem for the upcoming generation. In this journey, ASAP could develop many more things that a normal State Skilling mission supposed to do. Development of a Foundation module which is contextualised and interactive, Training partnership Scheme to equip students to become English teachers, an Aptitude test which available in Malayalam and Kerala specific, Community Skill Parks to provide skilling opportunities for the common public, enterprise summits to equip Kerala based TSP, and many more. ASAP looks forward to expand its skill course bouquet with more diverse skill courses that are needed by the industry and to strengthen its armour with uncompromising quality, stretching its muscles with strong industry participation, and reaching out to every youth of Kerala. ASAP gives a glimmer of hope to the emerging nation. Let us gather together under ASAP for a sustainable and inclusive growth of our Nation.
********************
(Excerpts from the Convocation Adress by Dr. Reju M T IAS, CEO, ASAP)

ASAP goes beyond conventional boundaries; Dr. K. M . Abraham IAS

Being a novel venture, the flexibility and freedom offered by the department was overwhelming. Implementing the scheme was challenging as everything had to begin from the scratch. However, the fruit it bares exemplified our unrelenting efforts to build a skilling ecosystem in Kerala. said Dr. Abraham. The journey was not alone, he extended his gratitude to all those who were with this mission during the last three years.

 Referring to the address by the honorable minister of MHRD, Smt. Smrithi Irani, he noted that ASAP became a pioneer in skill development during a short span of time, and now it’s an emulating model for all the states of India. He said that the minister recommended other states to take a look into the way ASAP works and to adapt the Aptitude test designed by ASAP to identify skill orientation of students. said; Dr. K. M. Abraham IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education while delivering the welcome address at the Convocation Ceremony of ASAP Students.

Highlighting the future plans of ASAP, Dr. K M Abraham pointed out the fact that Kerala has to take leverage from its potential human resource in order to survive as a stable economy in the coming centuries. He hoped that the upcoming Community Skill Parks will offer 24*7 training with international quality. As a long run skill education shall be embedded with academics. As an initial process, ASAP ventures into provide ADD on courses in universities. He said.

Dr. Abraham also placed his indebtedness to the ADB team who fond ASAP as a programme worth to support and reminded to welcome all others including international partners, members of NSDC and SSC, TSPs who stands with ASAP ensuring the quality, BAC members who are the industry leaders, and the entire ASAP family.