Is Training Skills Mere A Trend or Necessity?
Often I see teenagers moving in small groups with notepads in their hands. I even watch several institutes mushrooming in all cities in India imparting training in a variety of skills.
This current scenario engages me in thinking, “Is Training in Skills becoming a Trend or Truly a Necessity?”
During my quest, I came to meet a young, dynamic professional addressing and orienting a bunch of youth in a training institute. When the session got over we sat down and talked while sipping tea. I was curious to know more about the kind of training in skills being imparted in her institute to get a glimpse in this new sought arena to equip ourselves. Here I share ‘Rendezvous’ with Meenakshi Mahalwal.
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Professional in Spotlight |
In Conversation
with
Meenakshi Mahalwal
Ina : Hello. Today begins with a difference for having met you.
Meenakshi Mahalwal : Oh Really!
Ina : Yes, fresh day break, with your sunny address.
She smiles and a glitter warms up her eyes.
Ina :I learned that you are associated with trainings and skills development programs.
Meenakshi : Yes, I’m associated with F-TEC, a Foresight Initiative in Skill development, empowering India & Indians. It is a government registered & an ISO certified organization.
Ina : Interesting, how do you go about it?
Meenakshi : I look after Business development and operation, as a Senior Program Manager.
Ina : That’s a real high profile job!
She chuckles & it unfolds an unassuming personality beyond her professional attitude.
Ina : How do you network to make the people aware and the perspective job aspirants about the training programs being conducted at F-TEC?
Meenakshi : We do so through our PAN network connected to a number of centers across the nation.
She continues further, initially we started with short term & then the long term certificate and diploma courses. Imparting training, developing skills as needed in several professions.
Ina : Are these trainings and skills based program affiliated to state and national level educational institutes?
Meenakshi : Trainings imparted by F-TEC are now being affiliated to vocational institutes; attached to the main stream universities, such as in Delhi, the capital of India.
Skills Equip Job Seekers & Homemakers
Ina : Do you consider acquiring skills as a fundamental asset for seeking a job in the contemporary ‘world of work’?
Meenakshi : Acquiring skill in a particular area helps youngsters to get foothold in the world of work. Jobs which do not exist today will be generated in future. Thus jobs oriented education coupled with acquired skills will prepare the perspective workforce in the job sector.
Therefore, skill development plays a vital role in creating new jobs and meeting new job demands.
Further, appropriate skills give directions to fresh thinking and develop problem solving abilities to fit into the current job market trend.
Ina : What would you like to suggest to the modern youth preferring short term skills rather than going for the long term degree courses?
Meenakshi : Coming to employ-ability, short term skills are the great way to bridge the gap between education & employment. Skills build competitive edge; support the job aspirants to be on top in the game of selection.
Then certificate or diploma holders in varied skills, sometimes earn more than the degree holders. Yet at the same time I personally feel a certificate can not be a better option to a degree. F-TEC supports to enhance the skills among the youth.
Ina : What do you think, about the teenage girls with only school level education, and the women home makers? Do you have any suggestions to make, regarding the training programs in skills development program available for them?
Meenakshi : Home makers and teenage girls get stream lined with the workforce by acquiring technical and entrepreneurship skills. Moreover soft skills help them grow, if they like to choose and join relevant fields of work.
F-TEC is playing a pioneering role in the nation’s skill development program, even to the teenage girls and the homemakers as well.
This Rendezvous had been a window to the world of skills. It gave a complete new perspective of contemporary job requirements and emerging careers to fit into Fourth Gen Technological Revolution. Why and how to skill ourselves. Thank you indeed, Meenakshi Mahalwal for your enriching conversation.
Skills Bring Personal Edge
It is an undeniable desire of ours that we all love to see feathers on our caps on our professional ladders. However, in a fast paced, rapid modernizing world, skills chosen thoughtfully, update professional profiles and lend professional edge to perspective job aspirants. Even though acquiring skills cannot compensate for professional degrees, yet complement higher education greatly. And those of us who are home makers or modestly educated, our hands on skills, such as training in entrepreneurial skills, or training in employ-ability skills, prove gateways to the world of work, further opening up many avenues to monetize. How can we forget, two skilled hands crafted the first wheel, brought us to this day, riding on it. Leaving all doubts, skills face-lift us to act smart, relevant and engaging in the contemporary world.
Interviewed By: Ina | Creative Director
Meenakshi Mahalwal had been serving as a Senior Program Manager at the time of interview, F-TEC, Skill Development, located at Delhi, India. She had been actively engaged in Business Development and Operation; beside being a motivational speaker while orienting the youth with upcoming skills in the area of Emerging Technologies. She is currently serving as a Business Development Manager in an IT company in Muscat, Oman.
Interview & Graphics by Author
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