India needs a focused approach to excel in the Games of Skills

The 47th edition of the biennial WorldSkills Competition 2024 is being held in Lyon, France. The competition features a 60-strong WorldSkills India Team competing in 52 skill categories with participants from over 70 countries. Often considered the “Olympics of Skills”, this international event features over 1,400 competitors and 1,300 experts.

The WorldSkills competition is a platform that celebrates excellence across a broad range of skills, from construction and manufacturing to information technology and creative arts. The 60-strong Indian team, 20 percent of whom are women, marks a breakthrough this edition as they compete in traditionally male-dominated fields such as welding, plumbing and heating. They have undergone rigorous training, supported by leading corporates in the manufacturing sector, with expertise from industry leaders and institutions across the country.

Unfortunately, the same approach is lacking in the female-dominated (67%) beauty and wellness sector as the skill potential is yet to be properly recognized in the current WorldSkills Competition. It would be a significant step forward if the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and CSR funds could rigorously support these skills in the IndiaSkills competition, the premier event in the country that aims to showcase the highest standards of skill and provide a platform for youngsters to showcase their talent in various skills.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 highlights the importance of skill development by allocating 40 per cent of the credits for this area. It is essential to ensure that financial constraints do not hinder access to skill development. Financial assistance models, scholarships and low-interest loans should be explored to support individuals in pursuing education programmes, especially in the beauty and wellness sector, which plays a significant role in shaping India’s future.

The regulatory framework for skill development needs to be improved to keep up with changing industry requirements and technological advances. Streamlining and simplifying accreditation and certification processes are areas that need attention. However, the real power lies in collaboration. Engagement between academia, industry and training providers is key to achieving India’s skill development goals. Together, we can make a significant difference in the future of skill development.

To make India a global skills capital, we need to focus on eleven key paradigms and enablers: aspiration and advocacy, capability, quality, synergy, mobilisation and engagement, and international partnerships. Each stakeholder has a unique role to play in this collective effort. Together, we can shape a global skilled workforce that meets the changing needs of the world and can be a game-changer for India.

Currently, India’s performance in the beauty and wellness sector in global skill competitions is not at par with other countries. There is a need to provide more exposure and high-level training to our boys and girls in these global competitions so that they can stand out. Beauty pageants like Miss World and Miss Universe have created a distinct identity, dispelling earlier misconceptions about the fashion industry and fostering unique recognition. Similarly, the beauty and wellness sector has unlimited potential and can showcase skilled talent globally. However, our approach to skilling people in this sector needs targeted improvement to ensure that they leave an indelible mark in international competitions.

WorldSkills competitions hold global championships every two years, attracting young people from around the world to compete and win medals in their chosen skills. Competitions cover a variety of industries, from carpentry to floristry, hairdressing to electronics, body repair to bakery, beauty and wellness and many more. Competitors are selected from skills competitions held in WorldSkills member countries and regions, representing the best of their peers. One of the legacies of these competitions is the increased visibility of skilled vocational education, which serves as a powerful tool for social and economic transformation.

At the global level, a key obstacle to India’s dominance in international skill competitions is the lack of a more global approach to our diverse skill sets. This critical issue requires immediate attention and action, as addressing it could significantly strengthen India’s position in the arena of global skill development.

In the WorldSkills Competition 2022, India’s 50-member team received just 13 medals of recognition and finished 11th, while China topped the rankings with 11 gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals. While India is yet to win any gold medals, there is immense potential for young professionals to excel in various skill sets and win medals in global competitions, which would promote international exposure and build optimism about India’s future in skills development.

We need to rethink the strategy

A conducive environment must be created in training institutes where there is a continuous exchange of information and best practices related to industrial and vocational education. New ideas and processes must inspire school-age youth to dedicate themselves to technical and creative careers in order to build a better future.

If our talented participants are not winning medals at the “Olympics of Skills,” it is a clear signal that we need to reassess our strategy. We need to explore the potential of specific skill sets to achieve excellence, as a unified competitive environment ensures that participants from all over the world compete on a level playing field. This reiteration of the need for continuous improvement and adaptation should underscore the importance of these aspects in skill development.

The author is the co-founder and managing director of Orane International, a training partner of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and a member of the India International Skills Centres network, an initiative of the GoI. The views expressed in the above article are personal and solely the views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of News18.