Post Covid-Strategien verschiedener indischer Sector Skill Councils

How logistics sector is playing a pivotal role during the pandemic

"During the pandemic, the logistics sector has been critical in ensuring timely supply of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, and vaccines to hospitals and people in need," says, Mr. Ramesh Venkat, Head – Industry Partnerships and Alliances – Logistics Skill Council (LSC).

The logistics sector has played an extremely important role in keeping the wheels of the economy moving. The logistics sector involves packaging, movement, storage, and flow of goods domestically and outside international borders. The sector played a critical role in facilitating trade and commerce and helped businesses get their products to customers.

From supplying essentials to households, industries, etc. to supplying oxygen cylinders to hospitals and healthcare centres, the logistics industry has been playing a pivotal role. To know and understand the challenges of the logistics industry, the role of Logistics Skills Council (LSC), the need for a skilled workforce, training, etc., we conversed with Mr. Ramesh Venkat, Head – Industry Partnerships and Alliances – Logistics Skill Council.

Note: These are few excerpts from our conversation. You can watch the full video interview on the YouTube channel by the National Skills Network NSN.

Question (Q): How is the logistics industry coping with the challenges of the supply chain with the COVID-19 disruption?

Answer (A): There are many challenges in logistics post-pandemic, especially with the supply of vaccines and oxygen which is the need of the hour. There are 12 sub-sectors in logistics. Logistics interacts with these sub-sectors in terms of skilling, placements, and apprenticeships.

The sub-sectors are:

1. Warehouse and Transportation
2. Courier and Express service
3. Inland Container Depots (ICD) and Container Freight Station (CFS) operations
4. Air Cargo
5. Export and Imports
6. Customs
7. E-commerce
8. Supply Chain
9. Rail Logistics
10. Liquid Logistics
11. Cold Chain
12. Inland Waterways

During the pandemic, one of the challenges is transportation. Training drivers is a challenge. But, during the pandemic, vaccine distribution has become a critical challenge where fraternities come forward ramping up and meeting a lot of supply challenges in the country.

We see drivers as the frontline warriors today, but are neglected and not being vaccinated. So, while supplying these, they go as COVID-19 negative and come back as COVID-19 positive.

We are trying our best, collectively with manufacturers, transporting services to supply oxygen. Another challenge faced by the drivers while transporting the vaccine or oxygen is that there is no food on the highway. Also, due to political anguish, trucks are getting hijacked.

Post-pandemic, there is a good remark about logistics. As it is one of the only four sectors that are currently running. The other sectors which are able to run their operations during the current times are agriculture, health and pharma and IT (Information Technology), and e-commerce.

E-commerce is a big boon to the logistics industry. But the challenge is the delivery, as there are no resources to deliver the products at the confined places.

If you look at the first wave i.e., a year ago, we could get our orders on the same day but now it's taking around 25 days. This means there are a lot of challenges for getting skilled persons to deliver.

Q: How is the LSC trying to ramp up things in this current situation?

A: The situation world is facing is unprecedented. Under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), along with NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation), LSC has been front-ending this joint initiative. We have partnered with the Indian Chemical Council and transporters in building transportation capacity building for transporting liquid cryogenic oxygen.

There are 1200 tanker vehicles deployed currently to carry Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) pan India. We need two drivers for a smooth supply where there is no delay. So, the drivers of LMO are required to be trained but are in huge paucity.

They should be HMV (Heavy Motor Vehicle) license qualified and should have a lot of technical skills. Fast driving or at the deep curves, the tanker would roll over. Given these challenges, we need to create a bench of at least 2,400 drivers. So, end-to-end activities are being digitized collectively by stakeholders and we are ramping up to skill the drivers.

Q: What are some of the other job roles that are extremely important and require skilling?

A: NSDC has created a virtual portal where we bridge the demand and supply. It is called ASEEM portal (Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping) and logistics is on top of the charts. More than 5.1 lakh qualified trained workers who applied for jobs from the ASEEM platform from various e-commerce, logistics companies and from the 12 sub-sectors under logistics.

The top demand for jobs is Courier Delivery Executive which is also known as the last-mile logistics. The next job role is that of a Warehouse Picker.

When infrastructure goes up, logistics are automatically proportionate to having a skilled workforce. Hence, the job role of Warehouse Picker has been authorized. Along with last-mile logistics, job roles like Courier Institutional Sales Executive and Warehouse Management are in demand.

Q: As the classroom training got affected, what initiatives have you taken to adopt blended learning to continue training programmes?

A: The impact of learning has gone virtual since post-pandemic. So, blended learning has been adopted during the lockdown. Because of the pandemic, there's been a lot of flexibility and empathy coming in and people are gradually shifting to electric vehicles. So, that is another place where we have been asked to skill as that requires lot of knowledge on charging. Therefore, all the training which is used to be classroom pedagogy is moved into digitized mode.

Q: Is there an overlap of skilling between the logistics sector and the automotive sector?

A: There are men and machines in both automotive and logistics. Four years ago, GOI has got the LSC to Automotive Sector together in the Society of Indian Automobiles Manufacturers Forum (SIAM). We created content for Heavy Commercial Vehicle Driver and have been skilling them through various government-funded programmes.

During the lockdown, people are shifting to electric vehicles. There is a humongous need to train men and women. There is also a lot of gender diversity initiatives taking place. Mahindra and Mahindra have also taken six transgenders in their warehouse in Chennai. The benchmark is not gender but productivity.

Q: Don't you think that the Sector Skill Council should propose for work-integrated learning while they are pursuing degree courses like BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)?

A: We have embraced what MSDE and NSDC have been guiding us with. Skilling is our core competence. Key focus areas for Logistics are skilling, placements, and industry-academia partnerships.

We were the first in our country to launch BBA in Logistics programme. It is a blended programme with six semesters. The three semesters are apprenticed, where the students learn and earn. Students will have hands-on experience on warehouses with COVID-19 appropriate behavior. We are also in the verge of launching MS data analytics in Supply Chain and Logistics in engineering colleges.

Q: What would be your advice to training partners connected to logistics and e-commerce?

A: There is a huge need for reskilling and upskilling. There is a National Workforce Strategy is being developed to address how to bring academic intervention into skilling programmes and training.

It is time for youngsters to embrace advancements in technology and know that what used to work decades ago does not work today. With the ongoing automation and technology playing in, they need to be skilled.

This can help our country to become skilling capital in technology. Industry and academia have started to adapt, acknowledge and identify things like apprenticeships now in a fast-track mode.

We have our own online learning platform where we skill train thousands of people. We also have an entrepreneurship vertical in LSC through which we are in touch with startups and promoting entrepreneurship in the logistics sector.

---

Beauty and Wellness Sector: Skills, Training and Careers

"A person is like the canvas and beauty is your work of art on them", says Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies; Chairperson Beauty and Wellness Sector Skill Council (B&WSSC), while talking about why makeup and hairstyle are not just about beauty but a creative work of art.

Beauty is not just an outer appearance but also inner strength. Good looks make a person appreciate themselves and feel confident, giving them the inner strength to face the world. As the beauty sector has become one of the main emerging industries, it is providing employment to many people around the globe. To know her journey of building a global beauty brand, successfully running a creative training institute, and diversifying into many other areas in the domain of beauty, we conversed with Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson, Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies; Chairperson B&WSSC.

Note: These just excerpts from our conversation, you can watch a full video interview on the YouTube channel by the National Skills Network NSN.

Question (Q): How did you start the journey in the beauty sector when it wasn’t even considered an aspirational profession?

Answer (A): It started as a hobby when I discovered that I feel extremely happy making people look good. I decided to take it up as a profession by doing a Cosmetology course after my husband got transferred to Delhi. The courses at that time were only on theory, but for the beauty sector, we need practical learning to get the knowledge of the skin, hair texture, makeup, etc. So, I learned the practical part at few of my friends’ places in Bengaluru. I told one of my friend’s son that I would like to cut his hair but when he denied, I offered him 20 rupees, then, he got excited and brought his friends too for a haircut from me, in return of 20 rupees. That is how I learnt to do the haircut!

After shifting to Delhi, I started hiring people for makeup, and hairstyle. But before that, I used to train people in the required skills. We also offered courses from Pivot Point, America, which gave good training practically along with the theory part. From salon and then to training, I went into making products. At that time, only retail products were available and not professional products. So, we started with aromatherapy which is a part of Ayurveda that worked on the wellness part of the client. We started from a small factory with whatever money we had with us because there was no way of getting loans at that time.

Q: Don't you think your personal brand, Aroma magic also signifies connecting Skill India with Make in India?

A: Yes, the personal brand, Aroma Magic does signify Skill India with Make in India as all the raw material for the products are from India. There is no animal testing as we believe in the authenticity of the product.

Q: Being the college of beauty education, why isn't the word, 'beauty' added in the name of your college, 'Blossom Kochhar's College of Creative Arts and Design'?

A: Beauty is a creative art, as the person becomes your canvas here. Grooming the skin and makeup is a fine art. So, this means you’re doing a work of art on your client. Also, the courses in our college are not just about hair and makeup but we also have courses on photography, fashion, and personal grooming. We got in touch with the London School, Pivot Point, so the students can get jobs from all over the world.

We train people even in rural areas and towns for this profession. Widows are also trained where they can earn money by starting in their own house.

Q: What is your vision for employment growth in the beauty sector?

A: The beauty sector is just getting organised, as the salons have started opening chain salons. There are several job opportunities for people who would want to take up a profession in the beauty sector. For employment in the beauty sector, practical training is as important as theory. Institutes must encourage students to take up apprenticeship opportunities. This will help the students gain practical knowledge and helps them get employed. We train them in soft skills and speaking skills to become sophisticated. We also urge to make them job-worthy and industry-ready.

Q: How can schools get started with courses for students who are interested in this field?

A: We can definitely start this in smaller classes with grooming by making this profession look glamourous. We can add up yoga, exercise, and wellness classes in the curriculum. When they complete the course, even if students are not good in academics, they can learn mehendi (henna) design, hairstyles and start earning money. For example, they can do this from their homes or can start by doing a hairstyle for the bride. This also gives them confidence in acquiring a job. But, to get into the beauty sector, skilling is very essential along with education.

Q: What is the impact of COVID-19 on the beauty sector?

A: Beauty is a profession that can be taken up from anywhere. Of course, the pandemic has impacted it during the first wave of COVID-19. Though salons were not running, salaries had to be paid to the employees. So, they came up with home services which actually started years ago when we used to call up for body massages and mehendi for hair. The only thing which has been added now after the pandemic is hygiene.

For the salons to run successfully, the foremost thing has to be hygiene, where the clients gain confidence to get the services from a salon. Our salon has been given a hygiene certification and is running well. Although there’s a pandemic, people do not compromise on good looks. They want to get pampered and look good, no matter what the situation is. So, the beauty sector will not completely get impacted or closed by COVID-19.

There is also a new way of learning which is online education. We adopted this before the pandemic so we will keep it running. We need to invest in practical training through online education. Teachers need to be dedicated as they have to watch over the students. With this education, we can reach out to much more people by making it interesting.

We should also have a cluster system in the beauty sector as to where and when the employees can work and go. We need to employ people who cannot afford to have big salons. So, the big salons should give people an opportunity to work in their salons as they are trained and skilled in the beauty sector. This idea is like community entrepreneurship.

To conclude, I would like to mention that the beauty sector is the most amazing profession to be in. If you like to do something, you need to be passionate about it. To become an entrepreneur, one should educate themselves and have the right attitude. Learn the skill for yourself, even though you have a company, as it will help you to live on your own.

---

How strategic collaborations and industry engagement have played a crucial role in 10 years of ASDC

With rapid technological disruption, the Automotive industry is going through some major changes impacting the entire ecosystem. The pandemic has accelerated the transformation. The skill requirement of the industry is going to change along with the nature of the jobs.

Being at the forefront of skill development in the Automotive industry for the last 10 years, Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC) has been a trailblazer in many ways. To know more about their journey so far and the initiatives to cope with the technological disruptions, Team National Skills Network (NSN) caught up with Mr. Nikunj Sanghi, Chairman, ASDC to congratulate the team on their tenth anniversary and learn about the present priorities and the road ahead.

Read on to know more about the first Sector Skill Council (SSC)! 

Question (Q). With the current industry scenario and the disruption of technology in the Automotive industry, what are the skills that are going to be in demand?

Answer (A): The Automotive industry in India is undergoing major transformations because of various factors. Technological disruption is one of them. The changes are going to impact the entire ecosystem starting from the manufacturers to the dealers. So, the Skill Gap Analysis Report by ASDC in collaboration with Ernst & Young (EY) suggests major upskilling and reskilling of the workforce.

With automation taking over the Manufacturing industry, learning new skills like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Robotics would be essential for those who want to build a career in the Automotive industry. These skills would generate a number of new jobs for people in the future.  The challenge here would be to upskill and reskill the manpower so that they remain relevant to the industry.

Q. Please tell us more about your collaborations with the industry and academia.

A: Collaborations with the industry, technology partners and academia will ensure successful implementation of the skill development initiatives. ASDC was able to collaborate with leading industries and technology leaders at the right time. The collaborations also involve cross continental partnerships like the partnership with the government of United Kingdom through the Department for International Development (DFID, now Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)). Digital Training of Trainers (ToT) programs are a prominent part of ASDC's collaboration with FCDO.

Apart from these collaborations, we are also associated with Electric Vehicle (EV) Manufactures which help us understand their needs and work accordingly.

Q. With industry 4.0 in the picture, will there be a transition to a higher level of skilling?

A: Technology is rapidly disrupting the entire skilling industry. So, it is crucial for us to go up the ladder in terms of skilling. While the skilling at the  National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) level 3, 4 and 5 would continue, we are graduating up to NSQF level 7, 8 and 9. And, to ensure industry-relevant skill development even at the higher level, we are continuously collaborating with skilling universities and academic institutions. We have started working on Qualification Packs (QPs) of those levels as well. We have a specific expert group devoted to working on higher-level skills.

Q. How has digital disruption following COVID-19 impacted skilling in the automotive industry?

A: The new normal in learning would be blended learning. The importance of good digital content would always be there. So, to provide our students with quality digital content, we have partnered with TCS iON to create a digital learning hub. Most of the content in the platform is free and others courses can be accessed at a very nominal cost. The courses would be available for the entire ecosystem and all our industry partners are providing us with quality content.

We have also developed a listing platform in collaboration with TCS iON. The platform will list all the stakeholders in the industry and provide people with jobs in their preferred location. The platform will also help students to select the right skill development programs for them as per the geographical needs. The pilot of the listing platform will be launched very soon.

Q. How do you ensure an effective industry-academia collaboration?

A: For ASDC, collaboration is the key and getting the industry and academia involved in the entire skill development process is crucial. We have three principal associations with the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The industry requirements are our priority. We are working on forming an expert group to work on research and development (R&D), the members of which would be experts from industries. All our contents are reviewed by the industry so they are industry-aligned and 25 of our QPs are approved by the government.

Along with the industry, it was important for us to be engaged with the government and the entire ecosystem.  We ensure that our Governing Council is represented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Apart from the industry and the government, academia also plays an important role in the successful implementation of any skill development initiative. ASDC has collaborated with various academic institutions and encouraged them to offer industry-relevant courses like Mechatronics. Our collaboration with these academic institutions would grow further in the future as well.

With an aim to reach the remote part of India, ASDC has partnered with many technology companies. Currently, we are exploring collaboration opportunities with technology giants like Google, Facebook and Microsoft. We have already launched our program in collaboration with Google. The courses are being offered in various Indian languages along with English. Next, we would be launching programs with Facebook following with Microsoft.

---

The revival of Tourism and Hospitality Industry post COVID-19: Skills, jobs and entrepreneurship

"It is not the survival of the fittest but the survival of the quickest that matters most in the times of COVID-19", says Mr. Rajan Bahadur, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skill Council (THSC), while reflecting on the current state of the industry.

The Tourism and hospitality sector is one of the most affected industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. With domestic tourism slowly opening up, hotels and restaurants being reopened, Mr. Rajan in this Skill Talk, tells us how the Tourism and Hospitality sector is coping up and reviving after being one of the worst-hit industries.

Question (Q): How is the Tourism and Hospitality sector coping up with the impact of COVID-19?

Answer (A): Tourism and Hospitality, or any sector for that matter, can be better understood by comparing the pre-COVID and current COVID-19 situation.

The Tourism and Hospitality industry employs the largest number of people around the world. In India, the industry amounts to 10% of the gross domestic product (GDP). It is seen as a catalyst for economic development. That is the magnitude of the industry.

Today, it one of the worst-hit industries during the pandemic. It was the first to be affected and perhaps the last one to fully recover as millions have lost jobs and today most of us live in a country with travel restrictions. But I strongly feel, the industry will recover and it will recover with vengeance!

Sanitation, safety, hygiene that we are skeptical about earlier, will become new normal soon.

Q: With changing times, is there a need for new skills and education in the Tourism and Hospitality industry?

A: New normal is changing every day. It is important for the industry to keep changing and adapting to the new normal. It is not the survival of the fittest but the survival of the quickest that matters most during COVID-19. The question is how quickly we adapt to these changes. Technology is being leveraged in many aspects, multi-tasking has become a necessity, contact-less experiences in restaurants and hotels are taking over as normal business. You can even access the restaurant’s menu on mobile phones! That's how the face of the industry is changing, keeping pace with technology and social precautions.

Youth who are in this field are adapting to the changes and are apt with the technology. Now when we skill people it is not just in the culinary domain or in food and beverages but also in the technology.

Often, we forget the trainers when we talk about new skilling. The trainers are attitudinally and aptitudinally adapting themselves to the changes.  It is not only important to train and skill the youth but also the trainers’ readiness to adapt to the changing scenario. It is happening. Trainers are adapting and changing.

Q: What about apps and portals like SAATHI, are the industry members complying with the norms laid by the government?

A: We have many apps for reskilling and upskilling. THSC has also launched several free certificate courses through apps for students and trainers. Through these apps, we are also providing training through free and paid courses in soft skills. While most of the training in cooking and patisserie is to be done practically, soft skills also play a major role. Because in skilling we are mostly focussing on the bottom of the pyramid. We are looking at the people who have gone back home. For training the youth from across the country, we have also collaborated with CII, Bangalore Chamber of Commerce among others.

Through the SAATHI portal, we are also trying to bring back customer confidence and credibility. Through it is not only the employee but also the customer who gets trained.

Q: Could you tell us about the potential of rural tourism and hospitality in the country right now?

A: Rural tourism and hospitality have a huge potential to grow. With the opening up of domestic travel, it will be the rural tourism which will gain. India has so much to offer as it is such a diverse country. We are offering a lot of courses on how to open and maintain guest houses, homestays, etc. Because these are the times when people will avoid taking flights and pick up their cars to drive and stay at places that are hygienic. There is huge scope for entrepreneurship and skilling.

However, in rural areas, people are able to use technology but do not have enough soft skills. This is where they would need the training. There is also a tremendous potential to develop medical tourism too.

Q: How are you creating awareness among the Training Partners on the new normal?

A: Many of our courses can be implemented both online and offline by the Training Partners. Soon we will have opportunities to complete the practical training too. Now we are also able to do assessments online. With regard to employment and future of placements, by the time the current students complete their course, the tourism and hospitality sector will be opening up and looking for trained people.

Q: How important is the revival of apprenticeship?

A: Apprenticeships are extremely important. They are important for both the students and the employer. For students, they get to get real-life experience, learning while working, etc. It is important for employers, as they will make ready a pipeline of trained people. To revive the apprenticeships, the challenge is that the students have to wait for some time, but it will not be indefinite. But they should use this time to build other skills around their core competency.

Q: What is your message to young people who want to get into this field?

A: There is a huge opportunity here. There are many people across the country waiting to travel. When compared to the world, in India we are in a much better position. Multi-skilled youth will stand a better chance to survive in the industry after the industry gets back to normal/ new normal. I would tell youngsters to believe in yourself. To be proud of what you have chosen and opportunities will come to you.