The Department of Skill Development which was previously called Technical Education Department acts as the nodal department to carry out all the skill related policies in the UT of J&K. The need to rechristen the Department was felt due to overemphasis on only the technical aspect which is being looked after by the department when during the past one decade huge stress has been laid on the skilling aspect of it.
As per the directives of the Government of India, primarily from Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Directorate General of Trainings (DGT), immense value has been given to skilling, up-skilling and re-skilling exercise considering the huge human capital at the disposal of the country and abnormally high dropout rates in schools and colleges.
The Department in order carry out its skill based activities has a network of 20 Polytechnics, 52 ITIs and a number of private Training Partners who provide short term trainings under J&K Skill Development Mission.
While in Polytechnics, three year diplomas in Engineering and Non Engineering streams is provided (Click here to view Name, Type and duration of the Diploma Programs in Polytechnics). In ITIs, one & two year courses in Engineering and Non Engineering Trades under National Certificate of Vocational Training (NCVT) & State Certificate of Vocational Training (SCVT) are provided (Click here to view ITI Wise List of Trades ).
For this purpose the Department is hiring the services of a private consultancy service which shall help in redesigning the already existing courses being offered and suggest modifications to the same in line with the current requirements of the industry and the global markets.
Besides, the Department under its aegis also has Board of Technical Education (BOTE) which is an examination body for both Polytechnics & ITIs carrying out examinations for both the sectors besides also providing State Council for Vocational Training (SCVT) certificates in designated trades in ITIs.
In a path-breaking decision by the Administrative Council (AC) of J&K, BOTE was empowered to start the admission process in diploma courses in engineering from session 2021-22 in J&K which was previously carried out by JK Board of Professional Examinations (BOPEE). The move will greatly help in picking the number of admissions in various courses in Polytechnics.
J&K Skill Development Mission is headed by a Mission Director which imparts short term Trainings to School/college dropouts besides also re-skilling the already skilled technicians in various fields under PMKVY 3.0. The Mission provides nouvelle bunch of short term skill courses ranging from three, four to six months.
The Mission also provides short term courses in convergence mode with other stakeholder departments like Health, Industries and Commerce etc to help unemployed youth gain employment both locally and outside and also helping them create their own self-employed entrepreneurial pads.
Two state of art Centres called Centers for Invention, Innovation, Incubation & Training (CIIITs) have been established at Jammu and Baramulla at the cost of 360 crore in collaboration with Tata Technologies to provide trainings through nine centers in 18 add on courses like robotics, mechatronics, Internet of things, artificial Intelligence etc after B –Tech, M-Tech, Diploma and ITI certificate courses.
Recently, the Department has taken over the administrative control of Craft Development Institute (CDI) at Srinagar from Industries & Commerce Department which is an exclusive centre wherein courses in handicrafts are offered to aid the huge artistic workforce existing in J&K. A full time Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Craft Management & Entrepreneurship is provided through the University of Kashmir. Three add-on courses for value addition in Pattern making & stitching of garments, Pattern making & stitching of accessories and Digital marketing are provided ranging from one month to three months.
The Department has also taken over the administrative control of existing Food Craft Institute (FCI) from the Tourism department where courses related to food and cuisine are offered by trained faculty members for 12th standard pass-outs in Food production, Food & Beverage Service, Bakery & confectionery, Front office operations & Housekeeping for a duration of 1.5 years to find employment in the huge but still untapped hospitality sector in both J&K and outside.
