15 July 2020

PLACEX 2020- Conducted at IIIC In Hybrid Webinar Mode

PlaceX 2020 the two-day industry workshop to ensure the academia-industry interface in skilling was conducted at the Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction (IIIC), Chavara, Kollam. PlaceX 2020 envisages in updating the curricula based on industry interface. 200 representatives from industries along with faculty and students are participating in the two-day virtual event. Principal Secretary Labour&Skills, Govt of Kerala SathyajeethRajan IAS inaugurated the third edition of PlaceX. While inaugurating the event, he suggested that online educational platforms can be very effectively used for engineering and skilling programs. In tune with the changing environment, ULCCS and Indian institute of infrastructure and construction organized the third edition of PlaceX through online with the technical support from KASE and industries. Across the country, skilling is emerging as a real-time solution for improving the employability of educated youth. As far as India is considered, the country has more than 51 percent of youth below 28 years of age. “Gen Z” ers of 18- 24 years form 1/3 rd of population. Unemployment is increasing at a higher rate in unorganized sectors across the world. There lies a huge gap between available and required skills. The need of the hour is to bridge this gap. Central and State Governments are involved in appropriate skill development programs through various training providers. ULCCS is a 95-year-old cooperative involved in skill development at different levels. ULCCS is associating with KASE through the Indian Institute of Infrastructure & Construction. IIIC is offering technician, supervisory and managerial level programs. Skill development programs require market-centered industry-oriented curricula. Then the only a satisfactory level of placements can be achieved. This requires frequent academic-industry interactions. This will pave way for updating the existing curricula and offering new programs required for the industry, SathyajeethRajan added. While delivering the keynote address, Head of Edutech Business of L&T Nagendran Sundararajan suggested that skilling is a continuous process. Skill envisages the successful application of knowledge. Online classes should include short lectures, videos, demonstrations, quizzes, and virtual interactive platforms. Then only it can be made student-friendly. He added. While delivering the presidential address Chairman ULCCS RameshanPaleri suggested that bridging the skill gap among the educated youth needs to be given more attention. While delivering the introductory address Dr.T.P.Sethumadhavan Director of UL- Education explained the need for increasing the skilling of the working force in the country. Currently, only 5 percent of the workforce is getting appropriate skilling whereas in China it is 24 percent and in the US it is 52 percent and in the UK it is 68 percent. Director of IIIC Dr.G.Shreekumar Menon presented the activities of the institute. Neeraj Bansal, Partner &Head at KPMG India, Dr.Amarnath.C.B, Head BIM at L&T, Prasanth.K, Group manager at ESRI, Lalu Varghese, MD of CSS India, Dr.Udayakumar, National Vice-Chair-ISHRAE presented papers. Facility management students presented a project on post COVID protocols for academic institutions. Raveendran Kasturi, CEO, ULCCS offered felicitations and Raghavan. K, Director (Admin) expressed vote of thanks.