Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 23 (IANS) Smart City Kochi and the Kerala government have agreed in principle to float a skill development academy to help professionals in IT, banking, and finance improve their skills to meet the demands of the corporate sector.

Speaking to reporters here after a meeting with Baju George, managing director of the upcoming Smart City Kochi, state Labour Minister Shibhu Baby John said Monday that there is a gap between the corporate needs and the standard of those seeking employment, and the new academy will fill that void.

“We are now scouting for an international partner to help us develop this skill academy and it could be one or a few different partners depending on the sector. The apex body which would see this become a reality has already been formed and has been named as the Kerala Academy of Skills Excellence (KASE). Now the cabinet has to give us the nod, and also the board of the Smart City Dubai. Once that happens, we will start identifying the other partners,” said John, an engineer-turned first time minister.

Smart City Kochi, a Rs.5,000-crore IT project, is being built by Smart City Dubai.

“The proposed skills academy could well be one of the first clients in the Smart City Kochi and the state government has already sanctioned Rs.10 crore for this,” added John.

He also added that a proposed Construction Academy (CA) has got the cabinet’s nod and very soon the foundation for the building at the CA would be laid at the land that the state government has provided in Kollam.

“In today’s competitive world, it is not just qualifications that are needed but also requisite skills matching the latest developments in each and every sector. And it is here that our new ventures would do the needful in training the professionals in a short period,” added John.