How we developed the New-Collar Employability Skill Program with IBM India and Nasscom Foundation

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Synopsis: India produces tens of thousands of science graduates every year. However, most of these students are not skilled in the latest technologies to be gainfully employed. On the other hand, many of the software developer jobs do not really require engineers to perform the role. Nasscom Foundation in association with IBM India launched a program to target science graduates from tier 3 locations studying in tier 3 colleges and who are economically disadvantaged. The idea was to skill them adequately in new-age technologies and get a placed in a suitable organization.

The Situation: Thousands of science graduates are not even aware of the latest technologies learning which would help them get a job. The situation is even more dire in the interior locations and even more so for the unprivileged sections of the society. Graduates from these colleges are not employable in modern organizations as they lack skills – both technical and soft, to find a job and then build a career. Most students in these remotely located colleges have not even used a computer in their life and hence lack the basic skills required for a job.

The Solution: We were appointed as the training partner for this program in 2019. Government and government-aided colleges in North Karnataka were selected and final-year students from the science stream were selected for this program. Some enthusiastic students from other streams also joined the program. A 220-hour program was designed and delivered in these three areas – Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, and Blockchain. IBM provided the course material and the Learning Management System to facilitate the training. In the first phase (2019), 1000+ students drawn from 10 colleges took part in the program. IBM set up a lab at these colleges comprising of systems, routers, etc. for use by the students. Due to natural calamities that besieged the area, a blended learning approach was deployed. Every student’s progress was tracked through the LMS and our team motivated the students to complete the same. Most of the students learned the course on smartphones (sometimes borrowed from parents or neighbors) as they did not have access to laptops or tablets. Post completion, a certification was given by the Sector Skill Council of the Government of India. In the second phase (2020), 1200+ students from the same area (North Karnataka) were imparted this training. Due to the pandemic, the entire program was online with our instructors available to guide the students.

The Impact: Here are the results of the program:

Students were placed in entry-level jobs in data centers, IT/ITeS organizations in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Dharwad, etc. The program helped graduates be gainfully employed who otherwise would not have access to the IT/ITeS sector.

Addressing Skill Gaps

Many industries face a mismatch between the skills that job seekers possess and those that employers need. By supporting skilling initiatives, corporates ensure a steady pipeline of talent that is equipped with relevant and up-to-date skills.

Future-Proofing the Workforce

As technology and industries evolve, the demand for new skills increases. Corporate support for continuous skilling helps to future-proof the workforce, ensuring that employees remain competitive in a rapidly changing job market.

Enhanced Employee Morale and Retention

Companies that invest in the skilling and development of their employees often see higher levels of job satisfaction and retention. This reduces turnover costs and builds a more committed workforce.

Innovation and Competitiveness

A skilled workforce drives innovation and competitiveness within a company. By supporting skilling as a CSR cause, companies can ensure they have access to the talent needed to stay ahead in their industry.

Community Development

Skilling initiatives can lead to the development of more self-reliant communities. When individuals are equipped with the skills to secure meaningful employment, they contribute more effectively to the local economy and society.

Reducing Social Issues

By providing people with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, companies can help reduce social issues such as poverty, crime, and dependency on welfare.

Empowering Marginalized Communities

Skilling programs often target underserved and marginalized communities, providing them with opportunities for economic empowerment. This promotes inclusive growth and reduces inequality.

Gender Equality and Diversity

Corporate-supported skilling initiatives can focus on promoting gender equality and diversity by encouraging the participation of women and underrepresented groups in high-demand sectors.

Positive Social Impact

Supporting skilling initiatives demonstrates a company’s commitment to social responsibility and community development. This can enhance the company’s reputation, making it more attractive to customers, investors, and potential employees.

Brand Loyalty

Consumers are increasingly favoring brands that demonstrate social responsibility. Companies that invest in skilling as a CSR cause are likely to build stronger brand loyalty and customer trust.

Enhancing Workforce Quality

By investing in skilling programs, companies help create a more skilled and capable workforce. This contributes to overall economic growth by improving productivity and innovation within the industry.

Reducing Unemployment

Skilling initiatives can reduce unemployment rates by equipping individuals with the necessary skills to secure jobs, particularly in industries facing skill shortages.

Challenge

One-time training interventions lead to poor retention in the frontline.

Training Intervention

A Continuous Learning Journey combines digital learning with trainer support, providing ongoing, personalized development. This model uses multiple touchpoints to address individual performance gaps, ensuring continuous skill improvement and real-time application. By focusing on personalized learning paths, it drives long-term growth and measurable results, empowering employees to adapt and excel.

Challenge

Large companies with large frontline workforces require extensive trainer teams.

Training Intervention

Trainer Augmentation offers a scalable solution by outsourcing your trainer capacity. This model allows you to quickly scale your training efforts without overburdening your internal resources. By bringing in experienced, external trainers, you ensure consistent, high-quality training delivery while freeing up internal teams to focus on strategic priorities. It’s an ideal solution when you need to meet growing training demands or launch new initiatives without compromising on quality or capacity.

Challenge

Uniform training for all employees fails to address performance disparities.

Training Intervention

Analytics-driven, cohort-based training identifies skill gaps using performance data. By segmenting employees into cohorts based on performance, organizations can tailor training to address specific needs, driving higher engagement and measurable improvements. This targeted approach ensures that training is effective, efficient, and aligned with actual performance challenges.

Challenge

Supervisors prioritize high performers, leaving low performers unsupported and underdeveloped.

Training Intervention

Sustenance Training offers a blended, on-the-job approach to skill development, addressing gaps in supervisor bandwidth and ensuring consistent employee growth. By combining structured learning modules with real-time support, this program provides targeted training for all employees, including those who need additional guidance. It empowers the workforce to build skills, improve productivity, and thrive, fostering balanced development across teams.

Challenge

L&D teams cut induction training due to limited capacity/expertise.

Training Intervention

Role Induction Training delivers a structured onboarding experience during the first 7-10 days. Combining company culture, policies, and values with tailored role-specific training, it equips new hires with the skills to contribute effectively from day one. This program bridges gaps in training capacity, ensuring a seamless and productive induction process..