A deep dive into the Ready Engineer Program and how it’s revolutionising engineering skillsets in India

In an insightful conversation, Siddharth Yawalkar, the Lead of CSR at Tata Technologies, shares his views on the state of engineering education in India and how the Ready Engineer program is fostering a fresh wave of innovation.

Q&A with Siddharth Yawalkar

Q: What inspired Tata Technologies to launch initiatives like Ready Engineer?

Yawalkar: Back in 2010, Tata Technologies was contemplating its long-term growth plans in terms of business sustainability. It was noted that young Engineers, particularly those from tier 2 and 3 cities, lacked “readiness” in terms of domain knowledge, presentation skills, industrial exposure, and understanding of the latest technologies. This gap led to the inception of the Ready Engineer program, designed voluntarily by our Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), even before the CSR law came into the picture.

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Q: How do these programs address the skill gap in India and what impact have they had?

Yawalkar: Ready Engineer program addresses various facets of skill development. It encompasses comprehensive technical knowledge, soft skills enhancement, employability assessment, design thinking, innovation & entrepreneurship, tech talk series, and a social responsibility campaign. It has seen remarkable results, producing 4000+ industry-ready engineers annually and supporting 100+ startups, to name a few.

Q: Who is the target audience for these programs, and what specific skills do they aim to impart?

Yawalkar: The primary target audience is third-year Engineering students and Professors from Tier 2 and 3 cities. We also target MSMEs, budding, and potential startups. The program aims to impart a comprehensive understanding of industry-oriented technologies, soft skills, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

Q: How does Tata Technologies ensure program relevance in the face of evolving technology?

Yawalkar: We maintain relevance through regular interactions with SMEs and beneficiaries, frequent field visits, participation in various discussion forums, and feedback from internal and external audits or assessments. We are also designing internship programs to provide practical exposure.

Q: Challenges in program implementation for Tata Technologies and their solutions?

Yawalkar: Engaging SMEs in designing the program amidst their tight schedules was initially a challenge, but we managed to create a pool of SMEs making the process flexible. Implementing the course during the pandemic was a test, which we passed by shifting to a virtual mode, including online assessments and technical competitions. Geographical barriers were tackled by developing trainers in each college.

Q: How does Tata Technologies assess program effectiveness and participant feedback?

Yawalkar: We measure effectiveness through parameters like total beneficiaries enrolled, students placed, students involved in corporate projects/internships, and beneficiary feedback. Most feedback has been positive, and we continually learn and improve based on suggestions received.

Q: What are Tata Technologies’ future plans for program expansion and new initiatives in this area?

Yawalkar: Our future plans include improving course content and relevance, introducing new technologies, enhancing practical exposure for students, career counselling, and shifting focus towards Tier 2 and 3 cities. We also plan to introduce Electric Vehicle Power Train as an elective subject and get more colleges to recognize the Ready Engineer program.

Q: How can CSR initiatives enhance their impact on India’s social and economic challenges?

Yawalkar: These initiatives have the potential to upgrade technical skills of students from tier 2 & 3 cities, help in student recruitment, stimulate the start-up ecosystem, provide a platform for MSMEs to pitch their ideas, and encourage students for entrepreneurship/startup by providing technical and financial support. They can also foster the spirit of giving back to society.