NEW DELHI: The Wadhwani Foundation (WF) and the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) USA signed a memorandum of understanding hereon 10 Jan 2012. The memorandum was signed by Dr. Ajay Kela, President and CEO of Wadhwani Foundation and Dr. Glenn DuBois, member, Virginia Foundation for Community Colleges Education and Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Union Minister of HRD for India, Kapil Sibal and U.S. Senator Mark Warner, Co-chair of the Senate India Caucus who is visiting India with his delegation were also present at the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Kapil Sibal underlined the requirement for enhanced skilled development in the country. He said that considering the high rate of growth India needs massive skill upgradation to prepare for the jobs that will be created. He congratulated the Wadhwani Foundation and Virginia Foundation for Community College Education on the signing of the MoU.
The Wadhwani Foundation and Virginia Foundation for Community College Education partnership seeks to leverage the combined expertise of Virginia’s Community College system in running industry relevant professional education sharing technical and organizational know-how, curriculum/courseware and teacher training to enhance such programmes in India.
As part of the memorandum, the VFCCE and the WF will together identify high-impact skill development programs in India that need such support. These partnerships could be forged with government or private initiatives and would involve vibrant exchange of ideas and technology transfer, adapting U.S. expertise to position Indian institutions to meet local needs. Virginia Community College experts will serve as consultants, sharing best practices. The Wadhwani Foundation will provide local support and co-funding for this capacity building.
“Virginia’s two-year community colleges play a vital and unique role in our workforce training efforts,” Senator Mark Warner said. “This partnership agreement will allow Virginia’s Community Colleges to share their expertise and materials as we work with the Wadhwani Foundation to expand skills-based job training for India’s young people” he further added.
