Maharashtra ITIs introduce Udhyam Shiksha, an Entrepreneurial Mindset Program enabling job seekers to become job creators
Mumbai: Udhyam Learning Foundation (Udhyam), Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSInS) have entered into a partnership with an aim to introduce Udhyam Shiksha, an entrepreneurial mindset development program in all the government ITIs across Maharashtra. Through this new-age educational program, Udhyam and DVET’s vision is to enable the learners to be job creators rather than job seekers.
Udhyam Shiksha program facilitates learners to identify their strengths, make the most of the opportunities, overcome and learn from their setbacks. It equips the youth with 21st century skills and encourages them to pursue their true potential.
Co-created by DVET and Udhyam, this 50-hour program is experiential in nature: it promotes learning by doing. It builds four key mindsets in its learners: self-belief, self-awareness, grit and independent decision making. The ethos of the program design lies in its new-age approach to learning and teaching that rest on the pillars below –
The curriculum is contextualised with stories and examples from the Maharashtra region. Through ‘Live Entrepreneurial Interaction’ sessions, learners can interact with personalities who have achieved entrepreneurial success by overcoming challenges. Additionally, the curriculum entails training sessions for ITI instructors on facilitation skills as well as entrepreneurship curriculum.
Commending this association, Honourable Minister Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Government of Maharashtra, Shri. Nawab Malik said, “It is important to give our youth opportunities to express themselves and earn a livelihood as entrepreneurs. The government has created several industrial zones and policies like the Chief Minister’s Employment Generation Scheme (CMEGP). Students from this program should be linked to benefits under CMEGP at the district level so that we can see translations to companies. We intend to scale up this program with Udham Learning Foundation in the future.”
Shri. Deepender Singh Kushwah I.A.S, Director- DVET, said, “Entrepreneurship is critical for the youth in this rapidly changing world. It generates quality jobs and fosters innovation. Our goal is to enable the learners to become self-reliant and value creators for society. With the Udhyam Shiksha program, we are transforming education through creative teaching processes and supplementing theory with real-life experiences. This shall promote 21st century skills amongst our learners.”
Commenting on this program, Shri. Mekin Maheshwari, Founder, Udhyam Learning Foundation, said, “Maharashtra ITIs play a vital role in building skill sets amongst the youth. Udhyam Shiksha program aims to complement this by developing entrepreneurial mindsets. The program enables the youth to be creative and challenge the status quo to achieve their true potential. We are excited to partner with the Maharashtra Government because it allows the state and us to achieve these learning outcomes at such a large scale, without any additional infrastructure.”
The inauguration ceremony of the program was graced by the Honourable Minister Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Government of Maharashtra Shri. Nawab Malik, Shri. Deepender Singh Kushwah I.A.S, Director- DVET and Shri. Mekin Maheshwari, Founder, Udhyam Learning Foundation. 32 ITIs across the state have been shortlisted for the first phase of this three-month program. Over 90,000 learners across 417 ITIs in Maharashtra will benefit from this program.
Udhyam Learning Foundation has been associated with various state governments in Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Assam and Karnataka for the Entrepreneurial Mindset Program across their schools and or ITIs. Over the last two years, Udhyam has enabled entrepreneurial learning for over 8 lakh learners in these states.