Additional Skill Acquisition Programme
Dr. Nevil Stephen S.
Coordinator, ASAP
ASAP – An Overview
Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) was launched in 2012, under the Government of Kerala’s Higher Education Department. It has a legacy of 8 years in the domain of skill development. ASAP has till date trained over two lakh students in Higher Secondary schools, Undergraduate colleges and Technical Education institutions of the State of Kerala.
ASAP skill classes are different from the regular academic pedagogy offered in schools and colleges. ASAP offers training in 85 National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned skill courses in 23 skill sectors. The 150 hours mandatory internship is a hallmark of ASAP’s skill training. ASAPs novel intervention, Advanced Skill Development Centres (ASDCs) provides advanced futuristic skill courses in 111 Engineering and Polytechnic institutions across the State. The 16 Community Skill Parks (CSPs) established in all districts is a one stop destination for skill development with a purview to encourage community skilling keeping in mind the community aspirations. ASAP continues to put efforts in translating the requirements of the industry into skill programmes that will raise the standard of employability of the Kerala youth.
Partners of ASAP
Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) associates with various government,semi-government and private organisations to build a skill ecology in the state.ASAP closely associates with the Central government agencies like National Skill Development Corporation and National Skill Development Agency.
ASAP offers courses that are in line with the standardisation parameters laid out by these organisations.
(i) Sector Skill Councils are constituted by NSDC as industry- led bodies. Additional Skill Acquisition Programme at present have signed up MoU with 24 Sector Skill Council at National Level.
(ii) Training Service Providers or TSPs carry out the skill training programme for ASAP students.
(iii) Industry Associations: All the courses offered at ASAP are based on industry relevance and considers the contemporary career opportunities in the field.
(iv) Business Advisory Committee (BAC)-is a group of proactive people from the industry for the sectors offering courses in ASAP, to ensure strong industry linkages in content development, delivery and certification, thereby confirming industrial and contemporary relevance for all offered courses. BAC helps by analysing skill gap study for various sectors and districts, suggesting new job roles specific to Kerala for which QPs and NOS may be required, assisting in Course validation, assessment, ensuring industry internship, setting up of Community Skill Parks etc.
Institutions are linked with ASAP upon three criteria.
1. The partner institutions that run various Skill Programmes of ASAP.
2. Government institutions appropriated by ASAP as Skill Development Centres, (SDCs) by upgrading the infrastructure and other facilities of the institution, thereby transforming the Centres into a mutually beneficial model.
3. Institutions partnered with ASAP where both the infrastructure and the faculty members are used for delivering ASAP courses. Government and aided Arts and science Colleges partner with ASAP for the Training Partner Scheme (TPS) and Polytechnic and engineering Colleges which are either government run, or aided, partner with ASAP for the DAT Scheme.
Regular Training Schemes
ASAP offers varied skill sets to the first year higher secondary/ vocational higher secondary/ undergraduate students through its foundation module and skill training program. The 180 hrs long foundation module delivers communicative skills and basics of IT.Skill course training of 120 – 250 hrs is carried out at various Skill Development Centres across the state. Apart from communicative and industrial skills, the specially designed curriculum also emphasises on improving soft skills, life skills, communication skills, analytical skills of the students.
OBJECTIVE OF ASAP’s FOUNDATION MODULE:
(i) This course intends to help learners overcome their inhibitions in using the English language, to identify their strengths and develop abilities and aptitudes that are essential for successful social interaction and employability. It introduces students to some of the key aspects of Personal Skills, alternatively known as Life Skills.
(ii) Provide the means for an individual to be resourceful and positive while taking on life’s vicissitudes.
(iii) Development of one’s personality by being aware of the self, connecting with others, reflecting on the abstract and the concrete, leading and generating change, and staying rooted in time-tested values and principles is being aimed at.
(iv) To enhance the employability and maximize the potential of the students by introducing those to the principles that underlay personal and professional success, and help them acquire the skills needed to apply these principles in their lives and careers
COURSE OUTCOME:
After the completion of the course the student will be able to:
• Define and Identify different life skills required in personal and professional life.
• Learn the basics of teamwork and leadership
• Develop an awareness of the self and apply well-defined techniques to cope with emotions and stress.
• Develop interpersonal skill, problem solving skill, presentation skill, communication skills and Enhance creativity skills.
• Explain the basic mechanics of effective communication and demonstrate these through presentations
• Learn to apply appropriate thinking and problem-solving techniques to solve new problems.
Summer Skill Skool
The notion of Summer Skill Skool is to provide a vocation during the vacation. Students of educational age (15-25) can apply for this training programme. This short -term training programme of 120–240-hour duration along with 150-hour internship encourages students to make their holidays a productive one. SSS is also noted for its greater placements.
Communicative English Trainer Programme
Communicative English Trainer is a NSQF Level 6 course and focuses on developing efficient communicative trainers with NSQF certification. This nationally recognized course having 156-hour duration gives the trainees a wide range of practical exposure and providing internship along with theoretical learning. The candidates who complete the course can explore career opportunities in Soft Skill Training and Communicative English Training.
SDC Functioning
There are 9 Skill Development Centers (SDC) under Trivandrum Districts headed by the District Programme Manager.The District Programme Head Office is located at Govt.Model HSS Thycaud.The SDC s are headed by Programme Managers and supported by Programme Executives. One of the Skill Development Centre among the 9 under Trivandrum District is located in Govt. College Attingal. There are 12 institutions attached under the SDC, which includes 10 Higher Secondary schools and 2 College batches in and around Attingal and Varkalaregion. Around 330 students are being trained under SDC every year. They are being trained for their Foundation Module in their parent organizations and their Skill Classes are being conducted in SDC on all Saturdays/Sundays/ Public holidays. Foundation module is handled by the Skill Development Executives (SDEs) employed by ASAP and the Skill training is provided by NSDC certified trainers empanelled by the ASAP with Training Service Providers (TSPs). At the end of the training programme, students have to undergo an assessment that evaluates their proficiency and knowledge on the subject. Internal evaluations are carried out at various stages of class progression. ASAP coordinates with SSC and NSDC to conduct the assessment final.
Certification:
On successful completion of the course, a student is entitled to receive a set of certificates that prove his/her merit on the domain subject. The certification process at the end of the program is in accordance with the conditions stipulated in National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). An ASAP Student receives the following certificates:
APTIS Certificate
On completion of ASAP Foundation Module, British Council conducts a language proficiency test APTIS and issues APTIS certificate based on their performance.
NSDC / SSC Skill Certificate
National Skill Development Corporation / Sector Skill Council (SSC) recognized certificates are issued to all the qualifying students.
KTU Certificate
Along with NSDC/SSC certificate, qualified students will also receive a certificate issued by Kerala Technical University.
ASAP Course completion certificate
ASAP issues course certificate to all the students who have completed the course.
