Nagpur: Announcing a skill university, envisaged to be one of the best in Asia, in Nagpur, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the land for the project would be finalised within a month. The proposed university will be developed in partnership with major industries to create a job-ready workforce for Central India’s rapidly expanding industrial sector, he said.Speaking after inaugurating the Skill Development Centre at Pardi, Fadnavis said the university is being envisioned as a state-of-the-art institution where leading companies will establish and operate specialised schools in their respective sectors. A student graduating from the university should be equipped with industry-relevant skills and be able to secure employment immediately, he said.Fadnavis said the university would bridge the long-standing gap between education and industry by offering courses designed jointly with industry partners. The institution is expected to house 11 specialised schools catering to sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and other emerging industries that are witnessing rapid growth in Vidarbha.
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The chief minister said the region is witnessing big-ticket investments in solar energy, electric vehicles, healthcare and iron ore-based industries, creating significant demand for skilled manpower. “While industries have jobs to offer, they often struggle to find trained manpower. The skill university and the skill centre will ensure local youth acquire the skills required by these industries,” he said.Fadnavis added that around 75% of candidates undergoing skill training currently secure employment, and govt aims to raise the placement rate to 90% through stronger industry collaboration and modern training programmes.Union minister Nitin Gadkari said he has submitted a proposal to Fadnavis seeking 100 acres of land for the university. He said the institution would become a major centre for skill development in the region and help industries access locally trained manpower instead of recruiting from outside the state.Gadkari said Vidarbha is on the verge of rapid industrialisation, with large investments flowing into sectors such as steel, defence, mining, and manufacturing, particularly in Gadchiroli district. He said the proposed university would ensure that local youth benefit directly from these investments through quality skill training and employment opportunities.He also added that coal bed methane (CBM) has been found in coal mines in the region and it will be used for making CNG.Fadnavis and Gadkari jointly inaugurated the Nagpur Skill Centre, developed through a collaboration between the Association for Industrial Development (AID), Tata STRIVE, Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Vidarbha Global Foundation.The modern training facility has the capacity to train around 2,000 youth annually. It offers free short-term courses for students who have completed Class 10, Class 12 or graduation, with programmes including on-the-job training, personality development, entrepreneurship support, placement assistance, computer education and English language training to improve employability.
