The Centre for Defence Studies started by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University is a milestone in ‘Skill India’ mission. This is probably the first course of its kind in any Indian university.
The certificate courses for SSC and HSC pass or dropouts, diploma courses for ITI certificate holders and Diploma engineers and post-graduate diploma courses pave way for providing trained manpower in defence and related sector. Dr Abhay Mudgal, Incharge of the Centre, informed The Live Nagpur that courses in software related to the field are in major demand. Among the 11 courses, software skills are ready for introduction immediately. The other courses being introduced include in maintenance and installation (hardware skills), Aerospace Conventional machinist, Aerospace CNC Machinist, which are related to manufacturing units. Precision Assembly Fitter, Precision Structure Fitter, related to Assembly and are available for HSC pass students. Aerospace CNC Programmer and Aerospace Testing Programmer, mostly for Diploma in mechanical Engineering or HSC pass students. Post-graduate Diploma and Certificate courses in Quality Assurance, NIS Lab Views, Ansys Software, Aerospace Design are important courses.
The courses are recognised by Sector Skill Council of Government of India. The students completing the course will be certified by the Council.
Dr Mudgal stated that on the day one enquiries for these courses have started pouring in. Even industries have enquired about the courses and are ready to offer jobs to students completing the short term courses.
The University is making efforts to collaborate with colleges conducting Aeronautical Engineering courses. They include Priyadarshini College of Engineering and G H Raisoni College of Engineering. The students can also get practical experience at Air India MRO Centre at MIHAN, Nagpur. A French Company operating here has already expressed willingness to offer training services and jobs for students pursuing any of these courses.
The Incubation Centre of the University is of immense help in conducting the course. Experts in the field will be hired soon to train the students. Dr Mudgal stated that more than ten interested students approached him for information, on the first day itself.
